Club GAA July Issue by Dan Ruane

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TRUC NEW S amogie 3c OF 201 IONSHIP CHAMP l

blond ambition

icia provin round-up

conor mortimer conor gilsenan

the dream came true

a true dub Joe mcnally

International

rules

News & chairman interviews

na fianna COROFIN NA PIARSaIGH naomh conaill

A trio of heroes in the Irish Experiment

profiles eoin kelly séan cavanagh davy fitzgerald EW Technologies

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coNOR MORTIMER interview

An enigma wrapped up in a cocoon.

A born and bred Dub, Gaelic football was always something that was a part of Joe McNally’s childhood.

interview

The dream came through

22 club news

32 player profiles:

34 club focus

interview

14 CONOR GILsenAN

26 international

10 JOE MCNALLY

18 General news GAA to get official mascot

All the latest from the grounds

Eoin Kelly, Davy Fitzgerald, Séan Cavanagh

& chairman interviews:

Na Fianna, Corofin, Na Piarsaigh, Naomh Conaill

78 underage

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28 a trio of heroes in the irish experiment

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48 club round-up 62 provincial round-up

72 2013 Camogie

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the team Editor: Alan Conway alan@clubgaa.com Contributors: Daire Walsh, Colm McCluskey colm@clubgaa.com Content Advisor: David Flanagan Media Partner: Jay Harding + 353 (83) 4431495 jay@clubgaa.com Design: Sinéad Miller sinead@clubgaa.com Photography: Inpho Financial Director: Tom McGrath Managing Director: Brian O’Connell brianpoconnell@clubgaa.com Sales Director: Gerard Connon + 353 (86) 6089220 gerard@clubgaa.com Publisher: Council Publications Ltd. Copyright CLUB RUGBY MAGAZINE 2013. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form without the express written permission of the publishers.

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WELCOMe message On behalf of everyone at Club GAA, I would like to welcome you to the second edition of Club GAA magazine. In this issue we have a fantastic array of interviews, news, features and profiles for you to enjoy. Firstly I would like to say how impressed I am with Club GAA magazine. Going forward I look forward to working closely with the team at Club GAA. This month we sit down with one of Gaelic Footballs most divisive characters, in the shape of Conor Mortimer. The ex Mayo star talks about his career to date, ‘that’ walkout from the Mayo panel last year, and his hopes and aspirations for the future, in a revealing interview. We also take a trip down memory lane as we talk, exclusively to former All-Ireland winner Joe McNally. The legendary Dublin footballer talks about his stellar career, which saw him win All-Ireland medals, at both minor and senior level, in two consecutive years. It is an interview that everyone will enjoy.

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As well as turning the clock back, we also look towards the future. Club GAA also interview one of the rising stars of Cavan football, Conor Gilsenan. In a must read piece, Gilsenan talks about his rise through the ranks and how close he came to walking away from the game last year, in an in depth and brutally honest piece. Along with top class interviews we shine the spotlight on four of the biggest clubs in Ireland, in our dedicated club section. This month we profile Na Fianna from Leinster, Corofin from Connacht, Ulster based Naomh Conaill and Na Piarsaigh from Munster. We have up to the minute news from each club along with a one on one interview with each of the respective chairmen from each club, as they detail their plans for the future for each club. Davy Fitzgerald, Sean Cavanagh and Eoin Kelly’s career’s come into focus in our special manager/player section as we profile some of the biggest names in GAA. There is a fully comprehensive review of all the championships from around the country as the provincial tournaments hot up and teams begin to look forward to Croke Park and the prospect of lifting either the Liam McCarthy or Sam Maguire trophy later on in the summer. We tackle the issue of player migration to Australian Rules over the last number of years and the impact that it has on each of the two sports. Jim Stynes, Tadhg Kennelly and Sean Wight are three of the players who have made the jump and we examine their respective careers Down Under. Along with tackling some of the most topical issues within GAA at the moment, we have a full roundup of all the club news from each of the four provinces, as we keep our finger on the pulse of club GAA in Ireland. I hope you enjoy this month’s issue and I look forward to talking to you next month.

Joe Sheridan

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An enigma wrapped up in a cocoon. That’s just one way to describe former Mayo senior footballer Conor Mortimer.

ith his bleached blonde hair and his panache for saying what is on his mind and shooting from the hip, Mortimer has generated as many headlines off the field as he has on it.

A hugely talented and divisive character, Mortimer seems relaxed now as he chats to Club GAA magazine in the picturesque surroundings of the Regency Hotel in Dublin. This should be the time of the year where Mortimer should be gearing up with his fellow Mayo teammates for another swing at the Connacht and All-Ireland championships. Not for Mortimer however, but more on that later. Long before he would captivate fans around the country with his dazzling array of skills, it was his family home in Mayo where Mortimer would develop his love of sports, a love that was not just confined to the GAA sphere. “Although I played GAA growing up, due to the fact of where I was from, I was more interested in soccer. I went to a school that had soccer as did Trevor (his brother). It was only when I got to age 18 that I had to make a call as to which sport I was going to continue playing. You couldn’t really balance playing the two sports, especially at county level with the GAA. “I went with the GAA and I did alright at that for the few years that I played”, he says with a wry smile. “At the time I was playing minor football with Mayo, so that probably helped in my decision making. I couldn’t commit to playing a soccer game the week before a minor game for Mayo. For a player who had the ‘wow’ factor whenever he took to the field, it is no surprise that Mortimer looked up to a similar type of player when he was growing up. “Back in that time you had the likes of Peter Canavan, Maurice Fitzgerald and Dara Ó Cinnéide. These lads were all the top dogs at the time. “One person that I really looked up to when I was growing up was my brother Kenneth. He was a tremendous player and someone that I took an awful lot from. “Away from GAA, you then had the likes of Roy Keane and Eric Cantona at Manchester Utd. They would have been two players that really caught my eye”.

Kerry’s Killian Young and Conor Mortimer of Mayo

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Having decided to fully commit to GAA, it wasn’t long before Mortimer began to rise through the ranks. As he puts it himself ‘I had a good bit of confidence in my own ability’ and that confidence, allied with a tremendous skill set, saw the forward become an integral part of a Mayo side that reached two All-Ireland finals, only to lose out to Kerry at the final hurdle. You quiz him about those two near misses. To come so close to lifting Sam Maguire only to have it snatched away from his grasp must have been terribly disappointing. However, rather than look back with regrets, Mortimer extols the virtues of playing on such a stage, to have the chance to represent your county on the grandest stage that the GAA can provide. “They are memories that you will never forget”, he explains. “I know we were beaten in two finals, but there are only two teams that can get to that stage, which was great. “Some people love Croke Park and some don’t. I was in the middle. In later years I enjoyed it there would have been a fair few nerves when I was younger. “As far as the two finals go, all people remember you for is losing the two games against Kerry. The build-up before the games was tremendous. It was a huge honour to play in those games. You play some things in your head from time to time, the anthem and things like that. You always think that you could have done things differently. Nowadays teams are coached in how to behave before the game as well as the game itself. Back then there was no coaching; you had to deal with things your own way. You got involved in aspects of the game that you shouldn’t have become involved in”. After the second defeat to Kerry in 2006, it would be another six years before Mayo made their way back to Croke Park. Yet there was something missing, or more to the point someone. In the week leading up to the Connacht SFC Final, Mayo were preparing to face Galway in the final, when Mortimer took the decision to leave the Mayo panel, citing a difference of opinion with the manager as the reason behind the walkout. You ask, given the fullness of time, does he regret the incident? “I made the decision and that was that really”, he says with conviction. “There was some pent up frustration from about 4-5 weeks previously, mainly due to football reasons. I didn’t think it was right for me to wait around. “As I always said if the better player is playing in front of you then there is no issue, but when, in your opinion, that isn’t happening; you can’t just sit around twiddling your thumbs. That isn’t my way of doing things. I’m too old for that. If I was 19 or 20 it may have been different. It felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall. I saw stuff in the previous few games that I wasn’t going to be sitting around for. Everyone is entitled to do what they want. I am not getting paid to play Gaelic football anywhere, and you have to look after your own interests as well.

Kerry’s Killian Young and Conor Mortimer of Mayo

“You are putting in all this commitment and travelling, and for what? I was never a good substitute anyway, personally speaking.

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You don’t play on the first team for the better part of ten years without been half decent, especially on a Mayo team, who have a rich tradition of good teams. “I suppose I regret missing out on an All-Ireland final, but who’s to say that Mayo would have got their if I was a part of the side. That’s hindsight. Some players may not walk away before a Connacht Final, it didn’t matter to me what game it was, I played in enough Connacht finals to be worrying about missing out on another one”. Despite not playing a role within the Mayo side, Mortimer feels that they are in a good place at the moment. “If I’m honest I think they have improved since last year. They are one of the top 4-5 teams in the country at the moment. “One of the problems for Mayo is, and it is the same for Dublin in many respects, is that the competition at provincial level isn’t the greatest. There is only one team in Connacht at the moment, and that is Mayo, as far as I can see. That’s not to be disrespectful to the other counties in Connacht, but I think the plan that Mayo has had in place for the last three years is beginning to take shape. Physically Mayo have got a lot stronger, so it is just about combining all those elements and kick on from there. “Mayo’s championship, regardless of what people say, will begin at the quarter-final or semi-final stages of the All-Ireland. “It’s bad in one way, because you haven’t played a hard championship game, then again they will be fresher coming into those big games. So it’s a double edge sword”. That straightforward honesty means that Mortimer isn’t going to win many popularity contests. The one thing that strikes you about him is that all the media hoopla surrounding him doesn’t seem to affect him in the slightest. The single minded nature that saw him reach the heights he did with Mayo, enables him not to dwell on the past and keep looking forward to the future. The future for Mortimer is now with Parnells in Dublin. Having recovered from a cruciate ligament injury last year, he is now fully focused on helping to bring some silverware to the Dublin side. “It was a transition in the beginning”, he says about his move to Parnells. “For work reasons I had to move to Dublin. In fairness to Parnell’s, they have given me an opportunity and I’m repaying them with performances on the pitch. Frank Gleeson, Dave Feeney and Tony Fitzpatrick have all been a tremendous help since I moved to Dublin. Without question they have made the transition, from a work and playing point of view much easier then it could have been. I suppose I am trying reward the faith that people have placed in me with good performances on the pitch. Which is something that I felt I have done this season.” “If somebody gives you an opportunity then you have to make the best of it”. Which is something that while sometimes controversial, but never dull, Conor Mortimer will continue to do. n

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A born and bred Dub, Gaelic football was always something that was a part of Joe McNally’s childhood.

he weather may be miserable as Club GAA make their way through the heavy traffic that one could only find in Dublin on a Friday evening. Yet there is a spring in our step as we approach the Fitzwilliam Casino and Card Club, because in there, a legend of Dublin GAA is waiting for us. In the storied history of Dublin Gaelic football, the name Joe McNally, sits right alongside the likes of Barney Rock as one of the greatest players to have pulled on the famous blue jersey during the 1980’s. At the time, Dublin had one of the most talented teams in their history. Led by players, such as McNally, The Dubs got to numerous All-Ireland finals, both at minor and senior level, capturing a number of titles along the way.

Dublin’s Joe McNally and Vinny Murphy with Tony Davis of Cork

A born and bred Dub, Gaelic football was always something that was a part of McNally’s childhood. While ‘I played a bit of soccer’ McNally says that the Dublin team of the 1970’s was one of the main reasons that he took to GAA, something that has remained an important part of his life, ever since he first picked up a ball. “The Dublin team of the 1970’s were just tremendous”, he explains. “Brian Mullins would have been one of the main players that caught my eye. He had a certain way about him. The way that he played the game was something different than anyone else, so I guess you could say that my love of GAA came from that era.

playing you never thought that you would play for Dublin years down the line. It was a dream, obviously, but not something that you would dare think about.

an All-Ireland medal at minor level, McNally got his chance to put down a marker at senior level in 1983. Yet it wasn’t in his traditional position, as he explains.

so I was a bit nervous. However I scored two points in that match and never looked back. It’s funny how sometimes things pan out for you”.

“For me it was all about moving up the ranks, trying to get better and better and see where that took me. I got a few lucky breaks along the way, as everyone needs, and the rest is history as they say”.

“Well I played in goal all the way up to U-18. Then one day John O’Leary got injured and I filled in for him. That went well, so the next season I was brought back into the panel. I thought that I was going to be John’s backup, but one day against Roscommon. I was asked to play outfield. Now I didn’t have much experience of playing outfield,

Rather than holding him back, the decision to move McNally to corner forward proved to be an inspired one. The 1983 season would prove to be a memorable one for McNally and his Dublin team mates.

Among those ‘lucky breaks’ began shortly after McNally came into

the senior “MyGAA own Black involvement began with St Anne’s. When you were TOC strip ad_Macman_Black strip ad_Macman 24/06/2013 14:41 Page 1ranks of the Dublin football panel. Having already captured

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Having navigated their way to an All-Ireland final, Dublin faced Galway in an ill-tempered final. The score line of 1-10 to 1-8, in

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Dublin’s favour, suggests a closely fought contest. While the game itself was fiercely competitive.

Dublin’s Joe McNally and Kerry’s Sean Walsh and Paidi O’Shea watch as the ball goes between them

That championship winning season would see McNally play a crucial role in bringing Sam Maguire back to the capital. During the campaign was there a sense within the camp that Dublin could potentially go all the way and lift the All-Ireland. “I think after we got out of Leinster, there was a lot of confidence within the panel. We got Cork in the semi-final, which went to a replay. We were lucky to get that replay, I would say Cork were kicking themselves that they let the first game get away. Then we drew Galway in the final. Despite the ultra-physical nature of the clash with Galway, McNally has only fond memories of that final. “It started out as a normal day, really. We all met up before the game and had our cups of tea and chatted about the game. “The excitement around the place was unreal. In saying that, there were also a lot of nerves. However Kevin Heffernan did a great job in getting the team right. It was hell for leather in that opening twenty minutes.

made to get to that moment, all wash over you, in a sea of triumph. For McNally to be there, a packed Croke Park singing in unison as Dublin lift the Sam Maguire Cup, must have been a completely amazing experience? “Out of this world”, he says as a smile breaks across his face. “Individually I couldn’t really believe it. I won a minor title as a goalkeeper the year before, and here I was, as an outfield player, winning an All-Ireland championship. “To this day I still look back and think ‘Jesus how did that happen’. As a young kid growing up you would never dream of going from one to the other. I know some players do it with the hurling, but it is something different to do it in football. “When I got my hands on Sam, I was amazed by the size of it. It’s huge!. I remember thinking ‘how are we going to fill this up’ but we managed to in the end”.

“There were lads getting booted across the park, other players getting in a few cheap shots here and there. “We went down to 13 men so it was tough going, but the great thing about that side was that everyone stuck beside one another and we managed to hold on”.

That ’83 success should have been the catalyst for continued success at the top table of senior football. However that would not prove to be the case. Since that win Dublin have managed only One of the greatest moments in sport comes when the final two Sam Maguire successes, in 1995 and 2011, a paltry amount whistle blows in a final, and you happen to be on the winning side. for a county of such size. As you say that McNally nods his head, All the hard work, the long hours training, all the sacrifices you have knowingly. TOC GAA Black strip ad_Macman_Black strip ad_Macman 24/06/2013 14:41 Page 1

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“Oh they have underachieved, without a doubt. You think of someone like Ciaran Whelan, he has never won an All-Ireland. That particular side that Ciaran was in were very unlucky not to win at least one title. “With the amount of players and clubs in Dublin, there should have been a lot more All-Irelands. I know a lot of other counties could say that, but I think it’s true in Dublin’s case. “Perhaps there wasn’t the production line of talent, coming from the minor team into the senior team during that period of time. You had the likes of Tyrone and Armagh who made the step up, but I think in recent years we have caught up and now there is an awful lot of talent coming through in Dublin at the moment”. That conveyor belt of talent means that McNally is expecting a bold showing from The Dubs this season, and if they can successfully negotiate their way out of Leinster, he is expecting them to go very close to securing a second All-Ireland title in three seasons. “I think the only team that can beat Dublin, is Dublin. Jim Gavin is a very good manager and he will keep their feet on the ground. It is just about picking the right team. There is a tremendous amount of talent at his disposal at the moment, so if he can pick the right

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players at the right time, then they have every chance. “A lot of teams in Leinster are rebuilding at the moment. Kildare look the strongest opposition to Dublin, in my opinion. Outside of Leinster, you have the usual suspects, the likes of Cork, Kerry, Mayo and Donegal, but I think, on their day, Dublin are more than a match for any of those sides. “I remember we played Kerry in the National League, earlier on in the year, and I couldn’t see them doing anything. They were that bad. Yet you look at the over the last number of weeks and suddenly you think they could be contenders again. “The young lads that are coming through in the Dublin side are very good. Players like Jack McCaffrey, Paul Mannion and Ciarán Kilkenny, are three that really stand out for me. Jim has put his faith in these young players and is being rewarded. “I think Kilkenny is a huge prospect. He just has ‘it’. I would say he is one of the most naturally talented footballers that has come through the Dublin ranks in a long time. He could be in Australia at the moment, but he stayed here with Dublin. “It will be tough, but I have all the faith in this Dublin side”. A confidence, that come September, could look very well placed indeed. n

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Think you know your GAA Football? Conor Gilsenan one day dreamnt of playing for Cavan he didn’t dare begin to believe they could happen.

veryone remembers their first time. The nerves that float through your stomach, the beating of your heart, which gets faster and faster as the time for action draws near. Like any inter county player who pulls on their senior jersey for the first time, it is an occasion that they will never forget. Just like Conor Gilsenan.

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Gilsenan has burst onto the scene over the last number of months, with his uncanny ability between the sticks seeing him making the step up to the senior ranks of the Cavan football team this season, a debut that came against Armagh at the start of this year’s championship. The lure of playing for his county wasn’t something that was always there for Gilsenan. As with every young boy in Ireland he played sport growing up, but any dreams that he may have had of running out for Cavan at the highest level of the game, were just dreams that he didn’t dare begin to believe could happen. “I didn’t come from what you would normally term a ‘sporting family’, he explains. “I was the only one that played any sport so there wasn’t anyone that you could look at and think ‘I want to be like them’.

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“When I was playing at the juvenile and underage level I always knew that I wanted to be a goalkeeper. That was the only position that I wanted to play. You had the likes of Stephen Cluxton playing for Dublin and Paul O’Dowd playing for Cavan and I guess you could say those were the two players that I looked up to when I was younger. “Paul, in particular, was a big help to me in the early stages of my career. He was tremendous at giving young players advice and he was like that with me. It might only be a two or three minute talk but you would always walk away from a conversation with Paul having learned something that you could apply to your game”.

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That desire to take information on board, that willingness to learn, marked Gilsenan out as a future star. Yet it could have very easily been different. While not wanting to pigeon hole Gilsenan as a ‘confidence player’ TOC GAA Black strip ad_Macman_Black strip ad_Macman 24/06/2013 14:41 Page a1 number of mistakes during his time at minor level almost

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saw him pack up and walk away from the game that he loves so much. You wonder, was it an irrational judgement call after one or two bad games, or was it something that he genuinely considered doing? “I was very serious about it”, he says. “I came very close to packing it in after the first year. There were a few games where I made a number of mistakes and dented my confidence hugely. I began to lose interest in the whole thing if I’m honest. “It was touch and go if I was going to carry on playing or not. I wasn’t going to training or answering phone calls from the management team. “It took a while, but thanks to my family, close friends and the managers I decided to give things a go. You have to look on the bright side of things and that is what I am doing now. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is about learning from those mistakes and making sure that you don’t make them again. It was a huge learning curve for me, but I have come out of that confidence slump and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I am delighted that I didn’t make any rash decisions. Looking back it could have been a good thing, going through that, because it makes you appreciate how lucky you are to be able to play for your county”. He made his senior inter-county debut against Armagh this May having impressed during Cavan’s run in the All-Ireland MFC championship. An injury to the No. 1 jersey from his Bailieborough club-mate Alan O’Mara, who broke his hand during the Allianz League, gave Gilsenan his chance, something that has taken with both hands. “Everyone wants to play at the top level, so obviously when the chance came along I wanted to take full advantage of it. You can’t beat the buzz of running out in front of your home crowd in a big championship game. There is something very special about it”.

Cavan’s Conor Gilsenan and Rory Dunne with Stephen Harold of Armagh direction and working towards the same goal, which is trying to make Cavan as successful as we possibly can. Each player knows what they are capable of, individually, so it is about working together and bringing all the hard work out onto the field of play. “In many ways the team is like a long chain. There are a number of small links that make up the chain and if one of those links is missing, or is not working correctly then the chain will break apart. At the moment all our links are working well. “There is no bullshit within the camp. There is a good mix of young and experienced players in the squad and we are just keeping our heads down and working away. “It is a big goal, both for myself and the squad as a whole, to be as successful as we can. The game against Monaghan is something that we are all looking forward to. We have worked hard to get to where we are and we have no intention of going out of the championship at this stage. We want to go all the way and have some tangible silverware to show for all our efforts. “It is one of the best feelings in the world when things are going good and it is like anything, when you have that feeling you just want to experience it again and again”.

The step up to county level is always a difficult challenge. The tackles are that much harder, the pace of the game is that much quicker, and the adaptation always takes a while to adjust to. It was the same for Gilsenan, who admits that it took him a while to balance both his work life as well as the life of a Gaelic footballer.

At the moment Gilsenan and Cavan are in a good spot. That upcoming Ulster championship semi-final against Monaghan (which will have been played by the time you are reading this) is testament to the fact that they have continued to develop an attacking game that can challenge the top dogs of football in Ireland.

“It was a shock to the system, to say the least. I work night shifts and it means a lot more commitment, in terms of training and making matches. It’s all about managing your time, so you are able to fit everything in. There are only so many things that you can fit into 24 hours”, he laughingly says.

Gilsenan, however, is not getting carried away. Having come perilously close to walking away from the game, he knows that keeping his feet on the ground is one of the most important things that he can do.

That commitment has reaped its own rewards. Gilsenan and Cavan have produced a number of excellent displays in the Ulster Championship, so much so that Cavan have reached the semi-final stage, where they will face Monaghan, a prospect that excites the young keeper. “Things are going good at the moment; there is no question about that. We are in a good place, and that is no accident. “Everyone in the panel at the moment is pulling in the same

“Like everyone I am looking forward to the summer ahead, but you have to take one game at a time. The Monaghan game is the next challenge and whatever happens in that game, we know that we have a good squad at the moment”. Life presents its various challenges, but through the peaks and troughs of the last while, Conor Gilsenan is proof positive that you can bounce back from any difficulties. Confidence can ebb and flow, but the class that he possesses remains a constant. A winner, both on and off the pitch. n

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Celtic and GAA Join Forces on Youth Camps for young people aged 13-16 aimed at enhancing life skills through the lessons of sport are to be brought to life this summer in a unique partnership between the GAA and Celtic Football club. The first ‘Let’s Go; Lead Through Sport’ camps was held first in Ballymote in Sligo a number of weeks ago and then will be held in Lurgan in Armagh in early August. “It is an exciting concept and one we believe will make a real difference to so many young people,” said Celtic Chairman Ian Bankier at the launch yesterday in Croke Park. He was joined by officials from the GAA and by Jim McGuinness, manager of the All Ireland Champions Donegal and also a part of the Celtic coaching set up under Neil Lennon. The camps aim to bring together youths from different sporting and cultural backgrounds using coaching sessions in both Gaelic games and soccer. The on-field activities, led by top coaches from both codes, will be complemented by an innovative off-field programme that is intended to enhance the life-skills of the participants in a number of targeted areas. The sessions have been designed and will be delivered in conjunction with leading youth organisations north and south of the border, including Foróige and the Southern Education Library Board (SELB) Youth Service in Northern Ireland. “At the heart of this joint venture is a desire by the GAA to both learn and deliver learning through new partnerships and to new communities,” said GAA President Liam O’Neill. “Sport is a great leveller. It can open doors that traditions have previously closed off. Through this innovative partnership the GAA hopes to spread its positive influence beyond the sporting field and its traditional communities” “We are absolutely delighted to enter this exciting new partnership with the GAA,” added Bankier. “It is an exciting concept and one we believe will make a real difference to so many young people. Celtic has an unbreakable bond with Ireland and this is a connection we cherish dearly.” “We are delighted therefore to be carrying out this important, meaningful work across the island and we look forward to working hard together with the GAA to ensure this programme is a great success.” A third camp is planned for Dublin in the Autumn after which the first year will be evaluated and longer term plans for the scheme drawn up to be rolled out in 2014. This is an exciting collaboration across two sports which will reap benefit in communities of young people that will stand any test of time. The results of the programme will feature as part of our next conference on ‘The Business of Youth Sport’ in November.

GAA to get official mascot Apart from the rapidly growing number of summer camps, the GAA is hoping to keep kids, and adults, busy during the first month of the summer holidays by coming up with an idea for an official GAA mascot. There is a big sporting tradition around mascots and they form a key element of merchandising around major events like World Cups and Olympic Games. London 2012 had Wenlock and Mandeville and previous well known ‘cuddly’ mascots include World Cup Willy who was one of the first when England last hosted the World Cup in 1966. The GAA is hoping to create a mascot that captures the core values of the Association and which should be ‘captivating and inspiring to young and old alike’. Few clubs or counties have gone down this road before leaving the way for sponsors to try their hand at creating an occasional centre point. Centra have used characters from the TV creative adverts and Carroll’s Meats, sponsors of the Offaly team have a life size ‘pig’ wearing the county shirt that was seen at Croke Park and other venues in recent years. Traditionalists may turn their nose up but the idea works well in soccer in particular with every club having an identifiable mascot that appears on school bags, posters, at matches for photographs before kick off and in a variety of different environments. It is also a big winner in the US where NBA mascots have dance offs and all sorts of ‘friendly’ competition as part of pre match build ups. The competition is already serving as a useful tool for building traffic in social media, and it may serve other purposes as well. There is an annual mascot grand national in England, sponsored by a variety of bookmakers over its 14 year history, which brings mascots together in a race that takes place in or around the time of the same named horse race and which acts as a good promotional vehicle. This years race is shown below and it may be that the GAA’s hopes for international expansion will see the new mascot emerge as a contender for the race in 2014. The competition to design the new mascot is open to everyone. Entries should include details such as whether he/she is an animal or mythical creature, it’s name, heritage, personality and how it represents the GAA. Entries have to be in by August 1st. The Mascot will be unveiled within three weeks and will appear at this year’s All Ireland finals. Now where are those crayons?

