sign in sign up
<<
Home , 2016 FAI Cup, Aaron Gillane, Alan Mathews, Christy Ring Cup, Cian Lynch, Colin Healy

Lesson Plans created by Fiona Kirwan

An Initiative from NewsBrands . 14 Lessons 18 & 19

Material to be used Sport Read through pages 32 to 35. Pages: After these have been read, either silently and independently, or with the group as a whole each student should take a newspaper 32 33 34 35 and do the following

Optional Sports Writing Tutorial:

1. Write down the name of their paper and date published. 2. Source a piece of sports writing in their paper. 3. Identify whether it is a match report, interview or sports feature article. 4. Write down the headline/ sub head and byline (if they are 40 -80 mins present).

Options for discussion/ analysis:

! oad • If looking at a match report, select words and phrases the nl w o writer used to ‘set the scene’. d o Handout for t • Assess how clearly or accurately the writer captured the

k analysing Sports c

i action. l Writing. C • Note any factual details included. PDF to print/ photocopy • If analysing an interview piece select words and phrases the writer used to ‘set the scene’ for the interview. • Choose questions asked by the interviewer which were particularly good in your opinion. • Decide were there any questions which could have been left out or write some that you’d have liked answered.

www.presspass.ie @newsbrandsirl Analysing Sports Writing 2017/ 2018

1. Write down the name of your paper and the date of publication..

______

2. Source a piece of sports writing in your paper.

3. Identify whether it is a match report, interview or sports feature article.

______

4. Write down the headline/ sub head and byline (if they are all there)

Headline: ______Sub Head: ______Byline: ______

Match Report: (not all the prompts will suit your article) :

• Select words and phrases the writer used to ‘set the scene’ for the match? (where the game was being played, significance of the game, key players named etc.)? ______

• How well did the writer capture the action in the match described? (note phrases or words that helped you understand the sequence of events or the build-up in tension.) ______

• What kind of factual details were included in the match report? ______

www.presspass.ie @newsbrandsirl 2017/ 2018

Interview: • Select words and phrases the writer used to ‘set the scene’ for the interview? (where the interview was taking place and when, how they introduce to the person they are interviewing, key information on the person given etc.) ______

• What questions asked by the interviewer did you think were particularly good? ______

• Were there any questions you’d take out of the interview or were there any that you’d like to add in? ______

• What was the most interesting thing you learned about the person from this interview? ______

In pairs or small groups decide the following:

• Which match report/ interview/ or article did you prefer? ______

www.presspass.ie @newsbrandsirl 2017/ 2018

• Compare the way the pieces of sports writing were similar using the points you made when analysing the pieces earlier.. ______

• Which would be the preference in the group; match reports, interviews or in-depth articles on a sports topic? Why do you think this is the preferred one?? ______

• To what extent did photos and layout add to or take from the appeal of the pieces of sports writing you looked at? Explain your answer.? ______

www.presspass.ie @newsbrandsirl Sport

What makes a good sports journalist? The ingredients that make a sports reporter are similar to that of a decent stew. An unorthodox comparison, but bear with us! No one dominant component brings about that delectable fl avour, more a combination of everything fl ung into the pot. A good sports reporter possesses every kind of spice you will fi nd in a kitchen cabinet, and more.

You can write, sure, but can you investigate? Can you sniff out a back page lead? Can you ask the hard questions? Can you go where no one else is willing to go? Above everything else, are you willing to do all of the above?

Many exceptional writers didn’t or don’t have the work ethic to cut it. Sports reporting does not entail sitt ing at your desk, waxing lyrically about your favourite soccer team.

Heck, most sports reporters have never seen the inside of an offi ce. You are on the beat all day, every day and you have to know how to utilise that. If Henry Sheffl in is cutt ing the tape on some new clubhouse in the middle of nowhere, get yourself there and ask him how long his injury will keep him out of action.

Come away with a story. Objectivity is another important rule. Credit where credit is due and likewise, criticise when criticism is called for. Last, but by no means least, a good sports reporter is one who is prepared to start at the bott om and work their way up.

Ewan MacKenna and Vincent Hogan all started somewhere and you can be sure it wasn’t on the pages of this country’s most respected national newspapers. All-Ireland fi nals and Six Nations clashes are covered by those with years of experience. Be prepared for U10 soccer games and schools fi nals. The path ahead is long and winding, but know that when you eventually reach the summit, the view is out of this world. 32 AFTER THE BATTLE by Dan Sheridan irishmirror.ie/sport

THURSDAY 13.07.2017 IRISH DAILY MIRROR43

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER CONTACT ME ONp EMAIL AT @PAT_NOLAN PAT .NOLAN@TRINITyMIRROR NOLAN .COM The story behind Flanagan Top man Colm deserves more ULTIMATELY, Clare footballers didn’t get over the line against Mayo last Saturday farce is just but the fact that they threatened to for long periods, having earlier pushed Kerry all the way, should be recognised as a triumph of Colm Collins’ management. Clare’s progress in recent seasons may have been bracketed with Tipperary’s but Collins (above) isn’t working with players of the pedigree that has. tip of the Clare have never won the Munster under-21 title while their last victory at minor level was way back in 1953. This year they reached the Munster minor final but their previous appearance at that stage was in 1994. The last time they reached a provincial under-21 decider was in 2002. In the interim, Tipperary have been in eight minor iceberg finals, claimed a pair of under-21 titles and competing in seven Munster finals at that grade since 2007. Having also guided Clare to Division Two DON’T TELL and a first All-Ireland quarter-final appearance last year, Collins has made so THE WIFE Pat Flanagan was much from so little. told by his other And while it was embarrassing that the half that he had Clare hurlers’ support was so heavily in Offaly lost his job as