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cooper warns style of football may drive fans away Kerry star Colm Cooper has issued a scathing attack on the current state of Gaelic Football at the moment and believes that the current style of the game is turning supporters away from the game. ‘Gooch’, who has four All-Ireland winners’ medals to his name, reckons that the defensive style, which has become so prevalent, is having a negative effect on the game. “An unwritten requirement at the moment to be a GAA player is you’ve to be 6 foot 4 and built like a tank”, Cooper said. “If you look at most county teams, every guy is lifting big weights, has to be able to run and has to be able to tackle; he’s being taken over the skilful guy that’s 5’10 and slight build. “When I started playing, I was 10 stone on the nose in an All-Ireland final in Croke Park which is unheard of now. I was only 18/19 at the time. McGeeney hit me a crack of a shoulder and I knew all about it. If there was a strong wind, I would have been blown over the bar I’d say. I’m just over 12 stone now, it’s a little bit of a better fighting weight. But I’m not sure would I be able to start out (at 10 stone) really to be honest. If I’m a supporter, which I am, I go to matches to see that little bit of brilliance and class. I love to see the

championships begin to heat up The last weekend of June saw a tremendous round action in the GAA as qualifying and provincial championship build up games were decided. The weekend kicked off a little earlier than usual when Carlow and Laois contested the first ever Friday night championship game. The GAA have attempted to take a leaf out of the rugby handbook and the turnout of over 4,000 fans demonstrates that Friday night lights matches have potential. Laois came out with a convincing victory and will progress in the qualifiers. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, Dublin continued their participation in both the hurling and football championship. Following the previous weekend’s draw Dublin and Kilkenny clashed once again and it was Dublin who came out on top by a single goal. They will go on to meet Galway in the Leinster final while Kilkenny must take the back door route if they are to be present come September, let’s not rule them out just yet. Meanwhile Dublin and Kildare clashed in the football championship on the last weekend of June. Following a closely contested opening which saw Kildare take a lead of 1-01, Dublin forced their way back into the game and took control of proceedings. The Dubs came out with a win margin of 16 points and will

Kerry star Colm Cooper competitive stuff as well. But if you take the class, brilliance and elegance of players out, it will be a lesser game. At the moment it’s happening less. “That’s worrying to be honest. If you take a look at attendances at games now, I think it’s falling. Croke Park were expecting 50,000 on Sunday for Dublin v Kildare. Two or three years ago, they’d be expecting 80,000 at it. “If it continues to go the way it is, you’ll see attendances dropping. You need to safeguard the skills of the game and I think young guys growing up if they don’t see the people in their sport produce the brilliance, that’s why they watch television. “The unique thing about the GAA, is that while they can all watch Messi and Ronaldo on television, they could watch Michael Murphy, Bernard Brogan or Daniel Goulding and then meet them down the street. “It’s community based and if they don’t see their own stars on the big day, then I think the GAA is going to suffer. “My worry from that point of view is would an 18 or 19-year-old now, who is five foot ten, carrying no weight – he might be the most skilful guy in the county, the best player in the county championship – but will he be carried by the county team? I’d have my worries.”

meet Meath in the Leinster final. The Royal County came out on top following a back and forth match with Wexford in the early game of the day in Croke Park. Mick O’Dowd’s men came away with a five point win. Kildare will now host Louth in the qualifiers while Wexford travel to Longford. However, Dublin’s win was far from the biggest victory of the weekend. Armagh demonstrated their dominance when they defeated Wicklow by a very one sided 25 points. This has again raised the question of the real benefit of the qualifying rounds and how helpful they are to teams looking for a second chance at success. Armagh will next travel to Leitrim who were part of the biggest story of the weekend. One team that is portraying the changing tide of the GAA and its development abroad is London. After a closely fought battle, the Exiles will contest the Connacht Senior Football Championship final against Mayo, following a thrilling 1-13 to 2-11 win over Leitrim. At half time it looked like London were going to walk away with the win. In the second half Leitrim came back and battled for the win but lost out by a single point.

All Ireland Senior Football Championship Dublin 11/4 Tyrone 16/1 Donegal 7/2 Kildare 20/1 Kerry 4/1 Down 40/1 Mayo 6/1 Meath 50/1 Cork 13/2 Others on Request

All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Kilkenny 4/5 Clare 20/1 Tipperary 4/1 Dublin 40/1 Galway 9/2 Waterford 50/1 Cork 10/1 Wexford 200/1 Limerick 12/1 Others on Request

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The Latest From Around the Grounds BALLYBODEN ST ENDA’S

occasion, as Ballyboden secured the trophy on a 0-18 to 1-14 final score line.

It was a nail-biting affair in Portlaoise on Sunday June 16th, but ultimately Ballyboden St Enda’s had enough quality at their disposal to narrowly overcome Offaly’s Coolderry in the final of the Leinster Senior Hurling League Division One. Played as a curtain raiser to the surprisingly tense Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final between Galway and Laois, this game offered the Dublin men an opportunity to make amends for their provincial championship defeat to the same opposition in 2011.

This offers ‘Boden some form of revenge for their Leinster defeat two years ago, and with their county stars set to return in time for the club championship, they will be hoping to regain the county crown that they let slip during last year’s competition. Despite the absence of some highprofile names, they had a number of fine performers in the county Laois venue, none more so than David Curtin, who finished the contest with 0-8 to his name.

Ballyboden’s hand had been slightly limited by the absence of key players like Gary Maguire, Conal Keaney, Paul Ryan and Stephen Hiney (who were all involved in Dublin’s victory over Wexford a day earlier), but equally Coolderry were also without a number of their senior and under 21 inter-county representatives, who have important upcoming fixtures against Waterford and Kilkenny to contend with.

There is every chance that they could meet Coolderry again somewhere down the line, and their manager – former Tipperary goalkeeper Ken Hogan – will be relatively happy with the commitment and character that his team displayed in this game.

Both sides did have former county panellists in the form of David Curtin and Damien Murray, though, and they traded points during the tight early exchanges. However, with Curtin displaying inspirational form alongside Gavin Corrigan, ‘Boden pushed into a three point lead by the 20-minute mark, and although Coolderry replied with fine efforts from Kevin Connolly and Martin Corrigan, further scores courtesy of Corrigan and Curtin enabled the south Dubliners to bring a 0-11 to 0-8 lead into the second half.

Until most recently, Garrycastle were seen as the dominant side in Westmeath club football, thanks largely to their three-in-a-row county title successes between the years of 2009 and 2011. Interestingly, their manager during this time was current Galway senior hurling boss Anthony Cunningham, who also guided them to a Leinster crown in 2011, and an appearance in the All-Ireland decider at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day of last year. They were eventually comprehensively beaten in a replay by Armagh’s Crossmaglen Rangers, but they almost pulled off a shock victory in the drawn encounter, and showcased how serious an outfit they were. Unfortunately, they lost the services of Cunningham immediately after this defeat, and he was replaced by his fellow Galwegian, Paul Clancy.

The deadly accurate Murray did reduce the deficit in the early part of the second period, but Corrigan was on hand to restore Ballyboden’s three-point cushion moments later. Coolderry were continuing to pose problems for ‘Boden, but with David O’Connor finding the target in impressive fashion, it looked like the Metropolitan outfit were primed for victory with 15 minutes left to play. They remained four points to the good with just three minutes remaining, but the Offaly kingpins set up a nerve-jangling finale when Barry Teehan finished coolly past Conor Dooley for the only goal of the contest. Indeed, Coolderry had an excellent chance to completely cancel out their opponents’ advantage, but they came up just short on this

GARRYCASTLE

The two-time All-Ireland winner brought the Athlone club to their fifth consecutive county final during 2012, but they were eventually defeated in a replay by Mullingar Shamrocks. The Moycullen native stepped down after just one championship campaign, and it was left to former Clare boss Michael McDermott to take the reins.

Conor Cooney St. Thomas

He had previously brought Kilmurry to an All-Ireland club final, and had also guided the Banner County to the Munster final last year, but despite these credentials, their championship aspirations suffered a major set-back on

Sunday June 2nd when they were resoundingly beaten by St Lomans amidst the sunshine in Cusack Park. With Dessie Dolan missing through injury for Garrycastle, and Gary Dolan and David O’Shaughnessy only listed as substitutes, Lomans certainly fancied their chances of causing an upset and they edged into an early two-point lead thanks to scores from Paul Sharry and county midfielder John Heslin. Garrycastle appeared to settle into the contest when an Eoin Monaghan point on five minutes was added to by a major from Patrick Mulvihill, but Lomans reacted superbly to this set-back, and regained the lead courtesy of points from Kelvin Reilly, Conradh Reilly and Heslin. Indeed, matters became even more precarious for Garrycastle moments later, as Sharry rattled the back of the Garrycastle net following a terrific run through the heart of the opposition defence. Tom McHugh, James Duignan (free) and Mulvihill did find the range for Garrycastle, but with the ever-impressive Heslin adding a brace, Lomans held a 1-7 to 1-4 lead during the interval. It was anticipated that Garrycastle would force their way back into the reckoning upon the resumption, but this never materialised and when Lomans moved nine in front with early second period scores via Heslin (three), Reilly, Sharry and Dempsey, there was really no way back for Garrycastle. Duignan did chip in with two frees during the half, but this was the sum total of their tally after the restart, as Lomans powered on to record a 1-17 to 1-6 victory, which leaves Garrycastle with a mountain to climb if they are to make to a sixth successive county decider.

PORTUMNA March 17th of this year was a major date in the history of the St Thomas’ club from the parishes of Kilchreest, Casteldaly and Peterswell in Galway, as they secured their maiden All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship crown mere months after sealing their first-ever senior county title success. This was a magnificent feat, particularly when you take into consideration that they operated at Intermediate level until 2004. As the current holders of the national title, Thomas’ would be expected to progress through the Galway championship in confident fashion, but with five of the last eight All-Ireland wins coming from the county, it has always proven to be a highly competitive club hurling championship in the West. Their prospects of recording historic back-to-back successes was exceedingly difficult before a ball was even hit, as they were placed in Group A of the competition alongside the county’s two other recent All-Ireland victors, Clarinbridge and Portumna. The latter finished as the best club hurling side in the country on three occasions, but haven’t won their own county championship since their demolition of Loughrea in 2009. However, although they may not quite be the force of old, they still have an abundance of quality at their disposal, and started in buoyant mood against the holders at Kenny Park on June 2nd, when three-time All-Star Damien Hayes found the back of the opposition net with just 90 seconds gone on the clock. The was the catalyst for a fine opening to the contest for the challengers, and with Joe Canning once again proving to be prolific from his full-forward posting, Portumna held a 1-8 to 0-3 lead at one stage in the opening half. This was a major wake-up call for Thomas’, but they raised their game just before the interval, and two goals through Conor Cooney and Gerald Murray reduced their deficit to three points (1-10 to 2-4) heading into the second half. Having at one point looked like definite winners of the tie, Portumna were now in a real dogfight for the points on offer, and with Conor Cooney and David Burke leading the charge for Thomas’, parity was restored to the game heading into the crucial final moments. There were a number of skirmishes after the restart, which did disrupt the play to a significant extent, but when push came to shove, it was the Portumna men who

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came up with the decisive scores. Former Young Of The Player Year Canning has been the match-winner for club and county in recent years, and he hit two points late on (including a terrific sideline cut effort) to give Portumna a vital 1-16 to 2-11 triumph. This result means that Thomas’ have a lot of work to do if they are progress to the quarter-final stage, but Portumna’s own prospects are very much on course.

ST DOMINIC’S The St Dominic’s GAA club from Knockcroghery in Roscommon regularly hold 50/50 draws, and for the week ending June 16th, local resident Carmel Reynolds was the winner of the prize on offer, a not insubstantial €1,400. Liam Murphy and his team of sellers do an excellent of supplying tickets to all the participants in the draw. Draws take place for 50/50 each week, but at any point club members are able to sign up for a period of 52 weeks at a cost of €100, or for 26 weeks at a cost of €50. Further information on the 50/50 draw can be found on the club website (www.naomhdominic.com), and envelopes for the draw, which cover entries into each individual draw on each Saturday, are also available from shops/post offices and bars in the local areas, as well as John Corcoran’s Menswear and Roscommon Leisure Zone. The price for entry into each draw is just €2. The Dominic’s senior footballers had home advantage in their O’Gara Cup game on the evening of Friday June 14th, but they had to settle for a share of the spoils with St Michael’s in a low-scoring encounter. Neither side was able to open their account in the opening ten minutes, but Conor Fallon did eventually get the scoring underway with a free for Dominic’s. Michael’s responded with a 13th minute goal, and a point ten minutes before the break, but Dominic’s did finish the half in good spirits, as scores from Ultan Kelly and Sean Dervan left the bare minimum between the teams heading into the second half (1-1 to 0-3). Much like the first period, scores were few and far between in the second half, although Fallon did fist over just three minutes after the restart. Another period of 15 minutes went by without a score, before a successful free edged Michael’s back in front. Dominic’s did add points late on through Anthony Kelly and Fallon (free), but with Michael’s also scoring in between these efforts, both teams were unable to separate each other in a 1-3 to 0-6 stalemate. The Dominic’s under 14 camogie side were also involved in a lowscoring game in the first round of the Under 14 “Cooper” League against Athleague on June 3rd, but in this case the Knockcroughery outfit came out on top, as both Eimear McNally and Ciara McCarthy found the back of the Athleague net in a 2-1 to 0-2 triumph. This was a fine start to the campaign for the Dominic’s girls, and should stand them in good stead ahead of their upcoming games.

ADARE Joey Shire was in fine shooting form, but the Adare Junior hurlers ultimately came off second best to Feohanagh/Castlemahon in the opening round of the West Junior Championship in mid-June. This was a frustrating result for Adare, although they will have an opportunity to make amends when they enter the back-door stage of the competition in the coming weeks. Adare had been chasing the game from an early stage, as Feohanagh registered two goals in the opening ten minutes of play, but didn’t allow their heads to drop, and they enjoyed a dominant spell of possession towards the end of the first half. Shire was extremely accurate from placed balls in the opening 30 minutes, and his keen eye for the target enabled Adare to head into the dressing room at half-time just four points in arrears (2-6 to 0-8).

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distraction, but all the participating squads coped admirably throughout the day. Dungiven sent two under 12 teams on the day, and the ‘A’ team won all of the games that they played in. The ‘B’ side were less successful in their encounters, though they had reason to be happy with their overall level of performance. At under 14 level, Dungiven also have two competing teams, but their results during the mid-June were somewhat mixed.

The Latest From Around the Grounds However, they still had an uphill task on their hand upon the resumption, as Feohanagh had the breeze behind them and were eager to make for a slight slump in their play during the second-quarter. Alongside the influential Shire, Jack English and Eric Neville both impressed for Adare, but Feohanagh were simply too strong for them in the end, and they finished with a ten-point cushion over their opponents (2-16 to 0-12). In the current Limerick Senior Hurling League Group 1, Adare currently lie in fourth place, with two wins and two losses from four games so far. This leaves them just two points behind Knockainey, Ballybrown and Kilmallock, but the Adare seniors will embark on their fifth game of the term against Effin with plenty of authority, as their most recent league fixture against Bruree in Ballingarry on June 15th ended in a 20-point victory (3-22 to 0-11) for Dave Keane’s charges.

picked up their first trophy of the season on Saturday June 15th when they overcame St Pat’s on a score line of 2-8 to 0-6, which secured the South Kerry Junior Hurling League title for the Tralee men. Taking place in Connolly Park, Stacks enjoyed a dream start to the proceedings when Paul Daly fired to the back of the Pat’s net with just three minutes gone after having his initial attempt saved by the goalkeeper.

They started this particular encounter with great intent, and they had 1-5 to their name within the opening eight minutes, the goal arriving courtesy of Willie Griffin. County star Declan Hannon had pointed during this juncture, and he was on hand to secure Adare’s second major of the contest after making a tremendous catch from a long delivery. Hannon is one of the brightest prospects in Limerick hurling, and he displayed this once more on 23 minutes when he finished low for his side’s third goal after turning his man towards the end line. This score, along with a plethora points, gave Adare an astonishing 3-13 to 0-2 lead at the break, which effectively sealed the triumph for the visitors at a very early stage.

A further point by Pat’s left six between the teams 43 minutes into the contest, but with Daly finding the target with a brace of frees, and both Danny Maguire and O’Leary chipping in with points from play, Stacks had assumed an unassailable lead. A couple of late Pat’s points did add some respectability to the scoreboard, but the damage had been done at this stage, and Austin Stacks eased towards a deserved triumph.

AUSTIN STACKS With 11 Kerry Senior Football Championship titles to their name, and an All-Ireland Senior triumph from 1977, Austin Stacks are better known as a footballing club. With past players like Mikey Sheehy, Ger Power, Ger O’Keeffe, John O’Keeffe, Pa Laide and William Kirby counted amongst their club members, along with current county panellists Kieran Donaghy and Daniel Bohane, it is easy to see why.

The under 8s train on the same evening between the times of 7pm and 8pm, except they train on Pitch 2 of the St Patrick’s. They hosted Limavady in what initially intended to be a mini-blitz on the morning of June 16th, and while the last minute cancellations of a number of clubs (mainly due to the inclement weather) did lead to a more subdued atmosphere, it was nevertheless a worthwhile exercise for all involved.

They do, however, also compete in hurling, and although they are not at the level that saw them winning the Senior Championship on four occasion backs in the 1920s and 1930s, they are starting to rise again, and 2012 saw them returning to the Intermediate ranks as a result of their Junior Championship triumph.

With Pitch 2 at St Patrick’s being taken up by the under 8s, the under 10s have their training on Pitch 1, while the under 12s train from 7pm to 8pm in Pairc na nOg on Thursday evenings. The latter travelled to Coleraine for a Go-Games Blitz on Saturday June 15th, and performed really well against not just the hosts, but also the visiting clubs of Glenulin, Craigbane and Claudy. The bad weather conditions were once again a

number of clubs were called on to play to host to a number of clubs from around Ireland and across the water. Dungiven were one such club, and they welcomed outfits from Cork and Scotland, who were accepted into the local area with open arms in what was a truly memorable time period for GAA throughout the county.

PORTAFERRY There were dramatic scenes in Croke Park on Saturday June 8th, as Down were crowned Christy Ring Cup champions for the very first time with the help of a stoppage time goal from Gareth ‘Magic’ Johnson in a 3-16 to 2-17 victory over Kerry. This was a terrific achievement for the Mourne county team, but was a particularly special occasion for the Portaferry club, as they had a total of seven players involved in the squad. Key amongst them was Paul Braniff, who was subsequently named as the Player Of The Tournament, and has proven to be an ace marksman for the county since making his debut back in 2000. Braniff was also the captain for this game, and it was fitting that the veteran forward was the man to lift the silverware on the day, as he has been a vital part of Down’s successes in recent years, including their 2003 Ulster U-21 Championship triumph and their 2004 National Football League Division 2 victory. En route to the final, Braniff has shown his true worth to the Down cause, as he had amassed a combined tally of 1-23 from four games (including 0-4 in an opening round defeat to Kerry), and his reliability from both placed balls and general play was going to be vital towards their cause as they renewed acquaintances with The Kingdom hurlers. Braniff went on to contribute a total of 0-6 in the decider (one of his points came from a penalty), but it was his leadership as much as anything that was vital towards their success. Aside from the inspirational 30-year-old, Portaferry were also represented on the day by corner-back Matt Conlon, who had his hands full against a potent Kerry full-forward line, but stuck to his task in admirable fashion. Joining Braniff and Conlon in the side was Ciaran Coulter, who lined up at midfield alongside Donal Hughes, and having been under pressure in the earlier stages of the contest, the centrefield duo eventually got on top during the final quarter, which instigated their late charge towards victory. Corner-forward Kevin McGarry completed the Portaferry contingent on the field of play, and he proved to be a useful foil for the likes of Braniff, Johnson and James Coyle.

DUNGIVEN Although we are now in the summer months, the underage section of Dungiven continues to be event-filled, and it is expected that it will continue in this vein right up until the start of the new school term at the beginning of September. The club’s youngest age group, the under 6s, continue to train every Wednesday between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on St Canice’s Primary School pitch.

The hurling team has continued this successful run into 2013, and they

With Féile Peile na nÓg taking place in Derry at the end of June, a

With both teams hitting seven wides each during the first half, scores were at a premium, although Stacks did increase their cushion to five thanks to scores from Trevor Barrett and Paul Daly (free), Pat’s did finally open their account with a point after 23 minutes, and they also raised a white flag from a free, but Barrett’s second of the contest gave Stacks a 1-3 to 0-2 advantage at the half-way stage. A telling Michael O’Leary pass led to a Joe Brennan point in the opening minute after the restart, but this was quickly cancelled out by another pointed free from Pat’s. With their eastern counterparts still well in contention, Stacks needed a second goal to truly kill off the tie, and it did arrive with 20 minutes to play when a free from Daly out near the sideline found its way directly to the back of the net after Shane Fitzgerald made a nuisance of himself in the square.

Having played with such ferocious intensity in the opening period, it was understandable that Adare weren’t as devastating upon the resumption, but with PJ Hall impressing in goal, and the likes of Mike Clifford and Jeff Lohan also providing a physical presence further out the field, the were able to hold on to their insurmountable advantage coming the end of the game.

The ‘A’ squad had a terrific 5-9 to 2-5 victory away to Kilrea, which helped them to consolidate their second place positioning in the league, just behind the undefeated Féile victors, Bellaghy. At the time of writing, they had two games left to play against Bellaghy (at home) and an away trip to third-placed Ballinascreen, both of which will have a major impact on their final league standing. The ‘B’ squad, on the other hand, found the going tough against a well-drilled Drumsurn outfit, who are expected to challenge for top honours in the division come the end of the term.