outnumbered in Thurles on Sunday, the Offaly football boss fact that Mayo fans swamped the home AMID the fallout surrounding Offaly Pathway, a 39-page crowd in Ennis the day before was arguably Pat Flanagan, a far greater document which was officially GAA website proved to be an even worse. controversy in Offaly GAA exhausting challenge before it was Offaly GAA receives a €40,000 slipped under the radar. submitted to the board on grant from the Council April 1, 2015. finally acted upon. Could Flanagan’s departure as A clear the air meeting was held which is supposed to go towards The report wasn’t acted on, AIT’s S&C work, so where is this is no limit senior football have been however, as the board sat on its on May 9, at which the need for IT could be a long five years for the GAA. handled better? Possibly. Was it the communication between the money is going? hands before it was leaked to Criticism of the broadcasting deal with biggest scandal to have hit Offaly committee and the board to It’s one of a number of questions several media outlets, including that Mirror Sport has put to Tips to has been steady since the pair GAA in recent years? It wasn’t even this one, a full 13 improve dramatically was first hooked up in 2014, but it’s grown the biggest of last week. stressed. Offaly GAA only to be told there months later, belatedly would be no response, as the louder this year and is only likely to On Friday it emerged that the That the committee humiliating the board county’s flagship hurling increase in the coming summers, with the Offaly Hurling Implementation into adopting it. didn’t hear from an five-year arrangement due to run until Committee, chaired by Liam elected board official teams continue to fall well off the The Offaly Hurling pace. 2021. Hogan and containing other Implementation thereafter proved to be While there are very capable After being granted a number of dud former Offaly hurlers of more Committee, comprising a tipping point. matches in recent years, Sky has enjoyed a recent vintage in Brian Carroll, people involved with Offaly GAA, many of the same Another was the better quality this summer particularly, David Kenny and Michael Verney, lack of progress with some are hopelessly overworked or members as the review asked to be a square peg in a round helped by Kilkenny’s rare presence in the among others, had stepped down. committee, was Brian Carroll underage development hurling qualifiers while also securing one of couldn’t get an squads, for whom hole. For the past year the county It’s a tribute to these people’s then established to has had no PRO. the Munster hurling semi-finals. patience that it took so long before roll out the pathway underage paper Athlone IT was to At the end of 2016, outgoing With ‘Super 8’ in 2018 meaning more it finally cracked. report, with Carroll’s published oversee strength football games and the hurling secretary Tommy Byrne was After a dismal showing in the appointment as and conditioning Championship also set to be expanded, the having entered an reappointed as chairman 12 years 2014 Championship, the Offaly director of hurling coaching a after first holding the position, broadcasting rights will have to be revised Hurling Review Committee was cornerstone of the project. arrangement with Offaly GAA. and the strong likelihood is that Sky will The committee questioned the when a player strike broke out formed in the hope of reviving the Initially, things appeared to in frustration at a number of enjoy exclusivity for more than just 14 county’s flagging fortunes. be progressing well before the sparsity of work being carried out becoming issues, including the treatment of games from next year on. resurfacing of the board’s lack in this regard and learned only Diarmuid Healy, who inspired managers. It wasn’t surprising that Paraic Duffy their breakthrough in the 80s, of tolerance for the committee, last week that the individual responsible for rolling out this You could describe his didn’t engage in a debate with pundits who was brought on board though he which felt repeatedly undermined. process in the college had moved re-election as Offaly’s Donald pilloried the Sky deal this week. and others eventually quit in Carroll produced a thoroughly But, with more stick inevitably on the on several months ago,with no Trump moment but that would frustration at the county board. in-depth player pathway document be wholly unfair on the US way, that stance won’t be sustainable for for players aged from four to 18 adequate replacement to work Hogan remained and with the Offaly underage players. electorate. the GAA all the way to 2021. spearheaded the production of the but even requesting something as simple as uploading it on the Offaly With this, they felt their position At least they could claim they was no longer tenable. didn’t quite know what they were letting themselves in for. the best Sport is news Sports writers work to some of the tightest deadlines in journalism and are still expected to uphold all the same professional, legal and ethical standards, so having that solid foundation of what it means to be a reporter is fundamental. Sports reporting could take a journalist anywhere.

Read everything If you want to end up as a sports journalist or, to be honest, any type of journalist, listen to the radio, monitor Twitter, watch TV, read the papers with as professional an eye as you can.

Follow the best in the business. Look at what they are doing.

Absorbing the styles and techniques of the best writers will not only help to influence your writing style and structure but also help to develop that eye for a story, of what is newsworthy and how to pursue it.

Saturday October 13, 2018 www.independent.ie The Irish Mail on Sunday October 15, 2017 CORA STAUNTON SINEAD KISSANE 48 world cup 2018 EXCLUSIVE Forward-thinking Irish rugby The Title Mayo star Cora Staunton star Leah Lyons on making the daunting move to talks about the row that split London and how she the county in two, the death is thriving at Harlequins of her mother from breast P8 cancer and the rumours THE PUNTER about her personal life in Wayne Bailey and exclusive extracts from her Michael Verney mark your new book card for the weekend SATURDAYSPORT P7 P14 By David Sneyd Ireland’s THE FORM OHN MEYLER is not sure of the exact year but he LEINSTER - WASPS MANNION 12-PAGE reckons David was 12, pos sibly 13, when he realised his son’s talent with a ball RACING at his feet exceeded that of TO EDGE IT a hurl in his hand. JFor a man steeped in the tradition 52 of GAA, Meyler Snr decided to 3 SECTION test his son’s ability by bringing him FOR CROKESCOOPER to Liverpool to take part in a soccer camp one Christmas. SFC SEMIS: WWW.HERALD.IE/@HERALDSPORTIE INSIDE ‘We did it on the QT,’ he reveals. ‘I SATURDAY 13 OCTOBER 2018 wanted to see what he would be like in a different environment.’ PRAISES VINS AND BODEN The pair set off for Merseyside and arrived to find two feet of snow and the gates to the camp locked. ‘It was cancelled because of the bravest weather,’ John recalls. ‘We turned around and went home. What else could we do?’ As he has done ever since, David LOWE AND SEE Meyler just got on with it and last - O’NEILL: WE ALL HAVE Monday night the 28-year-old cap PAGE tained his country to victory over 35 Wales as Ireland qualified for a World Cup play-off. Along every step of the journey has been his father pointing out SEE ways for improvement, striving for more, but always supporting. ‘I heart A POINT TO PROVEPAGES led his country to a World Cup don’t think he’s a father anymore, BEHOLD 40-41 he gave up on that five years ago. He’s more my personal manager now,’ Meyler said in jest prior to the play-off showing the resilience and character Irish boss hits reset button 2-0 win over Moldova earlier this SWASHBUCKLING LEINSTER GET month. ‘I wouldn’t change it.’ His performance against Wales- that has enabled him to endure through a EUROPEAN DEFENCE OFF TO was one of self-sacrifice, inspira tion and was borne from a spirit of unwavering dedication and belief career that has had its share of setbacks which has been cultivated from his PERFECT START WITH MAGNIFICENT - match card and got their names so I earliest moments. Villa and Manchester City, and repre kept an eye out.’ EIGHT-TRY ROUT OF WASPS Meyler hailed the win as ‘probably sented Blackburn Rovers at the Foyle Timing in football is everything and the best moment of my football- Cup, yet remained under the radar. Fallon had just started working for new PAGE 8 career’ – one which was almost cru He couldn’t even get a regular place in Sunderland manager Keane as his scout elly snatched from him by injury ’ starting XI at Cork- in Ireland after years on the beat for and has seen him overcome the- ahead of the more experienced mid Tottenham Hotspur. After a couple of toughest of obstacles, both person fielder partnership of and viewings for the U19s, Fallon acted ‘KEANE SAId ally and professionally, Joe Gamble. And then the course of his swiftly and his relationship with Keane If Cardiff was the peak, Cork is life changed in the middle of 2008 meant he could contact him directly and SENd hIm where the ascent began. thanks to an off-the-cuff conversation avoid the rigmarole of going through TO watched his son leave - in one the many offices at the FAI head the chief scout. IN THE FRAME: Keane for school but had no idea it would - OvER TO IRELAND SNUB quarters in Abbotstown. ‘I wanted to get him over to Sunder be for the final time. He was 18, in John Fallon, the senior team’s former land as quickly as I could. He was high his Leaving Certificate Year at dERlANd kitman and one of the few confidanteswas still energy and more of an attacker in those SUN Bruce College, a private school in could call upon, days. Roy said he was coming over for Cork city, and the call came at some - - T AwAy’ Keane is in working for the associa a game so I picked him up from the air RIGh point in the late morning to say tion when referees port and we drove to watch Cork’s first David had not shown up. He phoned assessor Paul Brady team play. David didn’t get off the bench his son for an explanation and the told him about a game - but Roy said send him over anyway.’ line to take conversation was curt. he had been at involv At the end of a week’s trial Keane ‘The school have said you’re not ing Cork’s Under 19s. called Fallon to tell him he wanted the there.’ diagnosis was swift. ‘I went down to ‘He said the striker and once a fee in the region After breaking into the first team ‘Yeah, I know. I’m not.’ was decent and they the dressing room and the physio told of €250,000 was arranged with cash- under new manager , the me it was his cruciate,’ Meyler Snr James Lowe goes over ‘Well, where are ye?’ had a good strapped Cork, Meyler travelled to score one of his two on U21s job ‘I’ve left. I’ve signed for pair signed five-year contracts towards explains. ‘I said “f***, what does that midfielder. with his father to negotiate the tries during last night’s the end of the 09/10 season. By that mean?” He was straight, “it means a City.’ I asked deal. comfortable victory for FOR DOHERTY������52 Aidan Fitzmaurice And that was that. point Meyler had also caught the eye of year out”. Leinster against Wasps for the ‘I asked Alan Mathews what the Ireland manager - ‘On the train the following day with LORRAINE O’SULLIVAN/PA WIRE CHAMPIONS CUP: LEINSTER is in the ‘His mother wasn’t too going rate would be for an 18- and was planning on attending a sum his mother I said “I think I need to stay frame to take over as happy about it all,’ Meyler year-old in the 3 mer training camp. here with him”, but he said “no, you go Christie to get nod ahead of manager of the struggling Snr continues. ‘We both asked and made sure to add 50 per cent ���������������������������������� him, “what are you going to do?” Yet when his family arrived in the on away home and look after mam”. I WASPS Ireland U21 team, if the FAI to that,’ Meyler Snr laughs. A and his response was simple: “I’m north east of England for the visit of said to myself “there is something in decide to move Noel King year after dropping out of going to be a full-time professional Manchester United in early May there this fella, he’ll be alright”. ’ - Danish boss Hareide says he hasn’t aside. school, Meyler’s new life were mixed emotions. While David’s SEE footballer with Cork City”. began. ‘David took off like a The road to recovery began the fol award-winning defender King has been in charge career was beginning to blossom, his lowing day and that is when Meyler’s ‘That showed me something, he ROARING rocket,’ Fallon remembers. mother Stella had just been diagnosed bond with Henderson and his family Keane won’t entertain talk of PAGES of the U21s since 2010 but was saying “I’m going to do this and SUCCESS: It And then it came crashing Croatia BLUES CRUISE spoken with O’Neill since play-off fallout �45) with breast cancer. INSIDE MONDAY'S Cz strengthened, along with club physio ech Republic the side has never come give it everything I have”. It showed - Denmark 36-37 - David Meyler down just as quickly. REP OF IRELAND v DENMARK (Live Sky Spts, KO7 England close to Euro qualification he was a guy who could make a deci Soon – in the 37th minute to be pre David Binningsley who oversaw a captained Sunderland’s two great cise – the family’s thoughts were with stopping Dubs’ ‘drive for five’ and Thursday’s 3-1 loss in sion and stand on his own two feet.’ rehab programme which saw the Cork SOCCER Aidan Fitzmaurice FOR CHAMPS Ireland at the mid- field hopes were Meyler David when he crumpled to the ground France At that stage, Meyler was far from native return within six months. pressure to deliver a result with last O’Neill is ready German Israel ended any faint hopes Jordan Henderson, and MARTIN y - - Cardiff City and Greece LEINSTER laid down a after a tackle on . The Daniel McDonnell month’s opening UEFA Nations League Sport all round, it would be a serious mis Italy a rising star in the League of Ire of reaching Euro 2019. - Stadium last defeat to Wales leaving Ireland on the GAELIC GAMES a shovel, we’ll get the shovel first and stunning Champions Cup they also became good friends. to take a big gamble on take on our part to underestimate He doubles up as the land. In his earlier teens he had tri week DENMARK manager Age Hareide says he ropes in the new competition. then we’ll start thinking about that marker as they began als at Nottingham Forest, Aston O’Neill says that an expected attendance Michael Verney one,” Keane said at Kerry’s Centre of Ireland,Netherlands they are probably going to hasn’t spoken with Martin O’Neill since the Ireland’s Nations League Poland FAI’s head of internation- of more than 46,000 is evidence the public Excellence in Currans. Portugal the defence of their tense fallout from last November’s World - be looking for some kind of revenge,” al recruitment and it’s have retained support in his side, although GIVEN their unprecedented success With a plethora of underage talent European crown with a Cup playoff. hopes tonight by leav he said. thought that some FAI Hareide (right) annoyed his former Nor the FAI have declined to confirm how at minor level, Kerry have been touted available to him from their five-in-a- 49-point victory over - many tickets were actually sold – with a as one of the few viable candidates to row minor squads, there will be great ing the Premier League’s O’NeillRussia will only inform his players figures want him to focus wich team-mate by thanking Ireland for the Spain Swede Wasps at the RDS. number of free tickets handed out to local thwart Dublin’s ‘drive for five’ but that’s expectations in Kerry under Keane n space they gave Christian Eriksen