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Paul Braniff, who was subsequently named as the Player Of The Tournament

Andy Savage, Connor O’Prey and Patrick McNally were also part of the Down panel throughout the Christy Ring campaign, which is of little surprise when you consider that Portaferry are the current holders of the Down Senior Hurling title. While Braniff was the chief scorer from the club on the Down team, McGarry did show plenty of form throughout the competition, and finished with 0-6 to his name - including 0-3 against Meath in the semi-final – a game that also saw Coulter chipping in with a point. n

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On 1st November 1884 Michael Cusack met seven other men in Hayes Hotel in Thurles, County Tipperary and founded the Gaelic Athletic Association for the Preservation and Cultivation of our National Pastimes. Since 1884 the Gaelic Athletic Association has had a place in Irish society that goes beyond what is normally expected of a national sporting body. From the outset politics influenced the GAA’s policies, but politics, however, was secondary to the GAA as its main role was in forging a sense of local and national identity. The early success of the GAA in securing support for a revival of hurling and football was reflected in large attendances at matches and Gaelic Athletic meetings and in the rapid growth in the number of GAA branches all over the country. On the other hand, the Australian Football League, the country’s most popular sporting competition, gradually evolved after mergers between several regional Aussie rules clubs. The league has its origins in Australian Rules football that began in Melbourne in 1858. For most of the 20th century, the South Australian National Football League, the West Australian Football League and the Victorian Football League were the major leagues. They continued playing each other at various nationwide club competitions. The modern day Australian Football League only came into being in 1990 after the Victorian Football League’s governing body decided to market the competition, as an official national league and thus renamed it. The Australian Football League continues to expand. It is financially the strongest sporting league in the country, with substantial media and corporate investment and sponsorship programmes. Thus we have two sporting cultures, 17,500 kilometres apart; two football codes founded for different reasons, with different rules and even different score posts. One played by amateurs with a round ball on a rectangular pitch; the other played by professional players with an oval ball on an oval shaped pitch. As different as chalk and cheese or maybe not. Both Irish and Irish Australian historians, including Patrick O’Farrell, Marcus De Búrca, Chris McConville and Richard Davis have supported the theory that the two games have some common origins. Other Australian historians, including Geoffrey Blainey, Leonie Sandercock and Ian Turner have rejected any such connection, emphasising instead the influence of rugby football. Some sources also suggest that the Australian Aboriginal game of ‘Marn Grook’ was an influence on Australian Rules football. While historians debated, others acted. In 1967, Harry Beitzel, an Australian sports broadcaster and media personality, drew inspiration from watching the 1966 All Ireland Senior Football Final on television as Galway defeated Meath and he formed an Australian side, nicknamed “The Galahs”, to play the game against an Irish side. He organised a tour in October 1967 to play County Meath after Meath had won that year’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The Galahs defeated County Meath 3-16 to 1-10 at Croke Park, and then defeated County Mayo 2-12 to 2-5. The following year he organised The Australian Football World Tour,

G e netic Pe rforma nc e

a series with games played against Irish teams in Ireland (Dublin, Meath, Kerry); the United Kingdom (London) and United States of America (New York). The Galahs also played exhibition matches of Australian Rules throughout the tour, including a game in Bucharest, Romania. Meath then visited Australia for a five-match tour, winning all their games. The feature game of the tour was their victorious rematch with the Galahs at Princes Park in Melbourne. Kerry also won all of their games when they toured Australia in 1970. Beitzel returned in October 1978 and his team played UCD, Dublin and Kerry. What followed was the beginning of regular interaction between the two codes which was to become known as International Rules Football. In 1984, the first official representative matches of International rules football were played. Three matches were played in each of the years 1984, 1986, 1987 and 1990. Those results are shown below:

Dates and Year The Host Country Results

raises one arm above his head. If the ball goes between a large post and a small post, a behind is scored and it is worth 1 point. The umpire waves a white flag and raises one index finger. Scores are written so as to show the number of each of the different types of scores and similar to Australian football the total points score for each team is given. The 2013 International Rules Series will be the 17th International Rules Series contested between, Gaelic footballers from Ireland and Australian rules footballers from Australia. As in former series from 1998, this series will be played over two test matches, with an aggregate score from both test matches used to determine the winner. The two teams contest a trophy, which in 2004 was named the ‘Cormac McAnallen Cup’ after the Tyrone team captain Cormac

INTERNATIONAL SERIES SCORES

21 October 1984

Ireland

Australia 70

Ireland 57

28 October 1984

Ireland

Australia 100

Ireland 62

4 November 1984

Ireland

Australia 76

Ireland 71

10 October 1986

Australia

Australia 64

Ireland 57

19 October 1986

Australia

Australia 62

Ireland 46

24 October 1986

Australia

Australia 55

Ireland 32

18 October 1987

Ireland

Ireland 53

Australia 52

25 October 1987

Ireland

Australia 72

Ireland 47

1 November 1987

Ireland

Australia 59

Ireland 55

2 November 1990

Australia

Ireland 47

Australia 46

10 November 1990

Australia

Australia 59

Ireland 21

17 November 1990

Australia

Australia 59

Ireland 44

The International Rules Series between the senior Australian international rules football team and Ireland international rules football team has been played almost annually since 1998 (not in 2007, 2009, 2012) The International Rules Series alternates host countries each year between Ireland and Australia. The 2006 International Rules series sold out both matches in Ireland and set a record for international sports in Ireland with a crowd of 82,127 at Croke Park. Just before looking at the results below, a quick reminder of how the scores are registered. The game uses two large posts and two small posts, as in Australian rules, and a crossbar and goal net as in Gaelic football. Points are scored as follows: If the ball enters the goal net, a goal is scored and is worth 6 points. The umpire waves a green flag and raises both index fingers. If the ball goes over the crossbar and between the two large posts an over is scored and it is worth 3 points. The umpire waves a red flag and

21 Oct. 1984

Ireland

Australia 70 – Ireland 57

28 Oct. 1984

Ireland

Australia 100 - Ireland 62

4 Nov. 1984

Ireland

Australia 76 – Ireland 71

10 Oct. 1986

Australia

Australia 64 – Ireland 57

19 Oct. 1986

Australia

Australia 62 – Ireland 46

24 Oct. 1986

Australia

Australia 55 – Ireland 32

18 Oct. 1987

Ireland

Ireland 53 – Australia 52

25 Oct. 1987

Ireland

Australia 72 – Ireland 47

1 Nov. 1987

Ireland

Australia 59 – Ireland 55

2. Nov. 1990

Australia

Ireland 47 - Australia 46

10 Nov. 1990

Australia

Australia 59 - Ireland 21

17 Nov. 1990

Australia

Australia 59 – Ireland 44

McAnallen whose death that year from a heart condition came after he had represented Ireland in the previous three series. The GAA announced the schedule for this series, with Breffni Park in Cavan chosen for the first test match on October 19th and Croke Park in Dublin chosen to host the second test match a week later. This is the first time that the mens’ International Rules match will be played in Cavan, or for that matter at a venue situated in the jurisdiction of the Ulster GAA council. Indeed the President of the GAA (Chumann Lúthchleas Gael) Liam Ó Néill congratulated all involved with Cavan’s successful bid to stage the first test. What can we expect from this year’s series. Since 1998 both countries have won six series each but Ireland have won 12 test matches as opposed to Australia’s 10 with two tests being drawn. However, the Irish are dissatisfied that Australia have won four of the six series played in Ireland (six of the eight if we go back to 1984) and inflicted Ireland’s heaviest defeat on Irish soil in the 2nd Test in 2006. This year’s Irish

manager Paul Earley, along with his backroom team of Dublin’s former superstar Ciarán Whelan, Tony Scullion a legendary figure in Derry football and former Tipperary player and manager Séamus McCarthy do not want to see another Aussie win on Irish soil. It was interesting to listen to Tony Scullion, a four-time All Star who played against Australia in 1987 and 1990, speak about how the series has changed over the last number of years. He believed that back when he played it was a great game to play but that the game has definitely moved on with the skills taking tantamount importance. He also admitted that “there are less rucks and some of the others stuff, whatever you want to call that. It’s great to see that it’s all about the football now.” Back then, Australia was represented by the All-Australian team – their equivalent of the GAA All Stars – and was made up of muscle-bound ‘giants’ who weren’t necessarily the most suited to this hybrid game. More recently, however, the Australians have hand-picked players more suited to the particular demands of playing with a round ball and a game that has evolved quickly. In 2011, Ireland recorded a record 130-65 aggregate victory Down Under against a very inexperienced home side. Scullion hopes Australia will travel with a stronger squad in October so Ireland can measure themselves against the best players in a professional code. In May of this year, Andrew Demetriou the AFL CEO confirmed to Channel 9’s ‘The Footy Show’ that the AFL was considering the possibility of sending an all-Indigenous team made up of exclusively Aboriginal footballers to Ireland for this 2013 series. Later that same month, respected sports journalist Caroline Wilson wrote an article in ‘The Age’ claiming that that possibility now “seemed certain” To date the GAA have not been approached officially or informally by the AFL . Attendances at the series in Australia have been in decline for the past 10 years. Although aggregate crowds of over 100,000 attended the two Tests in Perth and Melbourne in 2003, the numbers fell by almost two thirds to 35,466 when the series was last played there, in Melbourne and the Gold Coast, two years ago. The primary problem, however, of this series was that the home challenge was very poor with Ireland winning both Tests overwhelmingly. Interestingly Australia’s biggest win in 2005 was the result of a selection, featuring an emphasis on indigenous footballers, whose speed and ball skills their coach Kevin Sheedy believed would be ideally suited to the game. It’s not clear what the impact this would have on the series in Ireland if the Australian team is perceived not to be representative of all of the best players in the AFL, but it can be argued that Ireland will face the best players for this compromise rules series. The AFL website also reports that this year’s series will be played as a tribute to former Dublin minor All-Ireland winner and Melbourne Brownlow medalist, the late Jim Stynes, who played international rules for both countries and after whom the medal for the best AFL player over the two Tests is named. There would be no better way to honour this good man and servant of our game than to show our support for the Irish team. n

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Jim Stynes “At 18 years of age, to move away from family and friends to play a game that you’ve never played before, for a team you’d never heard of in a country on the other side of the world, that is courage. To be first, that is courage. To stay, that is courage. To fight, that is courage.” - Melbourne Football Club’s chief executive Cameron Schwab

During his record consecutive games streak he was named All-Australian for the second time and won the Melbourne best and fairest award for the fourth time. Australia saw another praiseworthy and humanitarian side of Jim Stynes when he started up the Reach Foundation and he also worked with the Premier’s Youth Suicide Task Force.

The ‘Irish Experiment’ has become the popular phrase for the interest of some AFL clubs, in bringing Irish Gaelic footballers to Australia to play Australian rules football professionally. The AFL’s initial focus on Gaelic footballers was probably due to the many similarities between the two games.

His consecutive games streak came to an end after 244 matches in round four in 1998, when he broke his hand. He announced his retirement at the end of that season after a total of 264 matches, then the second-highest tally in Melbourne’s history. However, he did not lose interest in either football or his work with the youth. He was selected as assistant coach for the Australian International Rules team (the Jim Stynes Medal is named for Australia’s best player in the International Rules series against Ireland) and in 2000 he became an assistant coach at Melbourne He was named in Melbourne’s Team of the Century and in 2003 was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. His work was noted and rewarded as he was twice named Victorian of the year and in 2007 he received the Medal of the Order of Australia by the Queen for his work with youth and contribution to Australian Football. He then became Melbourne’s president and helped wipe out their debt.

John Phillip Wight, better known as Sean, pioneered the AFL’s audacious “Irish experiment,” which began in the 1982 as an informal project of the Melbourne Football Club. Although Scottish by birth, Seán Wight moved to England at the age of 10, trialled for soccer club Fulham but then moved to Ireland. He came to prominence during the early 1980s, playing Gaelic football with Kerry club Listowel Emmets and winning the 1982 All-Ireland Football Final with the Kerry minors. Keen on international travel, Wight had answered a newspaper advertisement to attend the trial organised by talent scouts to find potential VFL players. He had been alerted to this advertisement by his aunt. He impressed the Melbourne Demons scouts with his high fielding in the All-Ireland Minor Final and at the training camp and moved to Australia in 1982 arriving on grand final day. His only previous exposure to Australian Rules was watching it on television. However, he was a natural with his athleticism and leap, and within three years, Wight had made his senior debut. He missed the 1984 season with a knee injury and struggled to establish a permanent spot in the senior side throughout 1985, but persistence paid off and he became one of the Demons best in 1987. Wight gained a reputation as a no nonsense defender and carried a trademark moustache for most of his career. 1990 saw Wight play just two games after being ravaged by injury, and his next three years were similarly interrupted. It was not until the successful 1994 season that Wight managed to play more than half a season again, and after being almost ever present that year, he played 21 games in 1995 until injuries eventually forced him to retire. Wight had represented both Victoria and Australia during his 150-game career in which he scored 63 goals. He was a Melbourne club director in 1996-97, a club legend, he was inducted into Melbourne’s Hall of Fame in 2008 and was also named on a list of the side’s ‘150 Heroes’. He died from cancer on June 30th, 2011. He was considered one of the great athletes of his time. “He was one of the few players in the competition capable of matching it with the almost incomparable Gary Ablett for speed, strength and athleticism,” wrote ‘Age’ columnist Garry Lyon in March 2011, shortly after Wight’s cancer diagnosis. Melbourne Football Club chief executive Cameron Schwab paid tribute

G enetic Perfo rma nce

Jim Stynes is honoured by team mates during the round 1 of the AFL season to Sean Wight, “To lose a great champion, a true pioneer, and a man of great courage at such a young age is both tragic and a great shock.” Wight’s former team-mate and then Melbourne’s club chairman Dubliner Jim Stynes, who was also undergoing treatment for cancer himself, paid tribute to “a great man, a great teammate and a good friend.” Stynes summed up Wight’s ability as a professional footballer when he said “He’s probably the most competitive and probably the greatest athlete that I’ve played footy with.” High praise indeed. In 1984 the most famous and most successful ‘Irish Experiment’ player Jim Stynes from Dublin left our shores to head for Melbourne. He made his VFL senior debut for Melbourne in 1987 in round three, wearing no.37 and went on to play 13 matches, including the preliminary final. In round 18, he began his famous 244-games consecutive streak wearing his trademark no.11 and would not miss another match until 1998. In 1988 he was selected to play for Victoria and two years later was appointed deputy vice-captain of Melbourne. He was named Melbourne’s vicecaptain in 1991 and won the prestigious Brownlow Medal, awarded to the ‘fairest and best’ player in the Australian Football League which is widely acknowledged as the highest individual honour in that sport. He also won most other major football awards on offer, and was named All-Australian for the first time.

Unfortunately in 2009 Jim Stynes announced that he had cancer and would be undergoing treatment. By the following year his condition had worsened, and he had tumours removed from his brain. He died on March 20th, surrounded by family. Tributes poured in from near and far. Melbourne FC president Don McLardy said: ‘‘There are few places in Australia that have not heard of or been touched by the legend of Jim Stynes - the affable Irishman who left his homeland to chase a dream, and succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations.” AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said Stynes had made a significant contribution to the game and the community concluding that ‘‘we should all have been proud to know Jim Stynes and we are all the better for it.’’ Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said “It was an absolute honour to know Jim and a privilege to name him 2010 Melburnian of the Year in recognition of his work with Reach Foundation,” He also added that Stynes had been an outstanding ambassador for the city and his work with Reach had helped more than half-a-million young Victorians. These sentiments were echoed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who paid tribute to an “absolute legend’’. This writer shares the same thoughts and feelings. Tadhg Kennelly grew up playing Gaelic football with Listowel Emmets in Kerry, but he moved to Australia to play professional Australian Rules football in the Australian Football League. In 1999, he signed a rookie contract with the Sydney Swans. After his debut in 2001, he became a first choice player on the Sydney team. The following year he earned an

Jim Stynes points the way for the Australian team AFL Rising Star nomination, reinforcing his reputation as an upcoming young talent. He is best known in Australia as the first Irish-born player to have received an AFL Premiership medallion. This he won in 2005, after playing all 26 games for the Sydney Swans that year. He was also the first AFL player to represent Ireland against Australia in the International Rules Series. After Jim Stynes he is the second most experienced player associated with the ‘Irish experiment’. In 2007 and 2008 after several seasons missing only a few games, Kennelly suffered a series of serious leg and shoulder injuries which were a major hindrance to his AFL career. He was selected in the Dream Team for the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match, but had to withdraw due to injury. On several occasions during his AFL career, Kennelly had expressed a desire to return home to Ireland and leave the AFL, as he would like to rival the success of his father and win an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medal with Kerry. In December 2005, Kennelly’s father Tim died suddenly at age 51. Many believe this was a catalyst for his return to Ireland. In August 2006, Kennelly announced that he would continue playing with the Swans for a further three years but that he would be returning to Ireland at the end of that three year contract. He announced that return to Ireland and Gaelic football in January 2009. Kennelly was given a job as a coaching officer by the Kerry County Board. He also played for the Kerry Senior team and eventually won a National Football League medal. On 20th September 2009 he played on the winning All-Ireland final team, becoming the first person to win an AFL premiership and an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship; the highest possible achievement in both sports. On 12 November 2009, Kennelly signed a further two year deal with the Sydney Swans. In addition to his playing role, he was also involved in a coaching role at the club. Kennelly played his final AFL game in Sydney’s semi-final defeat to Hawthorn in September 2011. He retired from the game having played 197 AFL games. Of all the Irish who went to Australia as part of the Irish Experiment only Jim Stynes, Tadhg Kennelly and Seán Wright have played more than 100 games of Australian Football Rules. n

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THE OPEN COLLEGE

The Open College Offers ‘Real Choice’ for Students The Open College offers more flexibility and choice to its prospective students than any other private college in Ireland. This independent private college is now offering over 75 FETAC approved level 5 and 6 courses to hundreds of students in a variety of formats. Modern living is a delicate balancing act between work, family and social time off. At the same time we are encouraged to develop a positive attitude towards the concept of lifelong learning, without any real advice being given on how we are supposed to add another juggling ball into our lives. So if you’re looking to tailor a training programme around your life rather than the other way around - the Open College is for you. Traditional taught programmes where attendance is required, blended learning and their renowned distance learning and e-learning programmes, are all available. In this way the student is empowered with options for independent study, informal learning and varied communication channels including one to one tutor support. While The Open College do offer some general interest courses, most of their programmes are designed with up skilling and practical training in mind. Healthcare, Business, Beauty, Childcare, IT, Law, Journalism and teaching are just some of the areas covered, plus all courses are designed and constantly maintained by leading educational experts to ensure they are up to date technically, culturally and from a legislative perspective. With its recent expansion and move to state-of-the art training facilities Leopardstown Business Centre, Dublin 18, The Open College bucks the economic trends. This new location is only yards from the Luas green line and just off the M50 (between junctions 14 and 15) with free parking. The Open College provides many reasons why so many opt to study with them: •

offers a range of over 75 FETAC Programmes,

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For more information on courses and programme advice you can contact The Open College at: The learning Centre, Leopardstown Business Centre, Ballyogan Road, Leopardstown, Dublin 18. Tel: + 353 (1) 206 1828 or 01 2061829 email: info@theopencollege.com n

Irish Training & Educational Centre (ITEC) ITEC - Irish Training & Educational Centre provides the opportunity to complete Sports Coaching (FETAC Level 6), Exercise and Fitness (FETAC Level 5) and Sports Nutrition (FETAC Level 6) through home study and online options. This enables the student to receive Internationally recognised FETAC Sports qualifications without attendance at tutorials and classes. We have facilitated students from every part of Ireland to improve their sporting qualifications through our online sports courses. The student feedback from completed courses has been tremendous. In addition to our 50% off offer, ITEC is at least 40% cheaper for FETAC Award Courses compared to some of our competitors. We will be adding our new Sports Psychology (FETAC Level 6) this summer for enrolments in August 2013. Register for your preferred FETAC Sports and fitness courses at www. irishtraining.ie/health/ Students that decide to take up one of these courses can rest assured that they will be getting the best sports and fitness tuition available to them, anywhere in the country. The qualifications expected and guaranteed from our tutors are as follows: •

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conversational style learning. Students are completely immersed in the learning process via practice coaching sessions, feedback sessions and class coaching observation sessions. The content is taught in a simple, practical manner without over reliance on written material. It is a condition of this course that the student becomes familiar with team coaching and using feedback positively. One of the most popular courses on the ITEC programme is the FETAC Level 5 Exercise and Fitness course. Learning outcomes that students will achieve will be the ability to put together comprehensive programmes built around understanding how the human body works when engaged in exercise. The FETAC Level 6 Sports Nutrition programme provides a number of detailed outcomes including the utilisation and evaluation of energy intake and outtake during exercise. Students will also be able to design proper training programmes, for both team and individual sports, on completion of their time at ITEC. Courses last for a three month period. While it may seem like a short period of time, the work during those 12 weeks is intense. The major benefit of choosing an ITEC sports course, is that all the course content is on-line. Students therefore can study and complete their course work from the comfort of their own home, rather than having to travel weekly to an on-site campus and makes improving your sports and fitness qualifications easy and flexible. For further information on ITEC, and the courses that we provide, please visit www.irishtraining.ie. Call us on 01 2061832. n

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With two All-Ireland medals tucked up in his back pocket, alongside five Munster titles in the famous blue and yellow jersey of Tipperary, Eoin Kelly has packed an awful lot into his inter-county career to date, and at the age of 31, one could argue that the best is yet to come from this explosive forward.

campaign by capturing the Vodafone Young Hurler of the Year award.

Not only is he one of the most important players within the Tipperary set-up, Kelly is also one of the most prolific goal scorers in the history of the GAA. He ranks behind only Henry Shefflin and Eddie Keherin, both of Kilkenny, in the all-time scoring list, which is no mean feat.

He scored a remarkable 2-23 in Tipperary’s two opening games against Limerick and Waterford. His tally of 2-9 in the second game equalled the total scored by the entire Waterford team and landed him a place on the top ten list of all-time scoring greats.

Kelly’s rise to cult like status began in modest surroundings. Kelly plays with his club hurling with his native Mullinahone and has enjoyed some success. In 2002 he lined out in his first county senior championship final with county kingpins Thurles Sarsfield’s providing the opposition.

Despite coming up short at the business end of the All-Ireland championship over the next few years, 2010 would be the year that Kelly and Tipperary would finally end their long wait to get their hands on the Liam McCarthy Cup.

Kelly’s side led by six points coming into the last quarter, however, Thurles Sarsfield’s battled back to secure a 0-14 apiece draw. The replay a week later was a much more conclusive affair. Kelly scored a remarkable 2-7 to give Mullinahone a 2-10 to 1-11 victory and a very first county title. Kelly also picked up the Man of the Match award, in a power packed display, which gave an indication of the immense potential that he possessed. That talent would soon catch the eye of the Tipperary selectors and it wasn’t long before Kelly was drafted into the county panel. He would make his minor debut at the tender age of fifteen. Remarkably, for a player that would morph into a goal scoring machine, Kelly’s debut for the Tipp minors began, not in the forward line, but in goal. Kelly collected his first county medal, at minor level, when he helped Tipp land the Munster championship. He would collect another one just two short years later, however Kelly and Tipperary would fail to win an All-Ireland at minor level. His precocious nature would soon see him make the step up to senior level, a move that would be the start of a wonderful period of time for Tipperary hurling. He made his debut in the All-Ireland quarter-final in 2000 on a day when he doubled as sub-goalie and sub-forward. Tipp had already been defeated by Cork in the Munster final and were now embarking on the ‘back-door’ route to the All-Ireland final. Galway provided the opposition on that occasion, however, Tipp were defeated on a score line of 1-14 to 0-15. That game marked Kelly out as a star for the future and he has played a key role for Tipp since then. 2001 proved to be one of the best years for Kelly as a hurler. He was a key member of the team when Tipp won the National Hurling League title that year following a 1-19 to 0-17 defeat of old rivals Clare. It was Kelly’s first silverware at senior level. Later that summer Tipp qualified for the Munster final where Limerick provided the opposition. A 2-16 to 1-17 victory would see Kelly land his first Munster senior title.

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While the next few seasons saw Tipp go into somewhat of a decline, things began to turn around in the summer of 2006. The legendary Babs Keating returned the helm and Kelly stepped into the spotlight to become one of the ‘go to’ players within the Tipperary panel.

At the start of the campaign Kelly was made captain of the team and it would prove to be a masterstroke. At the time Kilkenny were on their ‘drive for five’ All-Ireland’s in a row, yet in their way was a fired up and determined Tipperary team.

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In an absorbing contest Tipperary got off to a great start when Kilkenny’s talisman Henry Shefflin had to leave the field after just 13 minutes with an injury. Kelly was largely anonymous in the final and failed to register a score from play but a hat-trick of goals by Lar Corbett and a fourth by Noel McGrath, denied Kilkenny’s drive-for-five and secured a 4-17 to 1-18 victory. In beating Kilkenny, Kelly became the first man from South Tipperary to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup for the Premier County.

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Although they have failed to kick on from that defeat of Kilkenny back in 2011, with Eoin Kelly in the panel, it would take a brave man to write off their chances of making a trip back to Croke Park in September. n

MARY FLANAGAN

The All-Ireland final that year would see Tipperary face Galway and in a pulsating game, it was the Premier County that prevailed to give Kelly his first All-Ireland championship medal. He would round off a fantastic

Eoin Kelly

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‘Aftercare provided in Ireland’

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Daire WALSH

DES DOOLIN Na Fianna GAA Chairman

na fianna

‘Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh siad’ ‘Praise the young and they will react.’ What better way to prepare young players than to start early with enjoyment, team work and coaching. The Nursery is the heart of Na Fianna and is where the future senior players and life-long sport and healthy lifestyle enthusiasts are trained and coached in the skills of Gaelic games, in an atmosphere that emphasises participation and fun for all. Adopting the modern trends of small-sided games, low child-to-coach ratios, and reward and affirmation for all children, a staggering number of parents, often new to Gaelic games, have got involved in co-ordinating coaching sessions, where often the seeds of a long-term bond with the community club are formed. Na Fianna is very proud of its nursery and very appreciative of the work that so many parents, mentors, former players and current players The emphasis on youth will continue with Na Fianna GAA Summer Camps 2013. Date 1-5 July

Camp Time

Sport

Multi Sport Club Camp

10am-2.30pm

Multi Sport

8-12 July Kelloggs Cul Camp 10am-2.30pm

Hurling & Football

12-16 August Club Camp

10am-2.30pm

Football

19-23 August Club Camp

10am-2.30pm

Hurling

Club Camps: •

The Multi Sport Club Camp is multi disciplined. Each child will spend time at the different Sport stations each day.

•

The Football Club Camp will be specific to Football and Ladies Football only.

•

The Hurling Club Camp will be specific to Hurling and Camogie only.

•

Open to children from 5-13 years of age.

Kelloggs Cul Camps: •

This year we are hosting a Dual camp where BOTH Hurling and Football will be practiced.

•

By booking the Cul Camp online at www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie, it is possible to avail of a discount with a code from Kelloggs cereal boxes. There is discount for additional family members and an additional discount for doing the two camps. Na Fianna is in the Dublin West category.

•

Children will receive a Jersey, Shorts, Socks and Back Pack.