in the 5-1 of the starting XI 90 minutes beforeUkraine on that job and step away far from the mind of new Kingdom with anything but All-Ireland success player of the month, Matt The defending thrashing that ended O’Neill’s World Cup “I haven’t spoken to Martin O’Neill since schoolboy clubs. kick-off. But, despite his form with a from the U21 role. ambitions. then. I don’t know if their players were “I don’t think the fans have deserted the senior football boss Peter Keane. viewed as a failure. champions were While well aware of such demands, Doherty, out of his side. high-flying Wolves side which saw him Keane has already been The Ireland manager suggested last week tired but there was more space for Eriksen team by any stretch of the imagination,” Addressing the media last night for favourites coming that the Danish supremo had told a third than in the first half,” said Hareide. “They said O’Neill, who conceded better home the first time since being unveiled as Keane feels a dose of realism is needed The Republic take on Den- named Premier League player of the mentioned as the FAI’s after a disastrous 2018 season. “If you In the eye of the storm, where into their first game party he regretted the comments. changed their formation and that might performances are needed. Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s successor, triple month ahead of , Doherty ideal U21 team boss. The But Hareide said last night that the pair be the reason. We expect them at their best All-Ireland minor-winning manager are looking at where we are in 2018, we does Martin O’Neill go from mark in a rematch of the of the new European are a long way from that,” he said. will start the game on the bench. 38-year-old has been out haven’t had a discussion – and he expects (this evening) and we fear them because Keane was quick to put any talk of the here? After Ireland’s clash World Cup play-off which season but few ex- they are probably looking for revenge.” Dubs on the back burner. “Wouldn’t that be lovely (winning O’Neill is expected to use a three- of football since he left Ireland to be on a revenge mission this with Denmark, - pected the rout that evening at the (7.45). Denmark are without Eriksen for their Daniel McDonnell: Under pressure “I suppose I haven’t even a panel an All-Ireland) but there isn’t much the Danes won 5-1. man defence, with James Mc Indian side Kolkata last return to Ballsbridge, with O’Neill under O’Neill has two games to save his job P2-3 picked so where would I start on point in sitting here talking about that. DANIEL McDONNELL, - ensued in this Pool 1 tie. Another defeat to Åge Harei Clean and year but is highly regarded that one without a panel. That’s like My priority is to try and put a panel VINCENT HOGAN and Luke McGrath and the digging a field and you don’t even have together and cracking on from there.” de’s men would push Ireland as wing-backs and Shane in Abbotstown. scintillating James Lowe CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 DAVID KELLY assess what the closer to relegation from Duffy, John Egan and The FAI announced both scored twice, while TODAY team need to do against Wales League B and harm hopes of as the back recently that ex-interna- WEEKEND Soccer: Slovakia v Czech Republic, Sky Sports/ Sport, 2.0; Norway v Robbie Henshaw, Sean TOMORROW on Tuesday night. qualification for Euro 2020. three, while tionals like , Slovenia, Virgin Media Sport, 5.0; Ireland v Denmark, Sky Sports, 7.45; Netherlands v Cronin and Jordan Lar- FINISHER: SPORT ON TV Germany, Virgin Media Sport/Sky Sports, 7.45. Rugby: Exeter v Munster, BT Sport 2, 3.15; Soccer: Scotland v Portugal, Virgin Media Sport/Sky Sports, 5.0; Russia v Turkey, Virgin PLUS Denmark are weakened holds the midfield. and Andy Media Sport, 5.0; Poland v Italy, Sky Sports, 7.45. Clann na nGael v St Brigid’s - mour also touched down. Sean Cronin HIGHLIGHTS v Leicester, BT Sport 2, 5.30. Racing: Newmarket, Virgin Media 2/ITV, 1.30. Golf: GAA: RÚAIDHRÍ O’CONNOR, CIAN by the loss of key man Chris That means no place for Reid will assist in coaching British Masters, Sky Sports, 11.0; CIMB Classic, Sky Sports, 4.0am. (Roscommon SFC final), TG4, 4.0. Golf: British Masters, Sky Sports, 10.0, CIMB Classic, Sky Jack McGrath put the on his way Sports, 4.0am. Seattle Seahawks @ Oakland Raiders, BBC2/Sky Sports, 6.0; Baltimore TRACEY and TONY WARD tian Eriksen, and Leicester a frustrated Doherty (26) the Irish youth teams and NFL: icing on the cake with his to scoring - Ravens @ Tennessee Titans, Sky Sports, 9.0; Kansas @ Patriots, Sky Sports, 1.20am. with all the latest from the City keeper Kasper Schmeichel who has yet to make his adding Keane to the pay - own late score. Leinster’s first Champions Cup. is wary of an Irish side hunt competitive debut at senior 3 roll would fit in with that. ing for vengeance. level. SEE INSIDE P36-37 try last night 3SEE INSIDE P41 “You’ve got 3SEE INSIDE good P40-43 players LEFT OUT: Matt Doherty 33 AFTER THE BATTLE by Dan Sheridan 12 SPORT GAA: ALL-IRELAND SHC FINAL

RYAN BYRNE BIG ISSUES: THE KEY QUESTIONS THAT COULD DECIDE TODAY’S FINAL Passion play: A young supporter ’s best chance of winning? celebrates a score and, Dominate Waterford in inset, former Waterford the air in a way Kilkenny and Cork hurler Mossie Walsh, failed to do and ignite the goal threat Ursula Walsh and David that has been dormant this summer Walsh Michael Foley Attack Waterford’s strengths down the middle of the field. Use their physical size to pressurise Waterford’s defensive system early on The physicality, strength and most importantly the skill of their six forwards. Waterford haven’t met such a forward division Sport this year Christy O’Connor Playing around the Waterford sweeper but still exerting their aerial authority up front to get them on the back foot What is Waterford’s best chance of winning? DW Keep it tight and close for as long as possible and explore whatever doubts may still haunt Galway going down the home stretch MF Make Galway’s big men feel smaller under the high ball, make Galway doubt their own gameplan and, crucially, tighten up their shooting HS Getting a good early start, build up a few points lead and then with 25 minutes to go bring on that explosive speed from the bench COC Get ahead early, force Galway off their stride, and convert a very high percentage of their scoring chances. What is the key match-up? DW and his Waterford shadow, possibly Philip Mahony. Galway don’t depend wholly on Canning anymore but need his influence MF The battles at centrefield will be immense. Supremacy in that area has fuelled both teams drive on this year HS Moran/Barron v Coen/Burke at centrefield. Waterford have won these battles in the last few matches and they contributed a lot of scores COC Conor Cooney v . Coughlan mostly looks to break ball for the sweeper but Cooney is a different challenge, A lifetime of dreams and hope have been invested by especially in the air. Who will win and why? many Waterford supporters for a day such as this DW Galway. There is more depth and variety to their attack and at last their defence looks settled and balanced MF Waterford have often caused problems for Galway. Might be gaining momentum at the right time HS I am giving a tentative nod to Galway. I know there will be a big Over to you... Waterford performance but with such a good spine in the Galway team and that hurt from losing the 2015 final fresh in their minds I think it will carry them to victory COC Galway. Their greater firepower, and ability to shoot from distance, should get them over the line. WAITINGDenis Walsh and little relics of his journey in the van of Previs was a cargo of 11 pilgrims, includ- Waterford teams. In the love affair glory going to give up. But there were hard ave Walsh was a boy of ten ing his GAMEeight children. No Garda road- [the Waterford board secretary] told played no material part. It was no times. In my time we went down to Divi- when his late father Willie blocks were encountered. them they couldn’t. Waterford had won tragically in a car accident in 2012 it left grounds for attachment. A lot of the time sion Three hurling. We were beaten by took him to the 1963 All-Ire- Shane Ahearne was the assistant the under-21 All-Ireland the year before such a hole in Walsh that he stepped away it was a mirage in the middle distance; a Mayo in a League match in . I land final against Kilkenny, coach to Gerald McCarthy that year. His and that whole crop of players were from Waterford. For four years he fol- lot of the time it was less than that. played for ten years but in my first five Waterford’s last for 45 years. playing career had started weeks after nearly lost [in the mid-90s]. Then Gerald lowed the team from a distance. Walsh started Waterford’s first sup- years I played five championship They scored 6-8 that day and Waterford had been massacred by Cork McCarthy came in [1997] and put a disci- “I couldn’t face it,” he says. “Mary was porters’ club in 1992, the predecessor of matches: one a year.” the eldest. The leader of the pack. The lost. Though nobody knew it Club Deise. That year they reached the in the 1983 Munster final, their second pline and a professionalism on it.” quite yet, the cherished such humiliation in successive years. He When Waterford reached a Munster one thing I learned in our tragedy was minor All-Ireland final for the first time in final again in 1989 Ahearne was captain. That wasn’t the end of the heartbreak team of the late 1950s and was just 19 years of age, promoted in the but it was the beginning of Waterford as how great an organisation the GAA is. As decades and won the under-21 All-Ireland Hope was up. Tipperary mangled them. early 1960s had exhausted clear-out with a troop of other young- we have known them for the last 20 a comfort around us at the time it was its brilliance. The events of a topsy-turvy title for the first time ever. A year such as In the 1980s Waterford contested three phenomenal.” that, though, stood out like a white crow. sters. “A lot of fellas just said, ‘I’ve enough years: in the hunting pack or at least in Dday were branded forever on the little of this,’” says Ahearne. Munster finals and lost them by an aggre- This year he returned to the road, the conversation. Ahearne represented Most years hope never hardened into gate of 61 points. boy’s memory: on their way home the They won three games in Division One the unblinking solidarity of those who threw in his lot with Club Deise and drove • Interview a local sporting hero. Invite anything. He togged out for the last time in 1993 Walshs were caught speeding in their before Christmas that year, including a simply kept going: he managed the on again. When they reached the final he On the week of the 1998 Munster final when Kerry came to and beat Ford Prefect going through Thomastown. dram of revenge against Cork. Their first Waterford under-16s, the Waterford jun- placed a blue and white flag on Mary’s Walsh wrote a letter to Stephen Framp- them in the championship. That year was “I don’t know how fast we were going,” game of the New Year was against Kil- iors, the Waterford under-21s. Not for the grave. “Above in Croke Park on Sunday,” says Walsh, “because it was nearly pedal ton, the Waterford captain. He wanted to a shambles. Numbers at training oscil- he says, “I’ll be waiting for her to give me express his gratitude and his pride. They kenny, the All-Ireland champions. “I had glory but for the giving itself. power, like the Flintstones.” been playing centre field,” says Ahearne. lated in and out of double figures. After a tap on the shoulder.” took a caravan in Castlegregory that sum- training there was nothing for the players Dave Walsh and his crew were born Terry Dalton was a Waterford selector “I went to the selectors and said ‘I want to into it. Mary, his eldest, arrived on the Unlike in 2008 he won’t hang around mer and Walsh wanted Frampton to to eat except for one night when a county in 1963 and a family friend. He told Walsh play on Frank Cummins.’ They said, ‘He’ll day of the 1983 Munster final. Dave pad- for the post-match banquet. “I suppose know that the kids had it bedecked in board operative was despatched to rustle that he should never be afraid to show his ate ya.’ He was Hurler of the Year. I said I ded about the hospital pondering how he I’m being cocky now but I feel so good colours. As a boy he used to cut out news- blue and white. The holiday, though, was up something: he returned with a boot about us winning this year that I want to them to visit your class for a questions cut short by a day on the weekend of the want to play on Frank Cummins. I played might pour a quart into a pint glass. “I full of snack boxes from Kentucky Fried paper pictures of Waterford players, on him and it was one of my best days said to the nurse, ‘C’mere, what time is come home, sit down with a mug of tea Munster final because Walsh’s nerves Chicken. fringe them with blue and white crepe ever.” Ursula due?’ And the nurse says to me, and watch it again.” Hope survived every- were shredded and he couldn’t stand the Ahearne challenged the management paper, glue them to plywood and display Waterford needed more players with ‘Why?’ ‘I was thinking I might whip up to thing. dislocation any longer. He needed get about the general looseness of their prep- them on the front gate. Ahearne’s dauntless attitude but they for the Cork-Waterford match.’” Ahearne will be in a commentary posi- home where he could see a reflection of aration and was then dropped for his If you visited his school supplies shop boxed on with whatever they had. “It She set him right; he stayed put. tion alongside Kieran O’Connor for WLR. the match in every like mind and familiar trouble. He hasn’t missed a hurling final since his in Dungarvan last week you would have mattered to me because all I ever wanted Of all his children, Mary was the one face. “‘Kerry will beat us,’ I said, ‘and we’ll seen that nothing has changed. On dis- to do was play county hurling,” he says. “I whose giant passion for Waterford mir- first in 1972: 48, including replays. “I’ve Walsh travelled with Terry Dalton to be spat at coming off the field.’ I wasn’t play in his window are his lifelong colours was never going to give up. I lived for it. rored his. She hoarded the match pro- only seen my own county in it once and that Munster final: loaded into his Toyota even named on the six subs. Then they and answers session. That was my life. There was no way I was grammes and the memorabilia and the I’m trying to forget that day. It’s time for tried to bring me on and Seamus Grant newspaper cuttings. When they lost her us to make new memories. Better memo- Waterford’s defensive certainty reaping benefits all over ries.”the field