•

Open to children from 5-13 years of age.

put in at this crucial developmental level. As part of this youth work Na Fianna Mini Leagues are run in the evenings of June every year. Children from the surrounding areas from 12 years of age down take part in smallsided games of Gaelic football, hurling and camogie. This year’s Mini Leagues once again culminated with the Cup and Shield finals being played during the Family Day which was held on Sunday 23rd June. The full day’s programme, which is currently in preparation, will be advised as soon as it is finalised but it promises to be another action packed day with something for all the family. Don’t miss it; put it in your diary straight away. An online facility for booking Club camps will be available shortly at www.clgnafianna.ie. For additional information, contact Na Fianna’s Games Promotion Officer, Colm Crowley, on colm.crowley.gpo.dublin@ gaa.ie or contact the office at 8370210. The Kelloggs Cul Camp can be booked online at www.kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie. Na Fianna’s Joey Boland and Máirtín Quilty were back in action for the Dublin Senior hurlers as they took the field in the replay against Kilkenny. The Junior C footballers managed to get a big championship win in Bohernareena against St. Annes. The U-13 Boys footballers made club history recently by fielding four teams in competition. As far as can be ascertained, Na Fianna has never previously fielded four teams at this age group and with seventy two boys on the books there was a sense of inevitability about this. With numbers at this age seeming to continue to grow, the mentors began to encounter the problem of an overly plentiful supply of subs on the sideline. With this in mind and with the support and co-operation of the parents, and also mindful of the importance of their philosophy of “game-time for all” at this critical stage of the players’development, the U-13 mentors decided to go ahead and set up a fourth team. The Na Fianna u12 hurlers were invited to compete in the Dicksboro GAA hurling tournament along with James Stephens, Erins Own, MountMellick, Thomastown and the home club First up was Erins Own of Kilkenny. A couple of late points swung it for Erins Own after a thrilling battle. Final Score: Na Fianna 3-6; Erins Own 3-8. Na Fianna then managed a win of 4-4 to 1-3 against James Stephens. The large margin proved crucial as it meant that Na Fianna topped the group and had qualified for the “A” final against the winners of the other group, Thomastown. Na Fianna, led by captain Eoghan Brady, faced off against Thomastown in the final. Na Fianna hurled a tremendous game and were pushing hard for the winning goal as they trailed by two points with time almost up. The excellent Thomastown keeper made a miraculous save, which was cleared down the field and led to a goal against the run of play. The final whistle sounded immediately afterwards. Final Score: Na Fianna 1-6; Thomastown 3-5. There were many fixtures over the weekend of June 29th and 30th as Na Fianna travelled to O’ Tooles. All Na Fianna Upcoming Fixtures can be found at www.clgnafianna.ie/Fixtures. n

Everyone has their story of how they got started. How they came to be involved in their local club. It could have been that you were introduced to the club by a family member, or you just happen to stumble upon it accidently. In the case of Des Doolin, chairman of Na Fianna GAA club, his involvement with the club, something that he never thought would happen, began with sticks. Yes, you read that right. Sticks. Let’s let Des take up the story. “That’s right”, he laughingly tells Club GAA “Sticks. You heard it right. I had some involvement with the club through my children that would have been my first exposure. Then you try and lend a hand wherever possible. I would carry the sticks around the field and place them wherever they needed to go. “It is the way of the GAA. Everyone tries to muck in and give a helping hand around the place. Thankfully things progressed from carrying sticks and I became involved in the committee side of the club. “I can’t honestly say that it was a goal of mine to become chairman of the club. I don’t think many people set out with that as a goal. It was much more of an evolutionary process. One thing led to another and before you knew it, you have become chairman of the club”. While it may have been a shock to the system when he became chairman, it was a role that Doolin would relish. Na Fianna have always prided themselves on a number of core principals throughout their existence and when Doolin assumed the role of chairman, he was determined to keep those same values in place. “Well we would consider ourselves a family orientated club. We want to be a club where every member of the family can feel welcome. When I first became chairman we didn’t have a ladies football division. That was something that I was very keen to develop and I am proud to say that we have a thriving female section within our club at the moment. “We have our own set of ideals that we have tried to keep to throughout the years. Having a strong presence in the local community is one of those principals. We actively try to play a role within the local community and not just be a ‘GAA Club’ in the community”. While some areas of the club may be flourishing, like a lot of clubs around Ireland, Na Fianna have struggled over the last number of years with the downturn in the wider economy. It is something that the club have to deal with on a daily basis. “It is difficult. There’s no point in lying about it. The days of the corporate sponsor are long gone in my opinion. There is very little of the ‘big’ money left in Ireland at the moment. “We undertook some redevelopment work back in 2005 and we are still paying the money back from that particular project. I think in total we would accumulative debts of something in the region of €1.6m, which is a huge figure for any club. “It’s like a mortgage

Joey Boland

2 0 1 3

really. You just have to keep chipping away at the debt and try work on getting it down to a manageable level. There are a few benefactors out there who have helped us and hopefully we can continue working to get the debt down”. On the pitch, Na Fianna are going through something of a rebuilding period at the moment, something that Doolin feels all clubs must go through. “I think in the early 2000’s, we were at the peak of our powers. We had a tremendous amount of success during that period of time. “It’s like any club, however, you are going to get peaks and troughs. At the moment we are in what I would call a ‘transition’ period. We haven’t enjoyed the success that we would have wanted over the last few years, but when I look at what is coming through at the underage level, it fills me with confidence that we will be back challenging for silverware, sooner rather than later. That conveyer belt of talent coming through the ranks and that level of talent is something that excites Doolin. “That would be one of the main areas that I would be really excited about. We have achieved a lot in the last number of years at juvenile level. “There may be only one or two players that make the step up to the top level within the club, but we are hoping that the effort that we are putting in at the juvenile level will reap the right rewards in the years to come. “We are also trying to break through at the juvenile level in hurling too. It hasn’t been something that we were too focused on before, but the demand has been there so we decided to give it a go. It’s like starting anything from the bottom, it will take a few years for all the hard work to pay off, but it is something that we believe in. “I would also love to see further integration between the ladies football and Camogie set ups. At the moment the two branches are not really working together, which can lead to problems, in terms of communication, etc. That would be another area which I would like to see improved”. That seems to be the common thread running through Na Fianna. Constantly looking to improve and raise the bar in terms of standards, both on and off the pitch. A lot done, but plenty more to do. n

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Daire WALSH

Anthony Thompson of Naomh Conaill and Mark McGowan of St Eunan’s

NAOMH CONAILL

With eight games already under their belt, Naomh Conaill find themselves at the half-way stage in the Brian McCormick Sports Division One League, and it is only fair to say that their form to date has been decidedly mixed. The first game of the campaign arrived on the evening of March 29th, when Four Masters got the better of them with a four-point winning margin (1-8 to 0-7). This was an early set-back for the Glenties men, but they made amends for it just two days later, when they overcame Killybegs in a home fixture on a scoreline of 1-6 to 0-6. A common thread in their early round fixtures was the low-scoring nature of their contests, and this continued in their third outing against Malin on April 14th. Naomh Conaill conceded a relatively meagre score of 2-4 in this tie, but their own tally of 0-9 was not enough to give them the victory that they desired. Two defeats from their opening three games was not something that the management team had anticipated at the start of the year, but they made amends with a 4-7 to 1-10 over Gaoth Dobhair in an April 19th encounter. A draw with Kilcar on April 28th (0-8 apiece) brought their points tally for the campaign up to five, but their third league defeat of the season arrived in a May 12th encounter with St Eunan’s (1-10 to 0-7). However, May 19th saw them recording their third success with two points to spare (0-9 to 0-7) over St Michael’s, and they were now in a much better state when they returned to league action against Four Masters at Tirconaill Park on Sunday June 16th.

Conal Dunne and Michael Martin of St Eunan’s with Leo McLoone, Martin Regan and Dara Gallagher of Naomh Conaill

Yet, Naomh Conaill were in determined mood, and further scores from Aaron Thompson and Gallagher gave them a 1-8 to 0-6 interval lead. The Gallaghers, AJ and Dara, stretched the Naomh Conaill advantage early in the second half, but Four Masters kept well in touch when Sean O’Kennedy and Earley raised white flags. Naomh Conaill looked like they were set to cruise towards victory when McDyer, Dara Gallagher and Thompson moved the visitors eight points in front, but Four Roads did reduce the deficit to six heading into the final stages of the tie. They still looked set for the two points on offer given the limited time that was left in the game, but a 1-1 salvo from McMonagle suddenly left just two between the teams with just three minutes to play. Naomh Conaill were now desperately trying to hold out for their fourth league victory, but luck was not on their side, and young corner-forward Kevin Breslin displayed great alertness to apply the finishing touches from close range after Shane Carr had flicked on a long delivery into the square. This resulted in Naomh Conaill succumbing to an agonising 2-12 to 1-14 reversal, which means that they now lie in fifth place, a full seven points behind league leaders St Eunan’s. Naomh Conaill had high aspirations for the championship this year following their narrow county final defeat to St Eunan’s last year, but their chances in 2013 have suffered a slight set-back after they let slip a substantial lead before drawing with Malin in the Donegal Senior Football Championship Group One on June 9th. Naomh Conaill had shown that they were up for the challenge against Malin when they led by 0-6 to 0-1 with 21 minutes gone on the clock, with the likes of Dara Gallagher, Brendan McDyer and Leon Thompson all finding the target. All-Ireland winner Leo McLoone was also pulling the strings effectively, and further scores through Thompson and Johnny Butcher gave the men from the Glenties a 0-8 to 0-1 lead heading into the second period.

With the Donegal club scene really starting to gather pace, Naomh Conaill were looking to secure another morale-boosting victory, and they certainly made a powerful start to the proceedings, as fine scores from Leon Thompson, Brendan McDyer (free) and Ciaran Brennan moved them into an early three-point lead. Matters became even better for Naomh Conaill with just eight minutes gone on the clock, as full-forward AJ Gallagher displayed great instinct in front of goal to secure the opening major of the contest.

Another point from the excellent Gallagher increased their cushion to eight in the opening moments after the restart, and at this point it looked like it would be a matter of how much Naomh Conaill would win by. However, Malin clearly didn’t read the script, and after hitting 1-5 without reply (including a 46th minute goal) they had incredibly gained parity with their opponents. Gallagher did settle Naomh Conaill once again with another excellent point, and when they doubled their lead with just three minutes to play, it looked like they would just do enough to squeeze past the post.

Naomh Conaill were clearly eager to gain revenge for their earlier defeat to Four Masters, but their opponents did eventually settle, and contributed three points through Conor McMonagle, Shane Carr and Ryan Earley, before Naomh Conaill restored their six-point cushion with well-taken efforts via Dara Gallagher, Thompson and John O’Malley. Points towards the end of the half from Dillon Ward (two) and Hugh McPartland looked like they might give Four Masters momentum moving into the second period.

Major credit must go to Malin, though, as they refused to give up, and after reducing their arrears to the bare minimum, they then followed up with a pointed free in the final minute of normal time to ensure that the two teams finished the clash on level terms. This certainly does halt Naomh Conaill’s progress, but having defeated Cloughaneely by 0-15 to 0-7 in their opening fixture, but they are still well in contention ahead of their final group game against their old adversaries, St Eunan’s. n

PETER MCKELVEY -

NAOMH conaill Chairman Fifty years is a long time for anyone to be involved in one organisation. Time moves on, but the bond that one person must have to stay a part of a club must be tremendous, and almost unbreakable. This is certainly the case with Peter McKelvey and Naomh Conaill. It was as a fresh faced fourteen year old teenager that McKelvey would begin his lifelong association with his local GAA club. He would rise through the ranks of the underage teams, as he puts it ‘playing a few games here and there, until he reached the age of 18, when he took a different course, one that many of his friends of the same age, wouldn’t have dared think about. “I became a referee”, he says. “At the time I was only playing a few games for the club and I wanted to continue my links with the club, so I decided to become a referee for the club, and it is something that I have done for the past 38 years. “People may have thought that I was mad becoming a ref, but it was something that I enjoyed immensely. I always wanted to keep some involvement with the club and that seemed to me to be the perfect way of doing it. “Later on, aside from the referring, I was coaching some of the underage teams within the club. Things gradually progressed from there and I made the step up to become chairman. I think, all in all, I have been chairman five times over the course of the years. My last stint was seventeen years ago, so I think I was overdue a return to the hot seat”. Five times as chairman? You wonder, to yourself, is McKelvey a glutton for punishment, or is it the fact that he loves the club so much that he can’t say no whenever the call of duty comes a’knocking. His answer surprises you. “I think it’s because there are only some people that are willing to step up and take the responsibility”, he says with a striking honesty. “We have some fantastic volunteers within the club and they do a tremendous job, but it is like most voluntary organisations around the country, there are a lot of people that want to help, but there are only a few that will come forward and shoulder some of the responsibility. “Perhaps some people don’t want to take the pressure that goes with a high ranking job within the club, because when things go wrong somebody has to be held accountable for it, and that is usually the chairman and the committee”. McKelvey has witnessed an awful lot of changes during his fifty years with Naomh Conaill, you wonder if there is one fundamental change

CROSSMAGLEN

that he has seen, one crucial aspect to the club that has altered over the years? His response doesn’t take long. “The underage structure, without a doubt. That would be the one thing that I would be most proud of. Years ago there was no such thing as an underage structure within the club. There was no real planning or structure in place. “Over the last fifteen to twenty years, there has been a conscious effort to improve the standard at all age levels, but in particular for the next generation of players. I’m happy to say that we now have a very well developed underage structure and with along with our three senior teams we are in a strong position to compete and hopefully win some silverware”. While they may be on a sure footing on the pitch, off the field Naomh Conaill is fighting to keep the club going through the tough times that have descended upon the country as whole over the course of the last number of years. Along with emigration, ‘we have lost a number of players who have left the country’ Naomh Conaill are consistently having to come up with alternative fundraising ideas in order to keep the ‘show on the road’ it is a battle that is on-going, as McKelvey explains. “That has probably been the toughest thing about the last number of years. I think in the last number of years the fundraising ‘pool’ is now half of what it was five years ago. For a club on the outer skirts of Donegal that is a massive drop in finances coming into the club. “We are always fundraising now, we don’t have much choice, we have to. The club always tries to have one fundraising event per month. That has brought some criticism from other social clubs around the area, who claim that we are fundraising too much, but it is something that we have to do. “When I became chairman I established a finance committee. That was hugely important as it gave the club a framework and a structure to work around. Money is tight across every sector nowadays so we have to maximise what we have at our disposal”. While it may be difficult to plan for the future, McKelvey is keeping one eye on the horizon, and when you ask him about the plans down the line, his voice beams into life with the passion that has sustained his love affair with the club for the last half a century. “What I would really love to see is a second pitch for the club. At the moment we only have the one, and because there are so many local children that want to use the pitch we have to draw up a timetable so that we can fit everyone in. “That is what drives you on. We have a goal and we want to achieve it”. You can’t help but feeling that with Peter McKelvey at the helm, whatever Naomh Conaill want to accomplish they will. n

J U L Y

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Daire WALSH

jim o’sullivan -

na piarsaigh GAA Chairman

NA PIARSAIGH

They were made to work for their victory, but ultimately Na Piarsaigh did emerge victorious from their opening round Cork Senior Hurling Championship fixture against Erin’s Own at Pairc Ui Rinn on Saturday June 1st. For the most part, the teams couldn’t be separated, and indeed extra-time was required before a satisfactory outcome was reached, but Na Piarsaigh substitute Ian McDonnell proved to be the hero, as his late goal gave the north city club a dramatic 2-19 to 2-16 triumph. With formers Cork stars John Gardiner and Sean Og O hAilpin in their team (both of whom helped to form an imperious half-back line along with Ronan Curran on the 2004 and 2005 All-Ireland winning teams), as well as current Rebel defender Christopher Joyce, Na Piarsaigh certainly fancied their chances in the build-up to this game, but Erin’s Own had a former county representative of their own in the shape of Kieran ‘Hero’ Murphy, and also have good recent history in this competition. Their 2006 and 2007 county championship successes were achieved in emphatic style, with the latter giving them three overall final victories in the roll of honour. Na Piarsaigh have also received the coveted trophy on three occasions, with the most recent coming in 2004 against Cloyne, when Gardiner and O hAilpin were at the height of their powers. Although they are both now in their 30s, they are still stalwarts at club level for the Pairc Ui Chonaire outfit, and they built a strong platform for their side in the opening stages of this outing, with corner-forward Cian Buckley giving Na Piarsaigh with a well-taken point from play. Erin’s Own soon settled into the contest, though, and a brace of scores from the lively duo of Eoghan Murphy and Mossie Carroll moved the Glounthaune men three points in front by the 15-minute mark. After making a promising start, Na Piarsaigh had certainly faded as the half wore on, but they soon fought their way back into the reckoning when half-forward Pa O’Rourke capitalised on hesitancy by Erin’s Own custodian Shay Bowen to secure the opening goal of the game. This helped to settle the Na Piarsaigh nerves, and they did find the target on five occasions before the half’s end, but with Eoghan Murphy and goalkeeper Bowen punishing indiscipline from Na Piarsaigh with points from placed balls, the sides were on level terms (1-6 to 0-9) at the midway stage. The tie was very much in the melting pot moving into the second period, but with Joyce switching from wing-back to midfield, Na Piarsaigh started to gather momentum, and although Erin’s Own were keeping well in touch moving into the final quarter, it looked like they were on course to secure their senior status for another year.

Erin’s Own were not prepared to let this game slip from their grasp just yet, however, and just as the game was entering into the final five minutes of normal time, Mark Collins found his way past the previously impenetrable Alan Keating with a fantastic individual major from a tight angle. This three-pointer was added to by another Eoghan Murphy points moments later, as Erin’s Own incredibly found themselves two points to the good with the final whistle approaching. Na Piarsaigh’s never-say-die attitude was displayed in abundance during this crucial juncture, and thanks to points under enormous pressure by substitute Keith Buckley and the increasingly influential Joyce, the action entered into the additional periods, with the sides tied at 1-13 each. Though the very end of normal time had become frantic, the second half had become somewhat flat, and if there was going to be an eventual winner, an increase in intensity was required before the game’s end. To their credit, both teams did raise their games, but Na Piarsaigh proved to be more clinical in front of goal, and after outscoring their counterparts 0-6 to 0-3, they held a three-point advantage with just ten minutes left to play. Once again, though, Erin’s Own refused to throw in the towel, and when Na Piarsaigh netminder Keating was beaten by a speculative lob from Carroll, parity was restored for the umpteenth time. It seemed that this game was destined to remain all square, but McDonnell (introduced at the mid-way stage in extra-time) was eager to make a name for himself, and his unstoppable drive at the death finally brought a resolution to the proceedings. The week of July 22nd to July 26th will see the Na Piarsaigh Summer Camp of 2013 taking place from the times of 10am to 2pm, and with the opening day of the event fast approaching, application forms are now available from the clubhouse. The camp is designed for boys and girls from the ages of 5-12, and all kids that are in attendance are asked to bring their own packed lunch. They will, however, receive a club tee shirt at the camp, as well as a club back pack. The last day for applications to be submitted is on Sunday July 7th, and the admission fee for one child is priced at €25, although if there is a second child from a family the cost is €40, and €50 if there are three children. Any further information on the camp can be garnered from Catherine Allen on 086-3120574 or Tony O’Sullivan on 086-2455982, but places are currently limited and interested parties are asked to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. A major event in the Rebel County during the month of June was the Cork City Marathon, which saw more than 8,000 runners taking part. Na Piarsaigh played a significant part on the day, as they had a number of club members participating in connection with Breaking the Silence. In total, they had approximately 60 people involved in the event, and they helped to raise substantial funds for a very worthy cause. n

2013 represents something of a landmark for the Na Piarsaigh GAA club on the north side of Cork City, as it is now 70 years since the club was initially set-up. Since then, the club has enjoyed a good deal of success, including three Cork Senior Hurling Championship triumphs in 1990, 1995 and 2004. However, the club are also active ‘big ball’ participants, and in 1966 they were crowned Cork Intermediate Football champions a year after winning the Junior title. They have also had a number of players who have represented the red of Cork with plenty of distinction down through the years, and between club members Donal ‘Fox’ Sheehan, Tony O’Sullivan, Sean Og O hAilpin and John Gardiner, there is a grand total of nine All-Ireland Senior Hurling titles. The current chairman of the club is Jim O’Sullivan, and he re-capped a very interesting tale of how the club came into being, and the significance of the emblem that can be seen on the club’s jerseys. “In 1943, we were founded by a group of gentlemen in the northside of the city, who were going to the famous North Mon School. They were basically people who were affiliated around the North Mon area of the city, and they founded a club on the basis of Padraig Pearse being their idol. What you have on the jersey is a black and amber colour, and the red hand of Ulster, but it is only showing four fingers. Because we’re not a united country, the thumb isn’t shown.” The legend surrounding this unique emblem is that when Ireland is reunited as a 32-county nation, the thumb will once again re-join the fingers, to create a fully-formed hand. Involved with the club since childhood, O’Sullivan has fulfilled a number of roles within the club, and was previously an active playing member in both the football and hurling sections of Na Piarsaigh. “(I’ve been involved) since childhood. I’d have played underage, right up to senior (both football and hurling). We are a hurling and football club, we’re proud to say we are a double communication. There’s no Na Piarsaigh football club, there’s no Na Piarsaigh hurling club. As distinct from Glen Rovers hurling club, and St Nicholas’ football club. We’d be the one affiliation. I’d have been in administration (before becoming chairman). Whether it be officer level, underage level, underage or senior football manager, right through the club I’ve been active over the years.” A number of high-profile players from the county have lined out for the club down through the decades, and they are currently represented on Jimmy BarryMurphy’s county side by the versatile Christopher Joyce. However, perhaps the most famous family to have worn the Na Piarsaigh colours are the O hAilpins, who have had made their mark both at home and abroad during the past couple of decades. Setanta and Aisake (who have both lined out for the Cork hurlers) currently ply their trade in Australian Rules Football, while another brother, Teu, has also featured at underage level for the Rebels. Yet, it is the eldest of the clan, Sean Og, who continues to make a major impression at Pairc Ui Chonaire. “Sean Og (o hAilpin) did the famous acceptance of the (Liam McCarthy) cup completely as Gaeilge in 2005. At the time the captaincy of the county team went to the county champions. They (Setanta and Aisake) went off to follow their dreams and become professional sportsmen. Sean Og is probably the most professional one of them, and he stayed with us. He was a little bit older when the opportunities arose,” O’Sullivan remarks. “We stay in contact with Setanta and Aisake, and they had another brother (Teu) who went off through emigration. He went off to Jersey Islands. He was involved with London for a while, but has since been back and playing with us, but he’s on the Jersey Islands.”

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Like a number of clubs across the country, emigration has impacted Na Piarsaigh, and though O’Sullivan feels that their urban setting has meant that they haven’t been affected in the way that some clubs across Cork have, it does still play its part, especially when they are striving to keep both football and hurling going in the area. “Emigration has always been a part, particularly for fellas who went into trades. At the moment, that’s what you have, a lot of the younger fellas that are coming out of apprenticeships. They’re emigrating for the sake of work.” “The difficulty there (in maintaining football and hurling) is when you are talking about emigration. The numbers are down. The available numbers at senior level are down in the area where we are at the minute. You have that drift off, where the numbers are a little bit difficult to maintain. In relation to it affecting the club, the urban side is a bit different, we’ve more I suppose involved. While it does affect us, I wouldn’t think it’s overly emphasised.” The respective travails of the Cork senior football and senior hurling teams are of major importance to everyone in the county, but it can sometimes have a detrimental effect on the club scene. O’Sullivan accepts that it is difficult for clubs, and the successes of the county teams does dictate the approach at club level. “It has an effect on the club on the basis that you can’t really tell the club programme for the year until such a time that you look at the present GAA structure. The success of your county team will dictate the timetable of your county championship. You can’t plan properly, until such time as you know what the inter-county scene will be like.” “How will we do? Will we qualify for a Munster Final? Qualifying for a Munster final straight up is fine, you’d probably go to a quarter-final or the All-Ireland. If you were beaten last Sunday (in the Munster SHC semi-final against Clare), you’d be in an early door and you’d be playing in the qualifiers. So then, you’d have the full complement with your club training. Then when you do they bring in re-fixtures. It is a little bit more spread out, which makes it more difficult,” O’Sullivan adds. No matter how well the Cork seniors teams perform, though, you get a sense that clubs like Na Piarsaigh will continue to thrive for years to come. n

David Breen, Na Piarsaigh

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Daire WALSH

Corofin

It has been a busy time for Corofin GAA since the summer months have kicked off. Over the course of a weekends action across two days all three teams played. The following are the results from the games. In the Intermediate Football Championship, Claregalway were victorious 1-15 against Corofin 1-14, after extra time in Salthill on Saturday June 15th. It was a tense and close battle throughout as Corofin had led by 1-11 to 1-6 with only 8 minutes remaining of normal time. Corofin could not hold on as their game fell apart when their neighbours reeled off 5 points on the bounce to tie the game. Corofin did not have luck on their side as the second half of extra time produced another Claregalway comeback. They hit four unanswered points in turn avoiding successive relegations. Corofin played with the breeze at their backs in the opening half of normal time however Claregalway began the better of the two sides. Corofin nearly fell behind early on when Danny Cummins struck the crossbar with a shot early on after some poor Corofin marking. One thing that really stood out in the opening 15 minutes was the poor shooting from both sets of forwards, with eight wides in the opening quater. It was Jason Leonard who struck back for Corofin as he notched his first effort of the day with an intricate finish over his shoulder after being set up by Shane Monaghan. In the 10th minute Leonard struck once to give his side the lead, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish until the last moments of the match. Wing back Oisin Mannion scored to increase Corofin’s lead after he broke into the Claregalway half before riffling an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net. Adrian Molloy sent over another point soon after and Corofin looked well in control leading 1-6 to 0-4 at the break. The second kicked off with some bad tempers as the two sides clashed before Martin Kelly scored for Claregalway to get his team back into the tie. The game was a back and forth battle as both teams pushed for the win, Corofin hit four unanswered points in a row to build up a five point lead with just ten minutes on the clock. Jason Leonard was once again impressive as he and Shane Monaghan had given Corofin the lead. Corofin held the lead going into the closing seconds. Claregalway were down by a point when goalkeeper Brian O’Donoghue sent over a 45 metre kick deep into injury time before a free from Paddy Moran drew the teams level. The referee blew the full time whistle with the sides level at 1-11 to 1-11. Corofin started the better of the two sides in extra-time with normal. The two sides went toe to toe once again. Claregalway could have taken the lead when full-forward Kenneth Hansberry forced a save from Brendan Power in the Corofin goal. Another Jason Leonard point helped Corofin into a lead of 1-14 to 1-11 at half-time. As the second half of added time

kicked off Claregalway took over, Corofin didn’t manage a single score after this Claregalway pushed on with and the ball fell to Danny Cummins who secured the win it for Claregalway. In the remaining club matches Corofin came away with a convincing win against Caltra with the final score settled at 1-11 to 0-6 in the Junior A Football Championship – North,. Corofin will now move on to play Tuam in the next round. While in the Senior League, there was another win for Corofin with a victory of 1-16 to 1-8 scored by An Cheathrú. On Saturday afternoon of June 22nd the cycle which took place from Mizen to Malin Head, for Corofin Community Development Association took place and it was a great success for the club. The club have spoke of the wonderful community spirit that was evident surrounding the event. Local Corofin community members Niall Higgins, Joe Nohilly and David Kelly all took part in the cycle and were successful in completing the event. The homecoming event followed the next day on Sunday after the cyclists had stayed overnight in Donegal. The participants completed their journey with the final stretch taking part down the Malin Road. The local contestants returned to Corofin on Sunday evening at approximately 6pm cycling in from the Tuam road. The local children of the parish were asked to join the convoy from the soccer pitch and cycle into the village with the members of the cycling group. Photos from the cycle will feature on www.change4corofin.com and www.corofingaa.ie The closing date for the club’s prediction sports quiz has reached its conclusion. All cards must be have been returned by Wednesday 26th June. Cards returned after that date may not have all events counted in the scoring. Full details are on the website and cards cost €10 and the money raised will go towards the club. Some of the money already raised from events and draws such as this has gone towards the purchase of a new portacabin. This new acquisition is part of the ongoing club development. The new portacabin is situated, for the moment, behind Rafterys Centra in Corofin, for use as a club office. The Corofin GAA Club Fundraising Lotto draw runs on a weekly basis and it plays a huge part in the fund raising efforts of Corofin GAA Club. The club has attempted to get all the ex club members and the community as a whole participate. When they play the Corofin GAA Club fundraising lotto, they help raise much needed money for the club. The club aims to work together with the community in the hope that this joint effort and participation will help to promote not only this lotto but the club as well. In turn the club aims to get back in touch with people from Corofin, Galway not just locally but those who may now be living all over the world, the club said recently. To play, any four numbers are selected from 1 to 32. If anybody matches the four numbers selected on the night he/she wins or shares the Jackpot. Match 3 winners are guaranteed a prize of €30. Tickets cost €2 each. n