Trusting Derek changed their style and went defensive system stayed and attacked Kilkenny. You All-Ireland semi-final, and McGrath’s principles largely intact. But against Tadgh de Burca more or might as well lose with Kilkenny hammered them in Cork in June, Waterford were less played as an all-out has given his team a honour than lose playing that that period. If McGrath had Dunford and . often wide open. sweeper against Galway in WATERFORD IN ATTACK BY NUMBERS real shot at history sort of hurling. Because you any regrets, it was that they From a combined 14 plays McGrath’s faith in the the league quarter-final but can’t win playing seven or didn’t disrupt the tempo in his last three games, system is absolute at this almost beating Galway with eight defenders.” more during that stage of the 0 In their past three games, Shanahan has scored 1-3 from stage because some of his effectively their second team highest scorer from play, Christy O’Connor game. Waterford have had an play and had assists for three That has long been the most difficult days served to possibly convinced the with 1-24 theory but now Waterford When Tipperary destroyed aggregate of 128 shots at more points. In those three On the night of last year’s All- reaffirm that conviction. The players they could be more the target, an average of 42 games, Ryan, O’Halloran, have the ideal opportunity to them in the 2016 Munster 0 In five games, the Ireland final, The Sunday first time Waterford did push gung-ho for the Dunford and Curran have disprove it. Waterford final, Waterford played per game Waterford subs bench has Game concluded with a panel up more — albeit only slightly championship. When that scored six points and grappled with that theory largely conventional for 45 contributed 1-15 from play • Write up a match report. Go to a game of of experts selecting their — was at the outset of the alteration didn’t work against 0 and Jamie engineered seven more. themselves before they minutes. It only looked like favourite moment of the year, second half in the 2015 Cork, Waterford reverted to played Cork in June, when Waterford had an extra Barron have accounted for 0 For a long time under from Eoin Murphy’s fantastic an all-out sweeper, which The most individual plays they ditched the sweeper. defender because Tipperary 21% of their scores McGrath Waterford crossbar catch in the replayed McGrath: they have maintained since. made by a Waterford player The players wanted to go at dropped a player back. When throughout the 2017 season resembled the Kildare Kilkenny-Waterford All- faith in It was already clear in the in one game was Tadgh de Cork in a more conventional Waterford went seven points footballers in the 1990s: huge Ireland semi-final to Padraic system league that Waterford were Burca’s 31 plays (albeit after manner but the performance behind and abandoned the 0Austin Gleeson is their wide-counts tempered by the Maher’s superb point in the conceding more from play as extra-time) against Kilkenny almost screamed that this sweeper, Tipp cut loose. massive volume of chances second half of the All-Ireland they tried to get more from wasn’t the Waterford way After the Waterford under- created. That Kildare team final. their attack. Since they under Derek McGrath. 21s won the All-Ireland last stronger. Against Cork were one of the architects of your choice, take notes, try and get a few though, reverted to an all-out efficient they have managed (twice), Kilkenny and the modern football blanket McGrath has always year playing brilliant in a big game under McGrath. didn’t select any one sweeper, they have conceded , Waterford scored defence but they didn’t have spoken about the need to attacking hurling, it was Barron has been averaging moment, event, incident or an average of 1-20, a figure ten points from turning the a real goal threat. And they evolve, to become more only natural that the 18 plays per game but flash of genius. In a inflated by two points opposition over in their own didn’t win an All-Ireland. attack-minded, which he players would seek to be Waterford push him forward roundabout way, Duignan because of extra-time against half and counter-attacking Waterford are creating felt the team would as more adventurous. For more during the second half, explained the reasons for his Kilkenny. In turn, Waterford quickly. Their , more chances than ever. In they became more most of the league, which is where Barron has choice. “When Waterford got have scored an average of Jamie Barron (11%) and Kevin their last three games, they experienced. Waterford Waterford had changed made his biggest plays. It’s a trimming in the Munster 3-22 in those three games. Moran (10%) have accounted had 128 shots at the target, an had taken the next step their style from a direct also obvious how strong final, I wasn’t happy for There has been an obvious for 21% of Waterford’s scores average of 42 per game. Their quotes and write up your account of what in that evolution last sweeper to a drop-off spike in green flags. In 13 Waterford have been Waterford but I was happy throughout the season. On conversion rate has increased August against Kilkenny sweeper. Once the finishing games, and how that the systems were shown league and championship average, Waterford have and goals have started to flow. but they still didn’t opposition had the ball, well they use their bench. up,” said Duignan. “Nobody games last year, Waterford scored 0-8 from frees per The system has evolved move away from their the centre-back Maurice Shanahan arrives as wants to look at hurling being scored just nine goals. In 11 game, which highlights how and improved. Now core principles. Even if dropped off to sit on the a focal point before their played like that. I was games so far this season, their running/breaking style Waterford get the ultimate they pushed more D, while one, or both, of speed merchants are delighted that Waterford Waterford have clocked 19. is drawing frees. Against Cork opportunity to disprove the bodies forward Waterford’s the midfielders popped into unleashed once the game The system has evolved as three weeks ago, the ball into theory that a team with their the centre-back position. opens up — Tommy Ryan, the team has got fitter and their attack was the most system can’t win an All- Brian O’Halloran, Colin happened. Ireland.