Corofin’s Colm O’Donovan and Arthur McConville of Clonduff

MICHAEL RYDER COROFIN Chairman

He has worked his way up from the bottom and despite a number of splits along the way, Michael Ryder’s relationship with Corofin GAA Club remains as strong as it ever has. Like so many people that become the chairperson of their respective, Ryder’s journey to the top was a long and circuitous one. It began in 1987 when he became involved on the committee side of the club, helping out with a number of fundraising activities, including one or two events that are testament to the GAA’s attitude of helping each other out. “I think the first activity I was involved in was a sheep shearing contest. That was in 1990 and the money that was raised went towards the development of a new stand. It may seem odd to have a sheep shearing contest, but believe it or not, it raised a good bit of money. “After that I became assistant treasurer for five years, before becoming treasurer for fifteen years. After that I felt like I needed a break from the club and became manager of the Mayo ladies football team. We had a good deal of success, in fact we won the Connacht title during my first year in charge, which was tremendously exciting. “I came back for two years before leaving again in 2011. Through a number of circumstances I ended up back involved with the club last December. This club is a huge part of my life. Both my son and daughter have played for, and won trophies with Corofin, so there is a huge family connection with the club”. Having become chairman of the club, Ryder was keen to maintain the traditional values that are at the heart of Corofin GAA Club. “The club is a very inclusive one, and that was something that I was very keen to see continue. One of the main goals that I had when I became chairman was to make sure that everyone within the local community would feel involved and be a part of the club. “I have an excellent secretary who keeps me on my toes all the time. We have brought in a number of policies in recent years that we feel will raise the standard of the club even more. Among some of the policies that we have brought in are a number of health and safety measures, with the aim of having everything in the club as open and transparent as we can. “There is no hidden agenda in this club and that is something that we want to project to everyone. We want to be the best possible club that we can be and for that to happen, everyone has to be pulling in the same direction and working towards one, unified goal. If people are not

focused on the bigger picture, then the club will suffer as a result. “Over the years we have been relativity successful and once you get a taste for that success, you want it again and again. There is a fantastic pool of players at the moment, and the great thing about them is that they are consistently looking to improve. They are not happy with what they have, they believe that they can always improve and get better. Having that attitude within the club is fantastic and it is something that seeps throughout every facet of the club”. The Galway club, like so many clubs, have suffered as a result of the wider economic downturn over the last number of years. While admitting that the last few years haven’t been the best, Ryder is grateful that they have a number of key sponsors that have stuck by the club. “We are in somewhat of a fortunate position that we are not ‘looking over our shoulder’ in a sense. Finances are tough at the moment; there is no getting away from that. There is no ‘big’ money rolling in at the moment. “It takes a lot to run a Gaelic club. We have teams of people out every weekend, fundraising. We have a tremendous main sponsor, who has given us great support over the years. There is a tremendous sense of ‘community spirit’ in the local area. Everyone really gets behind the club whenever we are in action”. That sense of working together with the community is another theme running through Corofin GAA club. Indeed plans are afoot for a project that will see the club and the community work together to build a playground and adjacent grounds for the local children to play in. “It is a project that we are fully committed to”, Ryder explains. “We are working with the CCDA to build these facilities for the local children. I think, all told, the project will cost about €1.1m. It is a lot of money, but it is something that we feel is a worthwhile investment”. On the field, Ryder and Corofin are keeping their collective eye on the future. The mark of champions is that they never look back, they keep pounding, unmercifully, forward toward their goal. A mindset that Corofin have in spades. “The main aim, on the pitch, is to get to another county final. We are going well at the moment, but we are taking it game by game and trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves. As I have said, the group of players that we have at the moment are fantastic, and the work ethic that they have is second to none. “There is a tremendous amount of pride in the jersey and the players fight for the club every time they step out onto the pitch. With any luck we will be at the business end of things, come the end of the season”. You get the feeling that luck won’t have much to do with it should Corofin bag another county title. n

ITEC2 GAA full page 24 june 2013_Macman_Macman 22/06/2013 19:20 Page 1

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Seán Cavanagh has been a mainstay in the Tyrone squad for many years. His attack minded style of playing and his determination to win have helped lead Tyrone to three All Ireland Football titles. Cavanagh made his debut in 2002 and made an immediate impact in the game against Ulster rivals Armagh. Cavanagh came onto the pitch and scored a goal to help force a replay against the Orchard County. Armagh won the replay and went on to win the All-Ireland final. Nevertheless it was fine start, and it would not be long before Cavanagh would showcase his skills on the biggest stage of his sport.

fashion beating them by one point with a final score of 1-13 to 1-12. With only minutes to go Armagh were up by two points. Seán Cavanagh got onto the ball and broke forward before putting the ball over the bar. Tyrone, inspired by this move, went on to win the game. Tyrone played Kerry in the final and although Cavanagh did not score his team still went on to win with 1-16 to 2-10. Cavanagh received his third All Star following that campaign, however he would still make headlines that year.

2003 would prove to be a very important year for Seán Cavanagh and the entire Tyrone squad. The year started with a bang as Tyrone went about defending their National League title they won the previous year. With the league successfully defended, Cavanagh and his teammates turned their attention to playing in Croke Park in September.

Cavanagh travelled with the Irish squad to play Australia in the International Series. Ireland were unsuccessful on this tour but in 2008 Cavanagh would captain the side to victory. However in 2005 Cavanagh was being scouted to play in the AFL, in particular the Brisbane Lions. Cavanagh remained loyal to the GAA and remained at home to focus on his playing career and also his work as an accountant.

Cavanagh suffered a minor injury set back but he would return to play in the Ulster final against Down. That match was a draw but Tyrone were triumphant in the replay. Tyrone went from strength to strength on their road to the All-Ireland.

It would be three years before Tyrone would win another All Ireland. In 2006 the team was hit by a series of injuries and the team could not last the pace of the Championship and suffered a defeat and an exit at the hands of Laois.

They brushed Fermanagh aside with a 1-21 to 0-05 points win. 2003 displayed the Ulster dominance in football. The final was contested by Tyrone and Armagh, the first time two teams from the same province met in the final. Donegal also made it to the All-Ireland semi-finals that year losing to Armagh while Tyrone disposed of Kerry. Tyrone went on to win the final by 0-12 to 0-09. Cavanagh won his first All Star that year and was voted Young Player of the Year, all of this at the age of just twenty.

They would bounce back with wins in the qualifying matches, beating both Louth and Westmeath convincingly before a close encounter with Mayo that saw them win by a single point.

The following year may go down as Tyrone’s most challenging to date for all the wrong reasons. Tyrone and the GAA lost one of its leading lights with the sudden and shocking death of star Cormac McAnallen. Despite all this Cavanagh and his teammates were rocked by this loss and suffered a defeat to Mayo in the Championship; Mayo would go on to be eventual finalists. Cavanagh still managed to get an All Star for that year. The following year saw a return to form for Tyrone and questions over what sport Cavanagh would be playing in the future. Tyrone would once again meet and defeat their rivals Armagh along the way to another All Ireland and they did it in memorable

In 2007 Tyrone won their second Ulster Championship Senior Football title. Cavanagh scored four points in the final. Tyrone would eventually lose to Meath in the later stages of the championship. Following this second consecutive Championship failure, the next year would see a return to form for Cavanagh and Tyrone. It began on a bad note, however, as Tyrone crashed to a defeat at the hands of Down in the Ulster Quarter Finals.

Tyrone would then go back to looking like the team of recent years when they beat Dublin and Wexford respectively and convincingly. Tyrone once again lined up opposite Kerry in the All Ireland Final. Cavanagh took control of the game scoring five points which helped Tyrone to 1-15 to 0-14 win. Cavanagh was named Man of the Match and was again awarded an All Star.

Séan Cavanagh

Since this victory Cavanagh and co. have only managed an Ulster Senior title win and will no doubt be chomping at the bit to get their hands back on the Sam Maguire. n

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ITEC1 GAA full page 24 june 2013_Macman_Macman 22/06/2013 18:12 Page 1

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CLUB ROUND-UP

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Daire WALSH

Munster ST JOSEPH’S DOORA-BAREFIELD With five county senior hurling championship titles and one All-Ireland Club Senior Hurling title on their honours list, St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield are one of the most respected ‘small ball’ exponents in the county of Clare. However, their standing within Clare football has progressed rapidly in recent years, as they followed up their Clare Under-21 Football Championship victory in 2008 with two final appearances in the Clare Senior Football Championship in the past couple of seasons. They were comprehensively defeated by current kingpins Kilmurray/ Ibrickane in both of these deciders, but they are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with, and should be well in contention for top honours in the near future. The current capabilities of the St Joseph’s senior team was once again in evidence on Sunday June 9th, when they competed in the Lissycasey-hosted Brian Casey Sevens, alongside a number of other recognisable clubs from the Banner County. This was exhausting day for all involved with St Joseph’s, as the team left their clubhouse at 9.30am, and played their final game in Lissycasey at 6pm. Upon their arrival, they found themselves in a difficult group alongside Kilmihill, Kildysart and Doonbeg, and knew that they needed to finish in the top two positions if they were going to move forward to the quarter-finals later on in the day. St Joseph’s did manage to make a near-perfect start to the day’s action, though, as they comfortably overcame Kilmihill on a score line of 5-7 to 1-6. Davy O’Brien and Mark Hallinan chipped in with a goal each in this encounter, while Adrian Fleming finished as top scorer with a 3-1 tally to his name. Fleming also raised a green flag in their second game against Kildysart, but the limelight was taken on this occasion by Ivor Whyte and Eamonn Clohessy, who both bagged a brace of majors during the course of the action. Philip Ryan, Davy O’Brien, Cathal O’Sullivan and Mark Hallinan also found the back of the Kildysart net, as St Joseph’s finished with a grand total of 29 points to spare over their opponents (9-6 to 1-1). This triumph meant that St Joseph’s had safely book their place in the knockout stages, and with their counterparts in their final group match (Doonbeg) also having secured one of the top spots, they were able to relax before focusing their minds on the further tasks that awaited them. Neither side could be separated in a 0-2 to 0-2 clash, but Doora-Barefield’s superior scoring average

meant that they emerged as group winners, and faced the Lissycasey second team in the subsequent quarter-final. Though they were facing the home team’s second string outfit, St Joseph’s didn’t have it all their own way in this game, and it was clear from the earliest point in the contest that a huge effort was going to be required if they were to progress to the final four of the competition. Once again, though, there was a major team effort by St Joseph’s, as Cathal O’Sullivan, Declan Malone, Adrian Fleming and Philip Ryan also registered a point apiece, with Davy O’Brien and Ger Fannin also contributing goals at crucial times. In addition, Ivor Whyte once more showed his star quality, as he finished as leading scorer (1-2) in a narrow 3-6 to 2-5 success. St Joseph’s now moved forward to a penultimate round meeting with Clondegad (the Lissycasey first team faced Doonbeg in the other side of the draw), which was played on Lissycasey’s main pitch. There was a great deal of anticipation ahead of this game, but the events of the day were starting to take its toll on both teams, and as a result scores were proving to be few and far between. Nonetheless, St Joseph’s did have a number of goal-scoring opportunities, but were denied on each occasion by the Clondegad netminder. Davy O’Brien did finish with an impressive 1-2 salvo, but with Clondegad showing greater composure in front of the posts, St Joseph’s suffered a three-point reversal (1-6 to 1-3). This was certainly a disappointing way for Doora-Barefield to end the tournament, but they still have reason to be pleased with their performances on the day, and it certainly served as worthwhile preparation for their forthcoming competitive games. June 8th was the date for the clash between the St Joseph’s senior hurlers and Kilmaley in the Clare Cup, but despite a commendable effort on the day, Doora-Barefield ultimately came off second best in a 1-21 to 0-13 defeat. Paul Madden and Leo Duggan (two) did register points for St Joseph’s in the early exchanges, but scores from Conor Neylon (three), Eoin O’Malley, Diarmuid McMahon, Eamonn Bracken and Mikey O’Malley helped Kilmaley to race into a 0-7 to 0-3 advantage at the end of the opening quarter. St Joseph’s did narrow the gap with points from Duggan and Niall Deloughery, but further Kilmaley efforts courtesy of Mikey O’Malley (three), Bracken, Neylon, Brian McMahon and Michael O’Neill left the visitors with a mountain to climb in the second period. St Joseph’s did attempt a spirited fightback upon the resumption, and with Ivor Whyte splitting the posts from a brace of frees, and Deloughery also finding the target again, they were starting to pose some serious questions for Kilmaley. However, their opponents responded emphatically to this mini-surge and a 1-1 salvo from Bracken, along with two more points from Neylon, effectively killed off the game as a contest. Duggan did bring his overall tally to 0-5 (all from general play) by securing a brace alongside Whyte, but with Neylon, Conor Cleary and Diarmuid McMahon finding their range in the closing stages, Kilmaley were able to ease over the line.

Kerry vs Waterford Kerry’s Colm Cooper

It was certainly a frustrating evening for St Joseph’s, but they had to contend with the absence of a number of players through work commitments and various other issues, though the excellent performances of goalkeeper Paul Madden and the reliable Leo Duggan does certainly provide plenty of optimism for the senior management team.

DR CROKES It has been a total of 17 years since a Kerry team last won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship (Andy Merrigan Cup), and their best hope of addressing this gap in success currently lies with the Dr Crokes club in Killarney. 2013 finds them searching for a fourth consecutive county title, which would be the first in the club’s long and illustrious history. They had previously achieved a three-in-a-row success between 1912 and 1914, but they are firm favourites to go one better this year, and should they progress through the county ranks, they will also have the opportunity to be crowned Munster champions for the third time in succession. They certainly made the best possible start to their defence of the Kerry title, as they recorded an emphatic victory over local rivals Killarney Legion in the opening round at Fitzgerald Stadium on the evening of Saturday June 8th. Legion were rank outsiders in the build-up to this game, and although they opened the scoring thanks to a free from up and coming county star James O’Donoghue, Crokes quickly cancelled it out with a similar effort through seven-time All-Star Colm Cooper. This helped them to settle at a very early stage in the game, and with Kieran O’Leary adding a fine score from their next attack, they were starting to move into top gear. Jamie Doolan then found the back of the Legion net with a superb finish six minutes in, before Colm Cooper finished off a fantastic team move three minutes later, as Crokes built up a five-point cushion over their neighbours. The reigning champions were playing with real confidence at this point, and further scores from Ambrose O’Donovan (two) and Cooper meant that Dr Crokes had already accounted for 1-6 by the 15-minute mark. Jonathan Lyne (another player who has featured for The Kingdom this year) did add to the Legion tally with a fine point, and O’Donoghue and David O’Sullivan also found the target, but with Kieran O’Leary, Cooper and Doolan all raising white flags from enterprising moves, Dr Crokes had built up a 1-9 to 0-4 lead by the interval. The Lewis Road outfit were showing no signs of slowing up after the resumption either, as

subsequent points from Doolan (two), Alan O’Sullivan and Shane Myers helped them to pull even further away from Legion. Billy Maguire and corner-back Derek Pyne did offered some respite for Legion, but they were unable to forge the comeback that they badly craved, and Kieran O’Leary (two), Cooper and Alan O’Sullivan kept the scoreboard ticking for Crokes. David O’Leary did conclude the scoring with a point for Legion, but this came after his namesake Kieran had chipped in with Crokes’ second goal, as his side emerged from Fitzgerald Stadium with a 2-18 to 0-7 victory. As ever, Colm Cooper was in excellent form for the victors with a personal tally of 0-5, and with corner-forwards Kieran O’Leary and Jamie Doolan hitting 1-5 and 1-4 respectively, they have perhaps the most lethal inside forward line in the whole county. Johnny Buckley offers plenty of presence at centre-field, and with Kerry skipper Eoin Brosnan at centreback, they also have a very sound defensive system, which should prove to be of major importance when the major silverware is being handed out at the end of the calendar year. The divisional system has always been very strong throughout Kerry, and competing for each section of the county has always been a major honour for all those involved at various levels and age groups. The 2013 County U14 District Final took place at the Strand Road on June 5th, and it was East Kerry who emerged victorious in a highly competitive showpiece encounter with West Kerry. In progressing to the final, East Kerry had to negotiate their way past the considerable challenges posed by Mid-Kerry, Tralee, Castleisland District and St Brendan’s, and in doing so, they called on a number of players from Dr Crokes, who are proving to be a fine conveyor belt for the eastern side of The Kingdom. James Kelly, Lorcan McMonagle and Mark Fitzgerald ensured that the entire full-back line came from Crokes, while they also provided centre-back Michael Potts. Jack Griffin also featured at midfield for East Kerry, with Mark Hartnett and Ryan Casey representing Crokes further up the field. The loss of full-forward David Clifford from the Fossa club looked like it would be detrimental to East Kerry’s prospects, but despite a slow start to the tie, they eventually secured the title with a full seven points to spare over their Western counterparts (4-13 to 3-9). Potts was the captain on the day, and he later celebrated his success with his club-mates, and those from the Firies, Legion, Fossa, Spa and Listry clubs at a reception in Ulicks, Farranfore hosted by the East Kerry Board. Aside from those in the squad, Dr Crokes were also represented on the sideline by Seanie O’Shea, who was a crucial part of the East Kerry management team. n

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Darragh Purcell was the victorious captain on the day, while Davey Crowe was the recipient of the Player Of The Tournament award from the Sinn Fein deputy Lord Mayor.

TULLAMORE

KILMACUD CROKES The Kilmacud Crokes under 11 hurling side kick-started the month of June in impressive fashion, as they returned from a trip to Belfast with the Joe McKelvey Cup in their possession. Hosted by the city’s popular O’Donovan Rossa club, this blitz saw a total of 16 teams taking part, with the counties of Dublin, Galway, Antrim, Down, Tyrone and Kilkenny all being represented. There was a spell of good weather during June, but unfortunately the conditions in Belfast on June 1st were breezy rather than sunny, which did make matters difficult for the teams during their respective games, and the group stage fixtures in particular. Crokes had started their adventure in Belfast with a tricky fixture against a strongly assembled O’Loughlin Gaels outfit in their opening group game. Scored were hard to come by on a narrow pitch, but Kilmacud did have a strong platform thanks to the influential presence of Darragh Purcell at midfield, who was getting on top of his marker, and was supplying the forward line with quality deliveries at every available opportunity. A couple of good points courtesy of Brendan Scanlon ensured that Crokes were in the ascendancy during the interval, but the Kilkenny boys managed to reduce the margin in the early stages after the restart. However, with Davey Crowe and Cian O’Cathasaigh on top form for the duration of the contest, they were able to keep O’Loughlins at bay for the remainder of the tie, and thanks largely to impressive majors from Michael Whelan and Darragh Purcell, they held out for a 2-2 to 0-1 victory. This gave them an excellent start to the tournament, and with Ballycastle providing the opposition in their second group game, they were eager to maintain their winning ways. They once again rose to the challenge, though, and following a fine opening score from Mark Kelly, both Michael Whelan and Davey Crowe found the net to give them a commanding cushion at the break. Ballycastle did step up their game considerably in the second half, and netminder Robert O’Donovan had to produce a couple of point-blank saves when it looked like the Antrim brigade were set to force their way back into the reckoning. The heroics of O’Donovan, as well as defenders Leo Fearon and Rory O’Mahony, ensured that Ballycastle were unable to secure the scores they needed to rein in Kilmacud’s challenge, however, and courtesy of important contributions from Joseph Neary, Ciaran Browne and Sean Delap, they eased over the line to record a 3-3 to 0-2 triumph. Yet, the final score line didn’t truly reflect how tight this game was for the most part, as it did require a huge effort from the young Sandyford side to register their second consecutive success. A strong work ethic was also required for their final group tie against Ballinasloe of Galway in what was proving to be a very competitive group. In rather slippery conditions, Crokes held an early advantage courtesy of a Cathal Kennedy point, but with the Tribesmen showing plenty of admirable qualities, the second period was going to be a tightly-contested affair. Once more Davey Crowe was in excellent form at the heart of the Kilmacud defence, and he halted a number of attacks by the East Galway team, but despite great resilience from the Dubliners, Ballinasloe held out for a narrow 0-2 to 0-1, with their second and final score coming from the final puck of the game. While this was obviously a set-back of sorts for Crokes, they still finished top of their group, and as a result had a semi-final

Crokes’ Ross O’Carroll and Jude Sweeney with Dennis Morton of Oulart-the-Ballagh against Eoghan Ruadh to look forward to. This promised to be a real test of Kilmacud’s resolve, as they were facing a side that had registered an astonishing 19 goals and 4 points from their group matches, and also had managed the incredible feat of not conceding a single score. This meant that the southsiders faced a daunting task, but they opened up the play completely when they found the net through Mark Kelly in the opening moments of the penultimate round clash. This gave Kilmacud the perfect start to a crunch fixture, and with Darragh Purcell also chipping in with a fine point, they led by 1-1 to 0-0 at the mid-way stage. As predicted, Eoghan Ruadh raised their game upon the resumption, and caused panic in the Crokes rearguard by a raising a white flag at a crucial juncture. An acrobatic stop by Daniel Daly was required to prevent the Tyrone men from finding their net for a second time, but with Purcell finding the target again in clinical fashion, they recorded a hardearned 1-4 to 0-1 victory. A final showdown awaited against the hosts of the competition, which was thankfully played in warm weather after a mixed spell of conditions up to that point. An intriguing battle awaited them against O’Donovan Rossa, but with Rory O’Mahony dominating the half-back division, Kilmacud were able to tag on a couple of early efforts from Conn Lohan and Brendan Scanlon. Predictably, the local side did settle into the tie, but with Daniel Daly providing a launch pad from his puck outs, Crokes always had the measure of their opponents. Joseph Neary was lively throughout at half-forward, and he was ably assisted by Sean Delap and Ciaran Browne, who helped Kilmacud to secure the Joe McKelvey Cup on a final score of 2-6 to 0-2.

The end of May represented a significant milestone in the history of Tullamore GAA Club, as it saw the Offaly outfit celebrating the 125th anniversary of their founding. The festivities for this landmark event got underway on the morning of Saturday 25th when the Tullamore under 8 and under 12 footballers took on sides from the Rhode club, who are also enjoying their 125th year in existence during 2013. Tullamore had over 70 players between these two underage teams, and much credit must to go the various mentors and players, as well as referees Eddie Dunne, John Hickey and James Buckley, who officiated on the day. The contribution of Rhode on the day should also be noted, while Mervyn Griffin, Aideen Marron and Shaun Martin were also on hand to supply tea and coffee to the parents of the participating players. Later on that evening, the club held a special club mass to mark their 125th anniversary, where the deceased members of the club were remembered with much fondness. This mass took place in the town’s Social Centre and was celebrated by Fr Sean Heaney, who along with saying mass also offered a great deal of guidance and advice in the preparation for the occasion. Aside from Fr Heaney, there were a number of Eucharistic Ministers in attendance, as well as altar servers Ciaran, Tomas and Jonathon. Club representatives Jim Buckley, Tom Martin, Caoimhe Griffin, Muireann Griffin, Oisin Keenan Martin, Phil O’Reilly Senior, Padraig Smollen and Tom Furlong all performed readings, and there were also a host of gift bearers on the evening. Brian O’Reilly and Shane Kelly, who are both senior players in Tullamore, brought a hurley and a football to the altar respectively, while Jack O’Connor brought the blue jersey of Tullamore. Gerry Conway carried an old committee minutes book to remember the past and current committees who have served the club down through the years, with Adam Martin bringing a picture of the youngest team in the club. Jim Loughman was tasked with carrying a picture of a juvenile team from the 1950s, with the final significant gift being the camogie and ladies football jerseys, which were held by Grace Kelly and Tamara Daly, and helped to symbolise the strong bond the ladies section shares with the men. It was then left to Fergal McKeon, the club chairman, and Camogie Secretary Mary Spollen, to bring the bread and wine to the altar, which was fitting as the camogie club in Tullamore celebrate their 40th anniversary this year. Music from Joe Egan helped to play out the ceremony, with tea being provided afterwards by Paddy Harbey, Patricia Marron, Dermot Martin and Mary Spollen. What made this event (and all the events that took place over the weekend) so special was the fact that it brought together the young and old in the club, and perhaps the club’s most famous exponent, former All-Ireland winning Offaly goalkeeper Martin Furlong, made it home from America for an absolutely unforgettable occurrence for all involved with the club. On the field of play, Tullamore’s various teams have had mixed fortunes in recent weeks, though they will undoubtedly experience plenty of ups and downs as the season progresses through the summer and into the autumn period. The senior football side currently compete in Division 1 of the Offaly Football League, and they took part in a very entertaining league clash with Edenderrry at the end of May. Playing on their home turf, Tullamore were in a decent position at the break when three majors helped them towards a 3-1 to 1-5 lead, and when they added to their tally with three points in quick

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succession at the start of the second period, it seemed that the O’Brien Park men were set to come away with maximum points. However, Edenderry were not prepared to relinquish their challenge and they forced Tullamore on the back foot more and more as the half progressed. Tullamore desperately tried to hang on to a one-point advantage during the dying embers of the contest, but a late Edenderry goal meant that they succumbed to a 2-11 to 3-6 defeat. Next up for the Tullamore seniors was a trip to Ferbane on Sunday June 2nd, who they also met in the Senior Championship on June 15th (which Tullamore won 1-7 to 0-5). Although this was a good warm-up for their upcoming meeting, and Tullamore registered an impressive 3-7 tally, they found themselves on the receiving end of another defeat, this time by a margin of six points (3-13 to 3-7). The club’s Junior ‘A’ hurling and football brigades have also gotten their championship campaigns underway recently, and both teams can feel reasonably happy about the way that they have begun their respective journeys. The Junior ‘A’ hurlers faced a tricky away fixture against Kilcormac/Killoughey on a bright Friday evening, and after playing some very enterprising hurling, they led by 4 points heading into the final 10 minutes of play. Kilcormac looked set to snatch victory when they followed up a goal with a brace of points heading into injury time, but the tenacious qualities of the visitors shone through, and a late free courtesy of Benny Leonard resulted in the two teams enjoying a share of the spoils. The Junior ‘A’ footballers had already made a winning start to their respective Championship when they welcomed Shamrocks to O’Brien Park for their second game of the term, and they built on the confidence garnered from that game to record a comprehensive 3-12 to 0-4 success, which gives them plenty of momentum ahead of their forthcoming games. n

St. Mary’s Edenderry, Joe Mulraney

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Daire WALSH

MELVIN GAELS Kinlough outfit Melvin Gaels got the defence of their Leitrim Senior Football Championship off to a winning start in Shane McGettigan Park, Drumshanbo on the evening of Saturday May 25th, as goals in either half from Conor Sheridan and Stephen McGurrin helped them to overcome Carrigallen in a highly competitive Fenagh Cup encounter. Their opponents had underperformed in last year’s championship, but they pushed Melvin all the way throughout this clash, and the holders had to dig deep in order to ensure that they came away with the victory that they desired. Their hand was reduced going into this game, however, as they had to deal with the absence of influential county star Emlyn Mulligan, who registered an impressive 3-7 in Leitrim’s Connacht SFC opener against New York in May. His contribution will be vital if Melvin Gaels are to secure their eighth county championship title by the end of 2013, and his presence was sorely missed in the opening stages of the game against Carrigallen, as deputy free-taker Conor Sheridan had an early effort that drifted well past the target, before making amends with a pointed free seven minutes into the contest. A fine score from Benny O’Rourke managed to cancel out the slender Melvin lead, and Ger Percival was inches wide with a gilt-edged goal chance as Carrigallen attempted to turn the screw. This was a major let-off for the favourites, who increased the level of their play with a well-taken Sheridan point, who was then presented with an opportunity to raise the first green flag of the contest when a foul on Paul Brennan led to referee Frank Flynn awarding Melvin a penalty. Sheridan stepped forward to emphatically dispatch the resulting place kick past Carrigallen custodian Enda Lyons, as his side finally looked like they were about to settle into the proceedings. Their tenacious counterparts were unwilling to let their challenge disintegrate, though, and their dogged determination led to a purple patch in the closing stages of the half, when successive scores from Benny O’Rourke (two), Liam O’Rourke and Percival levelled matters on a score line of 1-2 to 0-5 in time for the interval. The state of play at the mid-way point

was somewhat unexpected given the quality that Melvin possess, but they were able to re-energise during the break, and got the second half scoring underway with well-worked points from Paul Brennan and Peter McGowan inside the opening five minutes after the restart. This offered them some much needed breathing space against an incredibly wellorganised Carrigallen outfit, and their chances of success became even more likely when McGurrin grabbed his team’s second goal very shortly after McGowan’s effort. McGowan and Blaine Mulligan instigated the move that led to Melvin’s second major, as their excellent approach play paved the way for the halfback to break through on goal, and even though Lyons pulled off a fine save from his initial attempt, McGurrin made no mistake with his second shot on goal. Melvin were now beginning to display their true form, but Carrigallen continued to make life difficult for them, and a further brace of pointed frees from Gary Reynolds left just three points separating the teams. Fine defence cover for Melvin Gaels from Fabian McMorrow and Keith McGloin was helping to keep Carrigallen at a safe distance, but with four minutes remaining their lead was narrowed to two following a point from marauding defender Eamonn O’Malley. This led to a few nervy moments in the dying stages for Melvin Gaels, but with Damian Sheridan halting Carrigallen with another fine point, they were able to hold out for a 2-5 to 0-8 winning margin. Though the close nature of the contest may be cause for concern later in the year, spirits were nevertheless high in the club following this game, and there was a fine atmosphere in Melvin Park on Saturday June 8th when the inaugural Melvin Gaels, Bord na nOg, U-14 Liam McGowan Memorial Tournament took place in sunny conditions. Melvin were playing host on the day to the Tomas Mac Curtain club from Essex, who visit Ireland on annual basis, and have participated in a variety of competitions across Ireland in recent years. The towns of Chelmsford and Goodmayes provide the players for this club side, and like many before them, it was left to Melvin Gaels to host one of the finest underage English GAA teams currently operating across the water. During their stay, Tomas Mac Curtain were staying with a number of families in the local area, and in a general sense there was plenty of hospitality offered throughout the district of North Leitrim. Melvin and Tomas Mac Curtain weren’t the only teams participating Emlyn in the tournament, however, Mulligan as Glencar/Manorhamilton,

Brendan Egan of Tourlestrane with Paddy Grady of Eastern Harps Bundoran, Aodh Ruadh, Ballyshannon, Four Masters and Donegal Town were also competing on the day. After a number of entertaining games, it was left to Glencar/ Manorhamilton and the ever-impressive Tomas Mac Curtains to contest the decider, and those in attendance were treated to a fine display of football. It was very tight for much of the finale, but eventually Tomas Mac Curtain came out on top with six points to spare (2-8 to 2-2) at the end of a very successful undertaking for Melvin Gaels.

TOURLESTRANE As ten time winners of the Sligo Senior Football Championship, Tourlestrane are always expected to be challenging for top honours, and 2013 to date has been no different. They compete in Division 1 of Sligo Senior football, and they have shown promising form in the league to date this year. Ahead of their home clash with St Pat’s at 7.30pm on Saturday June 1st, they had won four of their opening six outings in the top-tier. This looked set to be a firm test of their resolve, but despite being under pressure for certain periods of the contest, they ultimately came out on top on a score line of 2-12 to 1-7. This was a major confidence boost for Tourlestrane, but they needed to be on top of their game when they welcomed pace-setters Eastern Harps to the village a week later in the eighth round of the Division 1 league. This game took place in Tourlestrane’s new training facility pitch, which was in impeccable condition for an eagerly-awaited tie. A lot of work has gone in to developing this part of the club, and the work done by Chairman Brendan Leonard, and his vast crew of workers, should not go unnoticed. In the early stages of the game, it looked like the visitors were going to be the happier of the two teams come the end of the action, as Eastern Harps built up an early four-point lead. However, Tourlestrane were eager to put on a show in front of their loyal and enthusiastic supporters, and with midfielder Adrian McIntyre starting to exert his influence on the play, they had reduced the deficit to just two points in time for the break. This gave Tourlestrane (who deployed former county star Gerry McGowan in their fullforward line) a fighting chance upon the resumption, and thanks to a more direct style of football, they started to pick off some fine scores. It remained tight until very late in the game, but Tourlestrane nevertheless held on for a much-deserved 0-14 to 0-10 victory. Having also recorded two draws, Tourlestrane were unbeaten following this game, and they maintained their unbeaten

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start with a 1-10 to 1-8 win over Shamrock Gaels on June 16th. Particularly in recent seasons, the south Sligo outfit have been seen as one of the strongest footballing clubs in the county, but in the not-too-distant past, they were also regarded as a very powerful force in Sligo hurling. In total, they have won seven Sligo Senior Hurling Championships, all of which came between 1981-1991 inclusive. They haven’t featured as prominently at the top table since, but they remain to be one of the more traditional hurling sides in the Yeats County, and they recently defeated Naomh Eoin by 3-11 to 2-9 in a league clash, which was their second league victory of the term following their narrow opening round success against Western Gaels on April 21st. Their form in the league has been rather patchy, though, as they were on the receiving end of comprehensive defeats to Coolera/Strandhill and Calry/St Joseph’s on May 26th and June 3rd respectively, while they also lost out to Cluainin Iomaint by an eight point margin (4-6 to 2-4) on June 15th, which means that they will desperately need to pick up points if they have designs on progressing further up the league table. They will do everything they can to work their way back into contention, as indeed will the Tourlestrane Division 3 football side, who have won just two of their ten league outings to date. These victories came against Coolera/Strandhill on April 14th and Shamrock Gaels on April 28th, but in the meantime they have gone six games without picking up a point. They gave walkovers to St Molaise Gaels and St Michael’s during the month of May, and came off second best to Coolera/Strandhill, St Patrick’s and Shamrock Gaels in June as well. This places them in some difficulty, but there are a number of games to be played yet, and they will certainly have plenty of motivation for the remainder of the present campaign. While their senior section is fully functioning, their underage system is also very strong, and they currently have two teams at a number levels, including at under 12 boys level. Both teams at this grade got their league campaigns off to a good start against St Molaise Gaels at the end of May, before facing Shamrock Gaels the following week in away fixtures, and Curry at home in round 3 on June 11th. The under 12 ladies football team have been equally impressive having recently won the county final of the community games, which is a marvellous achievement for all involved. The under 14 hurlers also put in a great performance against Coolera/Strandhill in the league towards the end of May, but they eventually fell to a 3-6 to 3-3 defeat. The Intermediate ladies Championship is quickly on the horizon in Sligo, and with the fixtures having been released in the past few weeks, Tourlestrane now know that they will have to face Eoghan Rua in round one of the competition on July 20th, a game they will be hoping to come out on the right side of. There are a number of camps taking place throughout Sligo this year, and perhaps the most eye-catching one is the Elverys GAA Youth Camp, which took place from June 24th to 28th in Owenmore Gaels, Colooney. This was the first GAA camp for teenagers, and Tourlestrane senior man Brian Egan was one of the coaches alongside county stars David Kelly, Pat Hughes and Charlie Harrison. There is also set to be a GAA Cul Camp in Tourlestrane from July 1st to July 5th for all children from the ages of 6-13, with various football, hurling, camogie and rounders activities taking place under the gaze of senior player Stephen Henry. n

Eastern Harps vs Tourlestrane Shane Dunne and Alan Dunne of Tourlestrane celebrate at the final whistle

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Daire WALSH

ENNISKILLEN GAELS Despite contributing to an outstanding game of football, Enniskillen Gaels eventually came off second best to Derrygonnelly in the latter’s annual under 10 tournament on Saturday June 1st. A close encounter had been anticipated, and it was therefore no surprise that extra time had to be played for the first in time in the competition’s history after neither side could be separated at the end of normal time (they were tied at 0-13 each). Having played superbly throughout the contest, Enniskillen fancied their chances of going all the way during the additional periods, but the wind-assisted Derrygonnelly were able to make home advantage count, and having outscored their opponents by 0-3 to 0-1 in extra time, they held out for a narrow 0-16 to 0-14 victory. This meant that Enniskillen’s journey through the competition ended in disappointment, but there were nevertheless plenty of positives for both the players and managers to reflect on as they look back on their performances throughout the competition. Having successfully negotiated their way past Erne Gaels in the opening round, Enniskillen played host to Belnaleck in Brewster Park (Fermanagh GAA’s county grounds) during the second phase of the tournament. They settled into their stride extremely quickly in this game with a point inside the opening minute, and though Belnaleck replied in swift fashion, Enniskillen held a 0-8 to 0-3 lead by the mid-way point. This gave Enniskillen plenty of breathing space heading into the second half, and even though Belnaleck were still in contention, the home side started to become more dominant as the game progressed, and had a 16 point hold over their opponents by the end of the contest. A total of eight players got on the score sheet for Enniskillen during the course of the tie, with Conor Murphy and James O’Donnell contributing a cumulative score of 12 points between them. Their third game in the Derrygonnelly tournament was played in exceedingly difficult conditions against Ederny St Joseph’s on Monday May 13th, but the hailstones were not able to halt the progress of Enniskillen, who held a six-point cushion moving into the closing moments of the opening period. However, a late scoring blitz by the opposition meant that there was only two points separating the teams upon the resumption, and Enniskillen had to be alert in order to ensure their progression to the next stage. The Gaels really stepped up their performance in the second half, though, and effectively secured their victory with the help of some fine scores from James O’Donnell, Ryan McDonnell and Conor Murphy. With the hailstones continuing to pour down on a consistent basis, Ederny once again finished the half strongly, but Enniskillen had done enough to seal a six-point triumph. On the same evening, the Enniskillen ‘B’ team also faced Ederny in similar conditions, but unfortunately were not able to match the heroics of the first team against a very strong St Joseph’s side. In the end, they succumbed to a comprehensive 0-11 to 0-1 defeat, with their only score in the game coming through Emma Markey. Captain Orla Murphy did her level best to try and keep Ederny at bay, as did the likes of Matthew McCusker,

Oisin Mac Uidir and Eolan O’Reilly. Enniskillen then moved forward to their final group game of the tournament in Brewster Park on May 24th, when Belcoo provided the opposition. With a place in the following week’s final up for grabs, Gaels started the game with ferocious intensity, and they held Belcoo scoreless for much of the opening 30 minutes. Their close rivals did eventually get their account up and running, but a seven-point advantage at the break left Enniskillen in a seemingly insurmountable position. They continued to press in the second period as well, and with the excellent duo of James O’Donnell and Ryan McDonnell notching a grand total of 14 points between them, Enniskillen cruised towards a fourth straight success, which helped them to top their group and book their place in the following Saturday’s decider against the host club. This was a special occasion for the Enniskillen Gaels club, as not only were they competing in the final of the tournament itself, but they also had two ‘B’ teams taking part in the blitz, which took place in the early part of the day. In total, almost 40 young players from Enniskillen could be seen in action at Canon Maguire Park, which certainly bodes well for the future development of the club’s underage section. They came up just short on the day against Derrygonnelly, but the squad had reason to be proud of their efforts, and with fine performers like captain James O’Donnell, Ryan McDonnell, Conor Murphy, Michael McDonald and Matthew Cox in their side, they will be a team to watch out for in years to come. The Enniskillen senior footballers had a mixed beginning to the month of June, as they were beaten by Newtownbutler on Friday June 7th by 0-15 to 1-8, but they bounced back spectacularly away to Belnaleck just two days later when they recorded an emphatic 4-14 to 0-6 triumph. At the time of writing, Enniskillen had registered four wins, two draws and two defeats from eight outings in the Fermanagh Senior Football League 2, which puts them in fourth place, a total of four points behind division leaders Teemore Shamrocks.

BALLYMACNAB Division One of the Armagh Senior League has proven to be highly competitive during 2013, and as of mid-June, there are just four points separating leaders Maghery and eighth-placed Shane O’Neills. Very much in contention for the top spots at the moment are Ballymacnab, who lie sixth with four wins, two draws and two losses from eight games, but trail Maghery by just three points with the same number of games played. Until recently, Maghery had been unbeaten in the league, but this fine run finally came to an end on June 14th, when Ballymacnab put them to the sword with a hard-earned 2-5 to 0-7 victory in a low-scoring affair played in dreadful conditions. A defeat in this tie may have left them looking over their shoulders, but with the breeze at their disposal in the opening half, they had an excellent opportunity to open up a gap between themselves and the division high-flyers. Indeed, by the time Maghery finally opened their account nine minutes in, Ballymacnab had already registered points through Rory Grugan, Brian

McCone and Brendan Toner, and also added to their tally with a well-taken Ryan Kennedy score just after Maghery’s opener. Their counterparts did narrow the gap once more with a 13th minute point, however, and thanks to their strong defensive set-up, they were making it difficult for Ballymacnab to grab the scores they so badly craved. Ballymacnab managed to get it right just before the interval, though, as a brilliant individual goal by Grugan was swiftly added to by an expertly directed free from McCone. This gave his team a 1-5 to 0-2 mid-way lead, which placed them in good stead heading into the second period. Yet, the strength of the elements was always going to give Maghery a chance, and they took advantage in the early stages after the restart by reducing the deficit to four. Much like Maghery in the first half, Ballymacnab dropped deep in an attempt to frustrate the opposing attack, and though this worked effectively for large spells in the third quarter, three more unanswered points left just one between the sides with 14 minutes remaining. Fortunately for Ballymacnab, this proved to be Maghery’s final score of the contest, as a second major from Gary McKee seven minutes from time helped the former to record a most memorable triumph. This will offer the Ballymacnab seniors plenty of confidence moving into their upcoming fixtures, and as their May 31st success over Carrickcruppen showed, they are making a habit of grinding out victories from tight-run games. In this particular showdown, they had just one point to spare (2-10 to 2-9), but this was after they fought back from a five point deficit. Carrickcruppen were looking to take charge of the play on their home patch, but despite opening the scoring with a fine point, Ballymacnab responded impressively by forcing their opponents into the concession of a penalty from their opening attack when Rory Grugan was hauled down after rounding the goalkeeper. Gavin McParland stepped forward to confidently slot home from 11 metres, and from the resulting kick-out, Jack Grugan increased the lead with a quick-fire point. The sides proceeded to swap scores, but Carrickcruppen really opened the game up when they mustered up a 1-1 salvo just shy of the 15-minute mark. Gavin McParland did level matters with another point, but ‘Cruppen

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were starting to play with confidence, and were threatening to pull away with a 1-2 scoring burst. Ballymacnab had certainly faded from the action, but points before the half’s end from Jack Grugan and McParland reduced the margin to three (2-5 to 1-5) in time for the second period. McParland also found the target in the early stages after the resumption, but with ‘Cruppen hitting three points of their own, things were looking rather ominous for Ballymacnab. Credit must go to The Nab, though, as they never caved in, and they brought the deficit back down to three by the 47th minute when Brian McCone and McParland (‘45’) raised white flags. The introduction of the returning Ryan Kennedy (making his first appearance of the year after an injury-ravaged spell) paid major dividends during the closing stages, as he rose highest to fist Kevin Beagan’s telling cross-field delivery to the net with his very first touch of the game. This gave The Nab momentum heading into the closing moments of play, and when Kennedy also added a point on 52 minutes, they suddenly found themselves two points to the good. ‘Cruppen did cut their lead to the bare minimum with a ninth point in the contest, but Ballymacnab managed to hold out to secure the maximum points on offer. There was heartbreak for the Ballymacnab Reserve side in the ‘B’ Championship Quarter-Final on June 5th, as Armagh Harps got the better of them by 1-14 to 1-12. The final score line certainly wasn’t misleading, as there was little to keep the teams apart throughout the evening, though a goal for Harps towards the end of the first half did give them a slight advantage ahead of a crucial second period of action. Harps did manage to move into an eight-point cushion in the opening stages after the restart, which looked like it might be enough to give them victory over the spirited Ballymacnab. The Nab had a real trump card in the shape of Gary McKee, who finished with an astonishing personal tally of 1-10, and did his utmost to try and force the game back in his side’s direction. Unfortunately, time just ran out for Ballymacnab in the end, but they were able to bow out with their head held high after a commendable display. n

DB Sports Injury DB Injury Clinic was established by Diarmaid Brennan MSc BSc GSR ARTC in 2011. Diarmaid graduated with an honours degree in Sports Rehabilitation from the Institute of Technology, Carlow in 2008 having already been awarded a National Certificate in Physiology and Health Science in 2006. Since his graduation Diarmaid has worked extensively in the field of injury treatment and advanced rehabilitation with a wide range of clients.

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He has worked in many sports across various levels including St. Patricks Athletic FC where he was head of treatment and rehabilitation with the league of Ireland premier division team, as well as many semi-professional and amateur clubs and players in rugby, soccer and GAA. Based on the work he did with St. Patricks Athletic he completed an MSc in Football Rehabilitation in Edgehill University in the UK, specialising in rehabilitation of elite level professional footballers.

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Genetic Performance

As GAA players know all too well, training can be very hard on both the body and the mind, the endless hours of standing in the gym lifting weights and the daily grind of trying to get their fitness levels up to the optimum level. The days of generic, ‘one size fits all’ training programmes could very well be at an end thanks to a new company that will transform the way that people train and compete. This company is Genetic Performance. The study of Genetics has advanced rapidly over the last few decades. Scientists are now able to map our entire genetic code instead of focusing on particular genes. They help us understand why people say ‘you have your mother’s eyes’ or ‘you are the image of Uncle Robert’. Our genes can warn us about medical issues passed down through our families DNA and they also are used in criminal investigations. So it should come as no surprise to find that our bodies approach to sport can be enhanced by reading your genes. Genetic Performance is the first Irish Company to offer these cutting edge sports and weight loss solutions worldwide. Genetic Performance will help you identify those exercises which compliment your body’s fitness needs. The answers are written in your DNA. To find out your genetic potential couldn’t be easier. All you have to do is take the non-invasive swab test (in the comfort of your own home) and post it back so that the Genetic Performance team from the creditation ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory in the U.S.A can map the genetic predisposition of your unique make-up. The team at Genetic Performance turns the analysis into a training plan to suit your genetic code which will help you reach your goals more efficiently. The results will reduce the time wasted in the perusal of sports of pastimes that the client may be limited to future progression and highlight the possibility of changing direction knowing that success is a realistic goal. One of the main people behind Genetic Performance is Joseph Dalton. Joseph has over 20 years sales and marketing experience at a senior level both in Europe and the USA. His particular fitness passions are kettlebells and Kung Fu and he is also a keen student of EBMAS Wing Chun. He is co -owner of a kettlebell gym and weight loss centre in Dublin which specialises in combining good diet with strength and conditioning to achieve sustainable results. At Genetic Performance Joseph successfully combines his love for sport with his business development expertise “We provide information and tools for individuals to learn about their sports DNA, with the goal of maximizing their athletic or sports potential. We analyse a customised set of genetic variants relating to sports performance traits, and we also provide follow up personalized performance and nutritional programmes to help you maximize your athletic potential

and addresses any genetic weaknesses. “All of the laboratory work for genetic sports testing is done in a laboratory (creditation ISO/IEC 17025 ) in the U.S, so there is complete transparency in everything that we do. “Genetic Performance provides Personalized Training Programmes and Training Consultation services designed to optimize your sports conditioning and performance. Training programmes can be developed based on your sports DNA testing results and according to your genetic profile. “Performance training and strength training programmes can also be developed without any testing required, taking your sport of choice into account and an exercise-physiological evaluation plus current training performance records. “We provide Personalised Nutritional Consultation and Diet plans, which will detail your nutritional requirements during performance training and strength training and also for competitive events in your sport of choice. We also provide personalised Nutritional plans for weight loss based on your unique metabolism and to address specific issues such as lactose intolerance”. Assisting Joseph Dalton in the growth of Genetic Performance is Tony O’Brien. Tony is very well qualified and vastly experienced strength and conditioning coach. He qualified with a BA (Hons) in Sports Management and gained an MSc in Sport and Exercise Science (Leeds Metropolitan University) and a further MSc in Strength and Conditioning from St Mary’s University College. During his time at St Mary’s, Tony researched extensively the application of differing periodisation models on the acquisition of strength, speed and agility in field based sports. Finally in addition he qualified as a teacher, graduating with a Cert Ed from Manchester University. Tony has extensive experience in Professional Rugby both as a Skills and S & C coach since 1995 working with Super League teams, Sheffield Eagles, Warrington Wolves, Hull KR and Castleford Tigers as well as Connacht in the Rabo Direct Pro12. As a keen sportsman he represented his county in football, rugby, and athletics and holds a Black belt (2nd Dan) in Shotokan Karate. With the aid of Genetic Performance, Tony believes that an awful lot of the guess work that goes into most training programmes is taken out of the equation, and players, athletes and fitness loving people will be able to train more effectively and efficiently. “It is phenomenal”, O’Brien says of Genetic Performance. “All of the second guessing, in terms of training programmes is now gone. We now have a genetic template whereby we can work together with the individual and tailor their programme to what suits them the most. “Some people may be great at lifting weights, but not at cardio. They may find they are not achieving their maximum potential, but by using Genetic Performance they will be able to see what type of gym and fitness activities suits them the best”. Imagine if you had a system in place where you could genetically look at a group of young rugby players for example. You would be able to see which players are most suited for the game. Among the many people to have benefited from Genetic Performance is Kenny Florian. Kenny has competed at the highest levels of professional mixed martials arts and is fulsome in his praise for Genetic Performance. “One of the biggest keys to my athletic success is understands who I am as an athlete and what my body was designed to do, and that is where GP has played such a huge roll. We all have spent countless hours working with strength and conditioning coaches and subscribing to their theories and athletic philosophies, but not anymore. “Genetic Performance has unlocked the genes that make up my athletic ability. With scientific DNA analysis, which was just a simple mouth swab, I now understand the genes that I have and what my genetic strengths are. Imagine just how good I am going to be now that I know just what areas to focus my training and fight plan on”. If you would like to find out more about Genetic Performance, or order the test for your team, yourself or a member of your family you can find our more at geneticperformance.ie. n

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NEVIN HURLEYS All sizes of hurleys manufactured on site Individual styles manufactured to customer requirements Also available: • hurley repairs • hurling balls • footballs • helmets etc

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Davy Fitzgerald Unbridled passion and enthusiasm. These are just two of the words that could describe Davy Fitzgerald. The former Clare goalkeeper, who is widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers of this or any generation, is as recognisable a face in the world of GAA as a Henry Shefflin, Stephen Cluxton or a Brian Cody. Born in August 1971, Fitzgerald played his entire club hurling for Sixmilebridge, making over a 100 appearances, winning six Clare, two Munster and one All-Ireland club championships during his time with the Clare club. After making his debut as a substitute in Sixmilebridge’s opening championship game in 1989, Fitzgerald subsequently took over from Brendan Flynn as first-choice goalkeeper. It was a successful debut season as he captured his first county championship medal following a 3-14 to 1-11 defeat of Clarecastle. In 1992 Sixmilebridge were back in the championship decider. A narrow 1-11 to 1-10 defeat of Éire Óg gave victory to “the Bridge” and gave Fitzgerald a second county championship medal. For only the second time in the history of the club, Sixmilebridge retained their championship title in 1993 following a 3-8 to 2-6 defeat of O’Callaghan’s Mills. It was Fitzgerald’s third county championship medal. Three-in-a-row proved beyond Sixmilebridge, however, the team bounced back to reach the championship decider again in 1995. Scariff provided the opposition on that occasion; however, Sixmilebridge secured the victory by just a single point on a score line of 2-10 to 0-15. The win gave Fitzgerald a fourth county championship medal. “The Bridge” later qualified for the provincial decider against Tipp champions Nenagh Éire Óg. He would continue playing with the club until 2008, when he called time on his club career. However he made a surprising, on off, appearance back in 2011, when he won his 100th cap for Sixmilebridge, helping them to reach the county final, once again. His natural talent between the sticks for his club would soon see him make the step up to inter-county hurling. Having won a Munster medal with the Clare minor team in 1989, Fitzgerald made his senior inter-county debut for the first time in a National Hurling League game against Down. It would prove to be a successful campaign, with Clare winning the Division 2 title that year. 1995 would be the year though that would prove to be Fitzgerald’s breakthrough year with the Clare senior team. Under the guise of Ger Loughnane, Clare blazed a trailed throughout the hurling landscape that season. New fitness regimes and new personalized diets and, above all, a new psychological approach, resulted in the fittest and most prepared Clare team ever taking to the field for a third consecutive Munster final in 1995. Limerick were the opponents for a second consecutive year and took an early lead. Clare never surrendered and, thanks to an

inspirational penalty by goalkeeper FitzGerald, fought back to win by 1-17 to 0-11. 7. It was Fitzgerald’s first Munster title and Clare’s first since 1932. Fitzgerald’s side later qualified for the All-Ireland final and were the underdogs against reigning champions Offaly. Although trailing at halftime, substitute Éamonn Taaffe scored a crucial goal to propel Clare to a 1-13 to 2-8 victory.

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It was their first championship title in eighty-one years. As well as collecting a coveted All-Ireland medal, Fitzgerald was later honoured with a first All-Star award, following a stellar campaign. He would only have to wait two years to capture his second AllIreland, when Clare defeated Tipperary in one of the games of the decade by a score line of 0-20 -2-13. That would prove to be the zenith of Fitzgerald’s time in a Clare jersey. The rise of Kilkenny as a hurling superpower along with Clare’s slow decline saw them only make one appearance in an All-Ireland final, back in 2002, losing out to Kilkenny. Fitzgerald would retire from the game in 2008, but would not go quietly into the night. He would take the guile, passion and skill that he had on the field and turn his hand to management.

Fitzgerald was named as Waterford manager, following the dismissal of Justin McCarthy. He immediately steadied the ship and subsequent defeats of Antrim, Offaly, Wexford and Tipperary saw Waterford reach the All-Ireland final for the first time in forty-five years. Kilkenny provided the opposition and went on to trounce Waterford by 3-30 to 1-13 to claim a third All-Ireland title in-a-row. After a disappointing National League campaign in 2009, Waterford still qualified for the All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny. Despite a far better performance than the previous encounter, Waterford lost 2-23 to 3-15. In 2010 Fitzgerald guided Waterford back to the Munster decider for a second consecutive year. Cork provided the opposition, however, a 2-15 apiece draw was the result. The subsequent replay saw Waterford win the provincial title by 1-16 to 1-13.Fitzgerald’s final season in charge featured some high points as well as a lot of negative criticism. After a 7-19 to 0-19 trouncing at the hands of Tipperary in the Munster final, Waterford still reached a fourth successive All-Ireland semi-final. Kilkenny once again put a halt to Waterford’s All-Ireland hopes with a six-point defeat. That defeat would see Fitzgerald inform the Waterford county board that he would not be seeking another term as manager of the senior hurling team bringing an end to his three years in charge. He would rebound however, and would make his way back to his native county, when he took the reins of Clare in October 2011. Despite a number of stumbles along the way, Fitzgerald has Clare playing an exciting brand of hurling and one wouldn’t be surprised, given the driven nature of Fitzgerald, and his relentless drive to get to the top, if Clare were battling it out at the business end of the AllIreland Hurling championship this summer. n

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Provincial round - up

Daire WALSH

munster Back-to-back All-Ireland Football titles have become a rarity in recent times, as apart from Kerry in 2006 and 2007, all the times that have won the Sam Maguire Cup have eventually come up short in the following year’s competition. Having waited a full 20 years for their second Celtic Cross success, Donegal will not want to let it slip straight away, and like all the teams before them, they will need to overcome adversity if they are to be the top footballing team in the country once again. Injuries to All-Stars Karl Lacey and Mark McHugh are two such problems they have had to deal with, and neither player was deemed fit enough to start in their championship opener against Tyrone at Ballybofey on May 26th. It didn’t overly affect them in the early parts of their clash with Mickey Harte’s men, however, as early points from Colm McFadden (two), Michael Murphy and David Walsh offered them a promising early platform. Sean Cavanagh and goalkeeper Niall Morgan (a noted free-taker during the league) reduced Donegal’s advantage to the bare minimum with fine scores, but McFadden’s third of the contest soon restored the champions’ two-point advantage. A typically flamboyant point from Stephen O’Neill, and another from the onrushing Mattie Donnelly when a goal appeared on, levelled matters in the 25th minute, before Colm Cavanagh gave the challengers the lead for the very first time with a magnificent point from distance. However, their new-found superiority didn’t last long, as McFadden struck past the stranded Morgan after a fine assist by Paddy McBrearty from a lengthy Murphy delivery. This was the pivotal score during the first-half, which ended with Donegal 1-6 to 0-7 to the good, but thanks to fine efforts from Justin McMahon and Sean Cavanagh, Tyrone brought parity to the tie in the early stages of the second period. However, Tyrone were guilty of spurning a number of chances during this time (with the normal dependable Morgan being particularly wasteful), and Donegal punished them towards the end of the thirdquarter when substitute Ross Wherity palmed home following an excellent run up the right-wing by McBrearty as Donegal edged into a three-point lead. This advantage soon increased to five with quickfire points from McBrearty and Murphy, and despite plenty of industry, Tyrone’s only score in the closing 20 minutes was an injury-time Martin Penrose point. To compound matters, Joe McMahon was dismissed for a second yellow card offence, and with further scores arriving through Rory Kavanagh and McBrearty, Donegal claimed a much-deserved 2-10 to 0-10 victory. Their next port of call was Kingspan Breffni Park on June 23rd for a semi-final encounter with Down, who had reason to be confident following a thrilling 2-17 to 1-15 success over Derry three weeks beforehand. On paper, this was a hard game to call, but with full-forward Eoin Bradley contributing 0-4 from play, and Mark Lynch also raising a green flag, the Oak

Kevin Niblock

according to plan, as Monaghan held a 0-5 to 0-1 lead with the help of valuable contributions from Conor McManus, Darren Hughes, Paul Finlay and Owen Duffy. Kevin Niblock was the sole scorer for the Saffrons in the early stages, but two impressive frees from long-range by Sean McVeigh, along with Niblock’s second of the game, left just one point between the sides (0-5 to 0-4) at the interval. The accurate Paddy Cunningham drew the sides level with a 25-metre free just two minutes after the restart, and they received a major boost to their prospects when Monaghan’s centre-back Neil McAdam was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card on 39 minutes.

Leaf county led 1-10 to 0-9 at the break, in spite of the best endeavours of Kevin McKernan and Donal O’Hare for Down. Indeed, with Benny Heron on hand to move Derry further into the ascendancy with a point upon the resumption, things were looking quite ominous for Down, but they produced some scintillating football during the second period, and they incredibly found themselves 2-14 to 1-12 to the good with just 15 minutes remaining in the contest. O’Hare and livewire centre-forward Mark Poland scored the pivotal three-pointers for the 2010 All-Ireland finalists, which in truth left Derry with too much to do during the closing moments of a riveting encounter. With Bradley now largely subdued, it was left to James Kielt and Lynch to propel an unlikely comeback, but with McKernan in outstanding form from midfield (he finished with a personal tally of 0-4), Down secured their passage to the last-four in fine fashion. There had been much talk during the league that Down were set to abandon their traditional style of play for a more conservative approach, and though this wasn’t necessarily in evidence against Derry, it was certainly on display during their clash with Donegal, as they had up to 14 players ‘behind the ball’ at various stages in the first half. Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden both hit a brace early on as Donegal built up a four-point cushion, but Down did frustrate them at times, and finally settle into the proceedings thanks to a couple of frees from Burren’s Donal O’Hare. Murphy and McBrearty soon cancelled out his efforts with scores of their own, but Down reduced their lead to just two (0-6 to 0-4) by the end of the half following hard-earned scores from O’Hare and Mark Poland (their first from play). Donegal did open the second half with a Rory Kavanagh point, but only two points separated the teams inside the final quarter thanks to fine points from play by O’Hare and substitute Jerome Johnston, and there was certainly a sense that the O’Donnell County were there for the taking. Yet, Down lacked composure in front of the posts at key moments, and with the deadly duo of McFadden and Murphy landing two majestic long-range frees, Donegal held out for a scrappy 0-12 to 0-9 win. This result meant that Donegal qualified for a third successive Ulster Final, which takes place this year on July 21st. At the time of writing, they were still uncertain about who they would play in this showpiece occasion, as Monaghan and Cavan were due to face each other on Saturday June 29th. Of the two, Monaghan were expected to make a much bigger impression in their province, but their one game to date in the championship was perhaps not the greatest advertisement for where they currently are in terms of their development. The opening 21 minutes of their quarterfinal fixture with Antrim was going

Antrim failed to utilise their numerical advantage, and with Christopher McGuinness and McManus chipping in with crucial points, Monaghan managed to regain control of the play in the vital sectors of the field. Indeed, 33 minutes elapsed before Antrim secured their next score – a stoppage time fee by Michael Pollock – and by this stage Monaghan had effectively sealed their victory (on a score line of 0-11 to 0-6) with insurance scores from substitute Tommy Freeman and McGuinness. They may well be marginal favourites against Cavan, but Terry Hyland and his side have surprised quite a few people by getting this far, as their May 19th preliminary round success over Armagh was somewhat unexpected. With Armagh looking to develop an open and attacking style of football, there was always a chance that Cavan could cause the Orchard County’s defence trouble if given enough space, and Cian Mackey’s 22nd minute goal following a tremendous individual, and a number of excellent scores from full-forward Martin Dunne, helped them towards a deserved 1-6 to 0-4 mid-way lead. With Dunne causing havoc for the Armagh full-back line, and opposing attacker Jamie Clarke being heavily marked, the sleeping giants of Ulster football stretched their lead to nine during the thirdquarter. Stefan Forker (two) and Mark Shields cut into the Cavan cushion, though, and when substitute Ethan Rafferty found the net on 58 minutes to leave just one point between the teams, a cracking finale was in store. However, with Armagh now fully committed to chasing the game, there was even more space for Dunne to benefit from, and he added three more points (meaning that he finished with an astonishing 0-8 from play) as Cavan recorded a much-desired 1-15 to 1-11 victory. Having enjoyed great success in the past three years at Under-21 level, Cavan were now getting plenty of joy at senior level, but with Peter Canavan and Fermanagh awaiting them in the last-eight, they knew that another strong performance was needed to keep their run going. They certainly made a bright start in Enniskillen, as points from Damien O’Reilly, Niall McDermott (two) and Cian Mackey had them four to the good with 24 minutes gone. A Ryan Jones score a couple of minutes later finally opened the Erne County’s account, but Martin Dunne finally evaded some tight marking by the Fermanagh rearguard to kick a fine point from play. Further points arrived for Fermanagh from Tomas Corrigan and Declan McCusker, but two Eugene Keating scores ensured that Cavan led by 0-7 to 0-3 with 35 minutes played. The Breffni men were far from being home and dry, though, and three quick-fire points from Eoin Donnelly, Daniel Kille and Marty McGrath left them with an extremely slender advantage. A Martin Dunne free, and a Martin Reilly strike from general play, reaffirmed Cavan’s superiority, but with 14 minutes left, points courtesy of Corrigan, Sean Quigley and Kille (two) meant that the sides were level for the very first time. Much like the Armagh game, however, Cavan finished strongly, and two points from the increasingly impressive Dunne was enough to get them over the line with two points to spare (0-13 to 0-11). n

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Provincial round - up

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Daire WALSH

CONNACHT Thanks to the presence of New York, the Connacht Senior Football Championship is always the first provincial competition to get up and running, and May 5th saw Leitrim recording an emphatic 4-19 to 0-7 victory over the Big Apple outfit, in what was the county’s first visit to America since their 11 point victory in Gaelic Park five years ago. Despite the presence of former Monaghan footballer Rory Woods off the bench, a terrific personal tally of 3-7 from Emlyn Mulligan helped Leitrim to safely cruise into the next round of the competition.

Mayo’s Keith Higgins and Shane Walsh of Galway

Since running Galway extremely close in a 2010 first round encounter (the Tribesmen eventually secured a 2-13 to 0-12 with the help of a late Cormac Bane major), New York have had to oversee drastic changes to their squad, and they have suffered in their subsequent Connacht appearances as a result. Galway’s own performances have been less than stellar in the intermediary period, though, and last year’s emphatic victory over Roscommon is the only provincial win they have had in the meantime. This underwhelming form guide meant that they were large outsiders against reigning champions Mayo, but the manner of their defeat and overall display on the day was still a major surprise to all of the loyal supporters in the county. After a nervy opening on their home patch of Pearse Stadium, Galway conceded their first goal of the contest 15 minutes in when debutant half-forward Cathal Carolan evaded a number of tame Galway challenges before finishing to the back of the net. With Galway’s confidence now shattered, intense play by Mayo forced their defence into a number of turnovers, and this led to a brace of goals from Enda Varley and Donal Vaughan, the latter shooting into an empty net after Breathnach had been left alone in his own ‘45’. This gave Mayo a commanding 3-9 to 0-6 lead at the break, and despite hitting three points in succession at the start of the second period, Galway’s chances of gaining a consolation from the game evaporated as a result of red cards issued to Gareth Bradshaw and Niall Coleman, and with substitute Andy Moran marking his first game since rupturing his cruciate ligament in an All-Ireland Quarter-Final against Down last August with a late major, Mayo eased over the line in a 4-16 to 0-11 triumph. Because of the one-sided nature of these opening two games, there was a feeling that the Connacht Championship hadn’t yet come to life, but the clash between London and Sligo in Ruislip at the quarter-final stage on May 26th was one that will remembered for some time to come. With the provincial draw keeping the Yeats County on the opposite side of the draw to both Galway and Mayo, Kevin Walsh would have seen a tremendous opportunity for his side to reach their third Connacht decider in four seasons. They did get off to a decent start against the Exiles when Adrian Marren’s goal-bound effort was pushed over the bar by London shotstopper Declan Traynor inside the opening minute of the contest, but Sligo went a further 19 minutes without adding to their tally, and during that period London chipped in with points from Mark Gottsche (two) and

Cathal McGee, along with a 1-1 salvo from dynamic inside forward Lorcan Mulvey. Though Marren and Mark Breheny can be a formidable attacking duo, Sligo were badly missing the services of the elusive David Kelly, and despite adding another brace of points before the end of the half, a monstrous ‘45’ from Gottsche (a member of the Galway panel during Liam Sammon’s tenure in charge) helped London to lead 1-6 to 0-5 at the mid-way stage. This raised hopes that London could pull off the shock victory that many suspected was going to happen sooner rather than later, and when they moved seven points ahead (1-10 to 0-6) towards the end of the third-quarter, it looked like they could finish off the job with quite a bit to spare. Sligo received a lifeline 15 minutes into the second half, however, as Padraig McGoldrick (a native of the visiting county) was issued with a second yellow card following a foul on Neil Ewing. McGoldrick had also missed a penalty before the break, and with the numerical advantage now in Sligo’s favour, London would have to endure a nerve-jangling finale if they were going to progress to the penultimate stage in the West. Mulvey and Sean Kelly did add crucial points for London, but with Sligo hitting eight scores through Tony Taylor (three), Charlie Harrison (two), Breheny and Hughes, their lead had been dramatically reduced to just one. Time was quickly running out for the Division Three outfit, but when centre-forward Pat Hughes punched towards the target via a Brian Curran pass, it looked like they were set to record their first goal of the day. Traynor was left stranded from Hughes’ effort, but to the relief of the passionate home support, the ball came crashing off the upright, and was eventually knocked wide from the subsequent rebound. This proved to be Sligo’s final shot at redemption, as London held out for an historic first Connacht SFC victory since 1977, which set-up

an intriguing semi-final date with Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon on June 23rd. This was a magnificent achievement by Paul Coggins and his squad, and when you consider that they would now be facing a team that operate in a lower division than Sligo (Leitrim play in Division 4, whereas the Markievicz Park men are a Division 3 side), they had reason to believe that they could pull of another major coup.

the scoring and also kept Mayo scoreless for the opening 12 minutes of play, but weren’t able to take advantage of some promising play in the opposition ‘45’, and although centre-forward Karol Mannion reduced their deficit to one-point (0-3 to 0-2) with an excellent point from play, Mayo had firmly settled into their stride by the end of the half, and they brought a convincing 0-13 to 0-4 cushion into the dressing room at the break.

In the final round of Division Four of the Allianz National Football League, Leitrim narrowly overcame London 1-11 to 1-9 at Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, and a tight encounter was once again anticipated when the two teams renewed their increasingly frequent rivalry at the same venue. Certainly, there was very little to set the sides apart in the opening 35 minutes, and although Paddy McGowan did open the scoring for Leitrim, Seamus Hannon quickly cancelled it out with a fantastic individual point.

Having worked so hard to keep themselves in the game early on, Roscommon were now into damage limitation territory, and although they picked off some nice scores after the restart through substitute Enda Smith (two) and Senan Kilbride, Mayo continued to picked off scores at various junctures, and their final tally of 0-21 (Roscommon finished with 0-9) was spread between 11 different players.

Darren Sweeney then restored the lead for the hosts with a fourth minute point, before the Exiles signalled their intent with scores from Padraig McGoldrick (free) and Mulvey. Leitrim suffered a massive set-back when captain Emlyn Mulligan departed the scenes with a calf injury, but Leitrim dug deep in his absence to move into a two-point lead by the 23rd minute. London also lost their own talismanic skipper, Mark Gottsche, before the interval, but Lorcan Mulvey once more displayed his goal-poaching instincts by finishing to the net from close-in following an error by Leitrim custodian Cathal McCrann. This offered London a slender 1-4 to 0-6 lead heading into the second period, but Leitrim re-grouped successfully, and they led by two points with 12 minutes left having outscored their opponents 0-4 to 0-1 since the beginning of the half. London’s only point during this section of play arrived via a ‘45’ by London goalkeeper Declan Traynor, but their incredible journey through the championship looked like it was set to continue through the front door when substitute Sean Kelly found the back of the Leitrim net in the 59th minute. This was a confidence-boosting score for the visitors, and when they edged two points in front during the closing stages of the game, London looked on course for a first-ever Connacht final appearance. Leitrim were desperate not to suffer the same fate as Sligo, however, and thanks to late points from Darren Sweeney and Kevin Conlon (who had taken over free-taking duties from Mulligan), they lived to fight another day.

Defenders Keith Higgins, Colm Boyle, Donal Vaughan and Lee Keegan, as well as substitutes Darren Coen and Andy Moran all got in on the scoring act, and while the winners of the Leitrim and London tie will undoubtedly embrace a Connacht final with both hands, it is difficult to see anything other than a Mayo victory in the provincial decider. Ever since Galway’s facile 4-26 to 2-8 triumph over Roscommon in 1999, there has been no Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, and with the former’s presence in the province of Leinster proving to be a real success at the moment, it is unlikely that it will re-emerge at any point in the near future. The remaining counties in Connacht do, nevertheless, compete in the secondary hurling competitions, and they had mixed fortunes in their respective championships during 2013. The highest placed Connacht county after Galway are Mayo, who have All-Star footballer Keith Higgins in their ranks, and compete in the Christy Ring Cup, which is a competition for counties who operate just outside the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. They have shown plenty of grit at this level in the past few years, but this year was one of their more forgettable campaigns, as they followed up an opening round defeat to Kildare (1-23 to 0-15) with a second consecutive loss in Round 2B to Wicklow on a score line of 4-19 to 3-10.

The replay was fixed for the following Sunday at Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon, with the eventual winner knowing that a Connacht showdown against Mayo awaited them on July 21st, after James Horan’s men followed up their demolition of Galway with another comprehensive victory over Roscommon on June 16th. They had taken a while to get going in this game, as John Evans’ team enjoyed a good deal of possession during the early exchanges at McHale Park, Castlebar. Indeed, Roscommon did open

Cathal Carolan

Former Connacht competitors Roscommon did fare better in the Nicky Rackard Cup, though, and after securing eyecatching victories over Sligo (1-18 to 0-14), Louth (2-14 to 0-13) and Tyrone (3-28 to 0-14), they reached the third-tier decider at Croke Park on Saturday June 8th against Donegal. They had earlier lost to the O’Donnell County in Round 2A by three points (1-16 to 0-16), and despite registering majors courtesy of Gerry Fallon (two) and Cathal Kelly, they were once again left frustrated by the Ulster men, who emerged victorious on a four-point margin (3-20 to 3-16). Following their defeat against near rivals Roscommon, Sligo were resoundingly beaten at the quarter-final stage by Monaghan (5-12 to 2-7), while Leitrim recorded two losses from their brace of Lory Meagher encounters against Fermanagh (3-13 to 0-12) and Longford (3-12 to 0-7) n.

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Daire WALSH

ulster

excellent run up the right-wing by McBrearty as Donegal edged into a three-point lead. This advantage soon increased to five with quickfire points from McBrearty and Murphy, and despite plenty of industry, Tyrone’s only score in the closing 20 minutes was an injury-time Martin Penrose point. To compound matters, Joe McMahon was dismissed for a second yellow card offence, and with further scores arriving through Rory Kavanagh and McBrearty, Donegal claimed a much-deserved 2-10 to 0-10 victory. Their next port of call was Kingspan Breffni Park on June 23rd for a semi-final encounter with Down, who had reason to be confident following a thrilling 2-17 to 1-15 success over Derry three weeks beforehand.

Tyrone’s Colm Cavanagh and Sean Hurley of Kildare Back-to-back All-Ireland Football titles have become a rarity in recent times, as apart from Kerry in 2006 and 2007, all the times that have won the Sam Maguire Cup have eventually come up short in the following year’s competition. Having waited a full 20 years for their second Celtic Cross success, Donegal will not want to let it slip straight away, and like all the teams before them, they will need to overcome adversity if they are to be the top footballing team in the country once again. Injuries to All-Stars Karl Lacey and Mark McHugh are two such problems they have had to deal with, and neither player was deemed fit enough to start in their championship opener against Tyrone at Ballybofey on May 26th. It didn’t overly affect them in the early parts of their clash with Mickey Harte’s men, however, as early points from Colm McFadden (two), Michael Murphy and David Walsh offered them a promising early platform. Sean Cavanagh and goalkeeper Niall Morgan (a noted free-taker during the league) reduced Donegal’s advantage to the bare minimum with fine scores, but McFadden’s third of the contest soon restored the champions’ two-point advantage. A typically flamboyant point from Stephen O’Neill, and another from the onrushing Mattie Donnelly when a goal appeared on, levelled matters in the 25th minute, before Colm Cavanagh gave the challengers the lead for the very first time with a magnificent point from distance. However, their new-found superiority didn’t last long, as McFadden struck past the stranded Morgan after a fine assist by Paddy McBrearty from a lengthy Murphy delivery. This was the pivotal score during the first-half, which ended with Donegal 1-6 to 0-7 to the good, but thanks to fine efforts from Justin McMahon and Sean Cavanagh, Tyrone brought parity to the tie in the early stages of the second period. However, Tyrone were guilty of spurning a number of chances during this time (with the normal dependable Morgan being particularly wasteful), and Donegal punished them towards the end of the thirdquarter when substitute Ross Wherity palmed home following an

On paper, this was a hard game to call, but with full-forward Eoin Bradley contributing 0-4 from play, and Mark Lynch also raising a green flag, the Oak Leaf county led 1-10 to 0-9 at the break, in spite of the best endeavours of Kevin McKernan and Donal O’Hare for Down. Indeed, with Benny Heron on hand to move Derry further into the ascendancy with a point upon the resumption, things were looking quite ominous for Down, but they produced some scintillating football during the second period, and they incredibly found themselves 2-14 to 1-12 to the good with just 15 minutes remaining in the contest. O’Hare and livewire centre-forward Mark Poland scored the pivotal three-pointers for the 2010 All-Ireland finalists, which in truth left Derry with too much to do during the closing moments of a riveting encounter. With Bradley now largely subdued, it was left to James Kielt and Lynch to propel an unlikely comeback, but with McKernan in outstanding form from midfield (he finished with a personal tally of 0-4), Down secured their passage to the last-four in fine fashion. There had been much talk during the league that Down were set to abandon their traditional style of play for a more conservative approach, and though this wasn’t necessarily in evidence against Derry, it was certainly on display during their clash with Donegal, as they had up to 14 players ‘behind the ball’ at various stages in the first half. Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden both hit a brace early on as Donegal built up a four-point cushion, but Down did frustrate them at times, and finally settle into the proceedings thanks to a couple of frees from Burren’s Donal O’Hare. Murphy and McBrearty soon cancelled out his efforts with scores of their own, but Down reduced their lead to just two (0-6 to 0-4) by the end of the half following hard-earned scores from O’Hare and Mark Poland (their first from play). Donegal did open the second half with a Rory Kavanagh point, but only two points separated the teams inside the final quarter thanks to fine points from play by O’Hare and substitute Jerome Johnston, and there was certainly a sense that the O’Donnell County were there for the taking. Yet, Down lacked composure in front of the posts at key moments, and with the deadly duo of McFadden and Murphy landing two majestic longrange frees, Donegal held out for a scrappy 0-12 to 0-9 win. This result meant that Donegal qualified for a third successive Ulster Final, which takes place this year on July 21st. At the time of writing,

they were still uncertain about who they would play in this showpiece occasion, as Monaghan and Cavan were due to face each other on Saturday June 29th. Of the two, Monaghan were expected to make a much bigger impression in their province, but their one game to date in the championship was perhaps not the greatest advertisement for where they currently are in terms of their development. The opening 21 minutes of their quarter-final fixture with Antrim was going according to plan, as Monaghan held a 0-5 to 0-1 lead with the help of valuable contributions from Conor McManus, Darren Hughes, Paul Finlay and Owen Duffy. Kevin Niblock was the sole scorer for the Saffrons in the early stages, but two impressive frees from long-range by Sean McVeigh, along with Niblock’s second of the game, left just one point between the sides (0-5 to 0-4) at the interval. The accurate Paddy Cunningham drew the sides level with a 25-metre free just two minutes after the restart, and they received a major boost to their prospects when Monaghan’s centre-back Neil McAdam was given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card on 39 minutes. Antrim failed to utilise their numerical advantage, and with Christopher McGuinness and McManus chipping in with crucial points, Monaghan managed to regain control of the play in the vital sectors of the field. Indeed, 33 minutes elapsed before Antrim secured their next score – a stoppage time fee by Michael Pollock – and by this stage Monaghan had effectively sealed their victory (on a score line of 0-11 to 0-6) with insurance scores from substitute Tommy Freeman and McGuinness. They may well be marginal favourites against Cavan, but Terry Hyland and his side have surprised quite a few people by getting this far, as their May 19th preliminary round success over Armagh was somewhat unexpected. With Armagh looking to develop an open and attacking style of football, there was always a chance that Cavan could cause the Orchard County’s defence trouble if given enough space, and Cian Mackey’s 22nd minute goal following a tremendous individual, and a number of excellent scores from full-forward Martin Dunne, helped them towards a deserved 1-6 to 0-4 mid-way lead. With Dunne causing havoc for the Armagh full-back line, and opposing attacker Jamie Clarke being heavily marked, the sleeping giants of Ulster football stretched their lead to nine during the third-quarter. Stefan Forker (two) and Mark Shields cut into the Cavan cushion, though, and when substitute Ethan Rafferty found the net on 58 minutes to leave just one point between the teams, a cracking finale was in store.

great success in the past three years at Under-21 level, Cavan were now getting plenty of joy at senior level, but with Peter Canavan and Fermanagh awaiting them in the last-eight, they knew that another strong performance was needed to keep their run going. They certainly made a bright start in Enniskillen, as points from Damien O’Reilly, Niall McDermott (two) and Cian Mackey had them four to the good with 24 minutes gone. A Ryan Jones score a couple of minutes later finally opened the Erne County’s account, but Martin Dunne finally evaded some tight marking by the Fermanagh rearguard to kick a fine point from play. Further points arrived for Fermanagh from Tomas Corrigan and Declan McCusker, but two Eugene Keating scores ensured that Cavan led by 0-7 to 0-3 with 35 minutes played. The Breffni men were far from being home and dry, though, and three quick-fire points from Eoin Donnelly, Daniel Kille and Marty McGrath left them with an extremely slender advantage. A Martin Dunne free, and a Martin Reilly strike from general play, reaffirmed Cavan’s superiority, but with 14 minutes left, points courtesy of Corrigan, Sean Quigley and Kille (two) meant that the sides were level for the very first time. Much like the Armagh game, however, Cavan finished strongly, and two points from the increasingly impressive Dunne was enough to get them over the line with two points to spare (0-13 to 0-11). Due to Antrim’s participation in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship, the Ulster Senior competition operates outside of the Liam McCarthy Cup, but with the Saffrons receiving a bye into the decider each year, it does at least gain some exposure. Though it is generally felt that Antrim should always emerge as the victors, they may well have some competition this year, as Down enter the action in the North as Christy Ring Cup champions following a dramatic 3-16 to 2-17 final success over Kerry. This normally means that the winners will get a chance to compete in the Liam McCarthy section the following year, but although it is unclear where Down stand in those terms, they will be eager to impress in their own province, and they certainly made a positive start by beating Armagh at the quarter-final stage in Pairc Esler, Newry on June 16th by a margin of 3-20 to 1-11. There hadn’t been a great deal to separate the teams in the opening half, and Down needed goals from James Coyle and Scott Nicholson to gain a 2-8 to 1-7 interval lead. The Mourne men were far superior upon the resumption, and a third goal from Johnny McCusker paved the way for them to seal a comprehensive 15-point triumph. A semi-final against Derry two weeks later in the Athletic Grounds was the reward garnered from this victory, with the winners of that clash then moving forward to the Ulster final against Antrim just a week later. n

However, with Armagh now fully committed to chasing the game, there was even more space for Dunne to benefit from, and he added three more points (meaning that he finished with an astonishing 0-8 from play) as Cavan recorded a much-desired 1-15 to 1-11 victory. Having enjoyed

Rory Kavanagh

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Provincial round - up

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Daire WALSH

leinster

championship encounter on home soil.

Wexford’s Craig Doyle with Bryan Menton of DIT

The O’Moore men were rank outsiders for this clash, but they threatened to upset the apple cart for much of the contest, as superb efforts from Matthew Whelan (two), Stephen Maher, Keenan, Hyland, Joe Fitzpatrick and Brian Dunne gave them a margin 0-8 to 0-7 lead at half-time. Galway had performed below par in the opening period, but with Joe Canning leading their charge, they did move two points in front heading into the final quarter. A shock was still on the cards when Tommy Fitzgerald grabbed his second goal of the championship 57 minutes in, but Davy Glennon quickly cancelled out his score with a close-range finish after Laois netminder Eoin Reilly turned away a powerful Canning strike, and when replacement Aonghus Callanan also added an excellent 64th minute major, Galway had enough momentum to secure a 2-17 to 1-13 triumph.

The 2012 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship was certainly the most memorable in recent history, as it saw Galway causing a major surprise by securing the Bob O’Keeffe Cup for the very first time with a magnificent 2-21 to 2-11 triumph over Kilkenny. The Tribesmen did eventually lose to the same opposition in an AllIreland Final Replay last September, but they were duly rewarded for their historic success last year with a bye into the semi-final of this year’s Leinster competition. However, given the nature of the draw, they did have to wait for the outcome of a number of games before finding out who their opposition would be in the last-four, as Antrim, Westmeath, Laois, Carlow and London all had an equal chance of making the semifinal stage. A May 5th 3-18 to 2-13 win against Westmeath (when Neil McManus scored 2-4) raised hopes that Antrim could progress to this point, but they failed to replicate their performance against Laois 13 days later, when a 0-5 contribution from Zane Keenan (as well as a crucial goal from Tommy Fitzgerald) helped to put the Saffron county to the sword in O’Moore Park. This result came as something of a surprise given how poorly Laois have performed in recent years, but the good will factor has returned in the county under Seamus Plunkett, and they moved forward to a quarterfinal date against Carlow, who had impressed in a 4-17 to 2-13 triumph over 2012 Christy Ring champions London. Craig Doyle was in outstanding form in this game, as he finished with 3-2 to his name, but Laois always had the measure of Carlow in their clash, as goals in either half from Willie Hyland and Keenan helped to secure a 2-18 to 0-13 victory over John Meyler’s side, who astonishingly had three players sent-off in the latter stages. This set Laois up for a June 16th showdown with Galway, which was their third consecutive

It was expected that Kilkenny would emerge from the opposite side of the draw to join Anthony Cunningham’s charges in the July 14th decider, but with Henry Shefflin still on the absentee list, Kilkenny didn’t have it all their own way in their quarter-final clash with Offaly at Tullamore, as goals Colin Egan and Joe Bergin gave the Faithful a 2-6 to 0-11 interval cushion. The sizeable contributions of Eoin Larkin, Richie Power and Richie Hogan did eventually kick Kilkenny into gear, but with substitute Daniel Currams and Bergin adding further majors, there was much for the Cats to ponder from their 0-26 to 4-9 triumph. A semi-final outing against Dublin or Wexford was the next obstacle that they had to negotiate, but it took a second game to separate these teams as a result of Jack Guiney’s stoppage time pointed free in a drawn encounter at Wexford Park. After Guiney had raised a green flag in the opening half, Dublin looked like they might hold off a strong second period display by the Slaneysiders when Eamon Dillon struck a late goal, but Guiney’s late intervention meant that the sides embarked on a replay seven days later in Parnell Park. There was a sense that Wexford may have missed the boat in the first match, and when centre-back Andrew Shore was given a straight red-card in the early stages of an ill-tempered replay, the momentum was on Dublin’s side. With Paul Ryan finishing on a grand total of 1-9, Dublin comfortably sealed a 1-17 to 0-12 success in the end. Further improvements were needed if they were to overcome Kilkenny in Portlaoise on June 23rd, but although early points for the Noresiders from Eoin Larkin, Walter Walsh and Richie Hogan did raise doubts about the Dublin challenge, they managed to return to the dressing rooms at the interval on level terms (0-8 to 0-8), in spite of an excellent performance by Kilkenny corner-forward Walsh. However, they did have a wind advantage before the break, and when Walsh found the back of Gary Maguire’s net on 43 minutes, it looked like the Metropolitans were going to come up short once again. Intelligent tactical play by Dublin meant that it remained tight throughout the half, though, and when Conal Keaney and Joey Boland twice edged Dublin front during the dying moments, a shock result appeared on the cards. However, just when Kilkenny looked like they were beaten, substitute

TJ Reid stepped forward to seal a draw with virtually the last puck of the game. A 1-14 to 0-17 thriller meant that a replay was required in the same venue the following Saturday, with the incentive for winners being a Leinster final date with Galway, while the losers would face a mammoth qualifier encounter with Tipperary. May 19th marked the opening date of this year Leinster Senior Football Championship and, as was widely expected, Allianz National Football League Division Two finalists Westmeath got the better of Carlow at Cusack Park, with a total of 11 points to spare (3-15 to 1-10). The obvious advantage of playing in a higher division than The Scallion Eaters was always going to benefit Pat Flanagan’s charges, and thanks to a brace of majors from half-forward Kieran Martin, and one from James Dolan, Westmeath progressed to the next phase of the competition with minimal fuss, despite the best efforts of former Aussie Rules star Brendan Murphy for Anthony Rainbow’s men. However, while they did get back to winning ways after their league final loss, they were entering the lion’s den on Saturday June 1st at Croke Park against Dublin, who were playing their first game since being crowned Allianz NFL Champions and were hoping to send out a message of intent as they aimed to reclaim the Sam Maguire trophy. Westmeath have certainly improved a great deal since their previous championship meeting with the Sky Blues (a 4-26 to 0-11 hammering back in 2009), but they still found Jim Gavin’s men too hot to handle, and thanks to four points from the boot of Bernard Brogan, as well as three from the rejuvenated Paddy Andrews, the reigning provincial winners brought a 0-12 to 0-4 advantage into the second period. Two points from the hard-working John Heslin, and one from the ever-industrious Martin, reduced Westmeath’s deficit to six upon the resumption, but Dublin had ten points to spare by the time we reached the hour mark, and with Renaissance Man Andrews scoring a terrific individual goal late on, Dublin cruised towards a 1-22 to 0-9 victory. The holders were due to face Kildare in a Leinster Semi-Final on June 30th, after the latter held off a spirited challenge by Offaly in the curtain raiser to the Dublin V Westmeath game. The Lilywhites had comfortably triumphed during the corresponding fixture in the 2012 Leinster Championship, but with Emmett McDonnell now in possession of the Bainisteoir bib, and star forward Niall McNamee back in the fold, they were hoping to build on their promotion from Division Four of the NFL. They certainly were holding firm against Kildare during the opening 35 minutes, as both McNamee and Ken Casey were impressing in the inside line, and though the evergreen Johnny Doyle was offering tremendous leadership, the Faithful only trailed by three points (0-10 to

0-7) at the break. Superior fitness helped Kildare to an insurmountable eight-point lead in the closing moments, however, and despite having their advantage reduced to three following a successful David Hanlon penalty late on, an insurance point from former Cavan forward Seanie Johnston gave them a deserved 0-19 to 1-12 triumph. This four-point winning margin was perhaps less than was anticipated, and Kildare will certainly be looking for improvements, but they can take encouragement from the fact that their half-forward line (Paul Cribbin, Niall Kelly, Eoghan O’Flaherty) all shot 0-4 from play. On the other side of the draw, Meath and Wexford complete the remaining semi-final places, having emerged victorious from their opening Championship fixtures of 2013. The Royal had faced Wicklow at the quarter-final stage after the Garden County pulled off a surprise preliminary round triumph over Longford on a score line of 1-15 to 0-16, when a 1-5 contribution from Seanie Furlong helped them to overcome Glenn Ryan’s men, who endured a troublesome league campaign in Division Two. Meath have often had the Indian Sign over Wicklow in the Championship, but the gap between the counties has been closing in recent years, and despite playing against the breeze in Aughrim on Saturday June 15th, an early Paul Earls goal helped them to build up a one-point lead with 17 minutes gone. Points from Eamon Wallace, Graham Reilly and Mickey Newman edged Meath back in front, but Wicklow received a lifeline in the closing stages of the first half when they were awarded a contentious penalty. It was at this point that the contest turned on its head, though, as firstly Furlong’s penalty was comfortably saved by Paddy O’Rourke, and then moments later, full-back Kevin Reilly’s clearance from his own ‘65’ amazingly bounced over the head of Wicklow shot stopper John Flynn and into the back of the net. This was a hammer blow for Harry Murphy and his team, and even though Wicklow did battle gamely after the restart, the combined forces of Wallace, Reilly and Newman powered them towards a 1-17 to 1-12 victory. In the remaining quarter-final, Louth were expected to build on their terrific opening day triumph over Laois, when they had a whopping ten points to spare (1-16 to 1-6). With 1-11 in total between them, Brian White and Shane Lennon were vital to the Wee County’s cause in this game, and they would need to be at their best if they had designs on an extended run through Leinster.

John Heslin

Interestingly, Louth’s central attackers once again notched a combined score of 1-11, but it wasn’t to be for their side on the day, and when PJ Banville scored his side’s second goal with 20 minutes left to play (Ciaran Lyng had a spectacular threepointer on the half-hour mark), it looked like they were going to ease over the line. Points in this juncture from White (two), Paddy Keenan (two), Lennon (two) and Andy McDonnell did give Louth a fighting chance, but a 58th minute Paddy Byrne point was enough to give Wexford a slender 2-13 to 1-15 success. n

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2013 Camogie Championship

Daire WALSH

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Going into this year’s Camogie Championship opener, the competition had a new look involving a refurbished structure and a brand new sponsor. The major announcement of a new sponsor was made in May of this year. Liberty Insurance was selected to be the primary sponsor of both the hurling and camogie championships. This marked the first time that both the men and ladies game would be backed by the same sponsor. The GAA and Liberty Insurance agreed a five year sponsorship deal. As part of the deal Liberty Insurance will also be involved in other aspects of camogie including coaching, camogie development, and the delivery of responsible driving initiatives. Speaking at the announcement, GAA President Liam O’Neill said: “We are especially pleased that for the first time one of our main sponsors will also be directly supporting the game of camogie, which further underlines our intention to bring all of our codes closer together”. “As an organisation we look forward to working together over the course of the next five years to further enhance the profile of two of the best field sports anywhere.” Camogie Association President Aileen Lawlor added “The announcement represents an exciting opportunity for the Camogie Association and we are looking forward to working closely with Liberty Insurance to help grow and develop our national game, the fastest field sport for women in the world. “In addition our joint partnership with the hurling championship is a natural alliance and signifies the unity of both organisations as part of the gaelic games family.” With the new sponsorship deal comes a new league structure for this year’s campaign. In this year’s championship there will 24 counties across five grades competing for the O’Duffy Cup. The Liberty Insurance Camogie Championship will have each county with teams representing them in the senior, intermediate, premier junior, junior A and junior B leagues. The championship this year will be composed of two separate groups. Last year each team had to play eachother,

making for a grueling schedule for all involved. Wexford player Kate Kelly recently spoke about the new format “It’s been tweaked every three or four years now, and because it’s an open championship, they’re trying to make it competitive. “I think the open championship works well. I don’t know how it would work on a provincial basis. But we’ve had three or four formats over the last 10 years. Last year we played every team. Now we’re back to two groups, which is better, it gives counties a better route to get club games out too”. The Camogie Association have launched an entire development plan along with this league structure, the aims of which are as follows. • • • • •

Growing Participation Improving Performance Volunteer Development and Leadership Enhancing Camogie’s Profile Excellent Governance and Organisational Development

Kelly also spoke about the work of the association stating “it’s not like the camogie association haven’t tried to increase the profile: new headline sponsors Liberty Insurance (who also jointly sponsor the hurling championship) will help, however Kate Kelly would like to see more of the camogie finals played alongside hurling. “It can help, for both genuine supporters, as well as the players, and the game. Even for the last two years we’ve played the league final before the men’s league final, which is great. With Liberty now as well, to be linked with the hurling championship like that, is a help, even for recognition.” n

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Cork’s Anna Geary with Kate Kelly and Michelle O’Leary of Wexford

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Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has been providing a highquality online store supplying Gaelic Games equipment of all sorts to individuals, clubs and schools. Our aim is to supply a wide range of top quality products at competitive prices to those who are passionate about playing and supporting Gaelic sports, both at individual and club level.

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Our product range is continually being developed and we now supply a wide range of specialist products such as goalposts, catch nets, training equipment, balls and accessories needed for all aspects and levels of Gaelic games, many of which are not available from traditional High Street stores.

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EW Technologies Business of the Year 2011 EWT Launch NEW GOLD Series Water Softeners EW Technologies Europe, an Irish water softening company with European headquarters in Dublin have launched their new EWT 610 water softener in Ireland and UK this week. The Gold Range softener is one of the most efficient in the market today and is classed as an high efficiency water softener under the USA based water quality association guide lines, which means water usage and salt usage are kept at a minimum. All parts of the water softener are nsf certified. Oliver Ginty of EWT says the company started developing this unit over 2 years ago with their manufacturing partners, and the main reason for doing so was to develop a high efficient water softener suitable for Irish home, as before all softener where large softeners mainly designed in America where they have the incoming water mains in there basement. Oliver is also keen to point out that almost all of EWT’s high quality water softener units have now also received the prestigious Gold Seal Certification from the Water Quality Association. The Water Quality Association’s (WQA) Gold Seal Certification Program represents the oldest third party testing and certification

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FéILE NA NGAEL Every year, Féile na nGael is one of the leading events in the GAA calendar, and 2013 will certainly be no different. Having taken place in Dublin (and more specifically Croke Park and Parnell Park) last year, Féile na nGael will this year be hosted by Limerick between the dates of July 5th and July 7th. As one of the major cities in Ireland, Limerick is an ideal place setting for this year’s competition, which is always eagerly anticipated by clubs across the nation. Currently under the sponsorship of Bus Éireann, Féile na nGael is designed as a national festival for the sports of Hurling, Camogie and Handball for all boys and girls who play under 14 for their local GAA clubs. Each year, as many 25,000 boys and girls take part in the festival throughout the 32 counties of Ireland. There is always a Féile in each individual county, and once a winner of each division is decided within that county, the winning club then hits the road to a host county and/or province, where they are traditionally hosted by families, and take part in hurling, camogie and handball fixtures at the local hosting club. Since its inception back in 1971, over one million boys and girls have participated in the festival, and those numbers will continue to rise throughout this decade and the ones that follow. What helps Féile na nGael to set itself apart from normal competitions is that fact that there is a greater emphasis placed on not just participation, but also presentation, punctuality and sportsmanship. It brings together various sections of the respective communities – such as clubs, schools, Gardaí, bands, social and cultural groups, families – to create a bond in the community and a general sense of togetherness.

WEXFORD FEILE The Féile Peil na nÓg in Derry on the final weekend of June was also extremely competitive, and one of the participating clubs was Shelmalier of Wexford, who captured their ninth county Féile title with a comfortable 3-7 to 1-2 victory over Fethard St Mogues in the ladies football final in Taghmon on Thursday May 2nd. Their first score of this contest arrived inside the opening minute from Siobhan Doolan, although Fethard did responded swiftly with an effort of their own from Eimear Whelan. This only offered them temporary relief, though, as Shelmalier registered an impressive tally of 3-2 before the end of the opening period. Jamie Devereux, Sinead Ronan and Megan Scallan grabbed the majors for them, with the two points arriving courtesy of Jessica Harding. Siobhan Rowe did find the target through Siobhan Rowe, but with ten points separating the teams at the break, it looked like Shelmalier were odds-on to secure the silverware on offer. Shels continued to put their opponents under pressure with points in quick succession courtesy of Jessie Harding, Sinead Ronan and Fiona Kinsella, before Fethard finally added to their first half total with a fortuitous goal from long range by Eimear Whelan. Shelmaliers had the final say of the evening, however, as a fourth point from the

outstanding Harding helped them to ease past the finishing post. The Féile Shield trophy was also on offer in Blackwater on Tuesday May 7th, and following a 12-goal thriller, Starlights eventually emerged victorious with an 8-10 to 4-6 winning margin over Clonard. The latter had struggled to settle into the proceedings in the early moments, and by the time Chloe Keeling opened the scoring for Clonard with a 20th minute point, Starlights had already notched 3-5, including an impressive 2-3 from Aideen Nolan and a fine major by Anna Flood. Indeed, Nolan had sealed her hat-trick by the mid-way point, and although midfielder Tia Arekon pointed for Clonard, they found themselves facing into a 4-7 to 0-2 deficit heading into the second half.

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This appeared to be an insurmountable position for Clonard, but thanks to a number of personnel and positional switches, they managed to forge a spirited comeback, as another point from Arekon was added to by a goal from substitute Chelsea Pitman. Two more points from the magnificent Nolan settled Starlights back into control, and a 1-2 contribution from Tara Foley, along with a third goal through Stacey O’Farrell meant there was just seven points between the teams with 15 minutes remaining. Starlights never allowed panic to creep into their play, however, and three goals in as many minutes from Anais Curran, Flood and the terrific Nolan killed the game off once and for all. The tremendous attitude of Clonard did yield a fourth goal from Pitman, but with Flood securing a goal of her own towards the end of play (her second of the tie), Starlights were able to finish on a high.

WEST TIPPERARY The month of June proved to be a very important period for under 14 football in West Tipperary, as two finals involving clubs from this side of the Premier County age groups took place on Saturday 15th in different venues. At Sean Treacy Park, Golden/Kilfeacle took on Lattin/Cullen in the Under 14 Plate Final, which the former won by a margin of eight points (4-2 to 2-0). Golden had started this decider in a bright frame of mind, and despite missing a couple of very scoreable opportunities in the opening moments, a goal by Andy Byrnes did settle any nerves that may have been present before the start of the game. Byrnes had also found the target with a pointed free earlier on, and this proved to be a vital score by the end of the opening half, as a Lattin goal from Mark O’Dwyer was the only other score before the break in play. A slender 1-1 to 1-0 lead for Golden offered no firm indication as to who was likely to be the victors in this tie, although when O’Dwyer grabbed his second goal in the first minute after the restart, the Lattin/Cullen faithful had reason to believe that they might be the happier of the two teams come the end of the game. However, this proved to be a false dawn, as Lattin failed to score for the remainder of the half, and with Byrnes bringing his tally to 2-2 with a further goal and a point, they were able to breathe a lot more easily. With momentum now on their side, Jack Fogarty and Jack Currivan also added goals, which gave Golden/Kilfeacle a plate victory that they thoroughly deserved. n

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