• Monitor and track a live game on the web or

63 1RM 1RM Friday September 22 2017 | the times the times | Friday September 22 2017 62 Sport on Twitter. Record your account. Sport DONALL FARMER/INPHO Paul Rowan Cork’s tale: Football columnist from edge Rice looking like a tasty prospect • Interview a well known sports reporter/ of abyss to for Ireland debut

ome time ago, Martin O’Neill Rice has strong roots in Cork, so was instructed the FAI not to give delighted when he was called into the weekly updates on the match- senior Ireland training session at Fota es he was attending, but let’s Island back in May, as he has relatives champions hope he was among the sizea- in the city suburb of Douglas. columnist /editor. Talk to them about Sble crowd of 35,806 who were at the He appears a nicely grounded indi- London Stadium on Tuesday night, vidual, one who also has the tempera- where the Ireland Under-21 inter- ment for more heady occasions. national gave another Last month, Rice made his Premier impressive reminder that he is ready League debut in difficult circumstan- to step up to the senior ranks. ces, coming on after an hour at Old It was one-way traffic against a Trafford in place of Mark Noble, in waiting struggling Bolton Wanderers side but when West Ham were already 2-0 Rice, who has already started two down. Rice’s performance for the final Premier League games for West Ham 30 minutes was the only silver lining their job, how they became involved in United this season, looked in total on the afternoon for the east London command playing at centre half and club, who would go on to lose that With a 12-year wait for a title Cork have the the manager Slaven Bilic, who prob- opening league match of the season possibly coming to an end tonight, Alan Smith chance to win ably sees a little of himself as a player 4-0 to José Mourinho’s side after the the double this in Rice, remarked about the 18-year- hosts scored two late goals. talks to those on and off the pitch who have season for the old: “Declan is only young on paper. Noble, the club captain who made very first time He has got a football brain and the his debut for West Ham as a 17-year- helped lift the team out of the shadows concentration of a 30-year-old. He old, is struggling now to get a place in “I can remember watching cup and pride. They are proud to be Cork has got everything to become a really the team, but is impressed by Rice’s When Maguire left, scoring a goal “Then the reset button was hit and draw against a team coincidentally the club when it was on its knees.” attitude. he scars may never heal never-ending conveyor belt of players Yet, for many of those involved, it is finals a few years back and in my City players.” good player.” on his final league appearance away we worked every hour to get the show managed by Dundalk’s Kenny. “We “If they are good enough, they are journalism, their loves/hates etc. fully but this season has capable of playing in England, the about looking forward, not back. mind I was wondering if we would Fittingly, Foras is Irish for evolu- Tomorrow’s derby game against to Bray Wanderers, City had won 20 on the road.” didn’t know what to expect going into old enough,” Noble said after the win gone a long way to exorcis- return of trophies has been paltry. “The season is a culmination of a ever get to that level,” Morrissey said tion. The onus on the board now is to Tottenham Hotspur may have come of their 21 games, drawing the other. Those formative days under Foras’ that game, but seeing everyone that ing the demons. Cork City, a The turning point came with the lot of hard work,” Niamh O’Mahony, recently. Now they are heavy favour- ensure that progress continues in the too soon for Rice, particularly as West Their form has been ordinary since, ownership after Coughlan’s entity was travelled to it and then to see the club who even in times of final kick of last season. When Seánie a former board member who now ites to reach a third on the bounce. face of those sky-high expectations. Ham’s league form has picked up in ‘He is one of the best losing three of seven league games. wound up were chaotic. Granted a crowd that turned out for our first Tprevious success seemed in a Maguire bundled home in added time works for the European branch of No matter what happens on the While there is a temptation to the last couple of games without him Due to a quirk in the fixture list, licence to play in the First Division by home game [a 2-0 defeat against perpetual state of near-crisis, may not of extra time to not just win the club’s Supporters Direct, says. “Not just pitch in the next six weeks, when the pump every cent into having the in the team, but there is still a buzz of talents coming through City’s most recent league game was the FAI, Buckley was rehired on a Waterford United] we knew we could be used to this level of comfort but first FAI Cup since 2009 but sink from the players and management, dust settles there will be one out- strongest XI possible, the club are excitement around the player. their nemesis Dundalk, the tide had the 3-1 loss at Shamrock Rovers three three-month contract and along with do this,” Buckley remembers. Capable of playing across the back at the club, he is going they can at least take solace that this He may not be able to celebrate this but from the volunteers, board mem- standing issue that the club are eager focussed on developing off the pitch, changed direction. weeks ago. The wait will have the newly-appointed manager, meaning the budget will remain tight. four or in midfield, he is one of the time, the future should be markedly win with quite the same fervour as bers and everyone who put time into to resolve quickly. to be a huge player’ It was a transformative moment for dragged on for the players, yet may , was based in a corner There has been a clamour to sign a few players to come through the West brighter. 2005, when he was still purely a sup- making the club a success.” Caulfield is out of contract at the a squad that had been sick of finish- have afforded them a chance to reflect at the back of the Turner’s Cross Tav- new striker to replace Maguire, but Ham academy in recent years into the In the grand scheme of sporting porter. There will be work to do once O’Mahony points out that other end of the season and last month ing second, lurking in the shadows as and realise that this has never been a ern, a pub 100 yards from the stadium. players of his calibre are so rare in the first team. He was also named in against Bolton. “Dec may be only 17 droughts, the 12 years since City were the title is sealed — not just organis- teams have bigger budgets, which admitted that he could be tempted by Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk won three club to do things easily. From there, they hurriedly called league that it seems futile expecting a O’Neill’s provisional squad for the last or 18 and last season he was nowhere last crowned champions of Ireland ing celebrations, but immediately should make their runaway achieve- a job in England. league titles in a row along with beat- Their previous league titles — available players in an attempt to like for like replacement. And frankly, two World Cup qualifiers, though he near it, but he impressed in pre-sea- does not compare with the 108 years moving to ensure that the club is in a ment all the more impressive. It “If you are asking me, ‘Would you ing City in the previous two cup finals. including the First Division in 2011 — assemble a squad in time for their first there are other priorities. didn’t make the final cut. The final son and he has got his chance. between the Chicago Cubs winning position to remain successful. would be usual if there were not ludi- like to coach more and more, and As the veteran goalkeeper Mark were not secured until the final day of match — an away game against Der- Plans for a centre of excellence in double header of the campaign next “We didn’t have a great start, but baseball’s World Series or the city of “The bigger topic is, as we grow crously high expectations placed on a maybe go elsewhere?’ Yes, I would, McNulty famously said when cele- the season, or in the case of 1992-93, ry City, who had been through similar Glanmire, five miles east of the city, month might not appear the ideal Dec is going to be a top player. I’ve Cleveland going 52 years without any now, we’ll look at where we were Leeside sports team, though. “For me, when the time comes, but football is brating that night, likely after a pint via a play-off. That is what makes this if not quite as severe financial issues. are in place and the club has also time to bring Rice into the competi- got high hopes for him. I am just try- of their sports teams winning a title. before and make sure the same mis- I would be more ambitious,” O’Maho- volatile,” he said. “You can have all or two: “There wasn’t one f***ing season so unusual. Thirteen players, a combination of invested in its underage teams, nota- tive senior arena. ing to blood him in really and give Yet so much has happened at takes don’t happen,” he adds. “If you ny says. “I don’t want to see City win pundit in this country that gave us a “We’ve taken it one game at a veterans and local bly bringing back former players, However, so jaded has the Ireland him little bits of advice. He’s a good Turner’s Cross since 2005 that a look at where we were as a club in the just one league title, I want us to be chance. Everyone’s saying Dundalk time,” Gearóid Morrissey, one of two players, made the ‘When we were near including Dan Murray and Colin team looked in recent months, both kid and he wants to learn.” dozen League of Ireland seasons have first part of the 2000s, when we were challenging every season. this, Dundalk that. There’s no one remaining players along with McNul- 320-mile drive Healy, to coach the next generation. mentally and physically, that the It’s always a good sign when the felt like an eternity. north on the successful or near success, and how “I’m not sure people understand success, it quickly There have been more bad times saying anything about f***ing Cork.” ty who played in the first season “The most exciting piece is the injection of some new blood could veterans such as Noble are happy to under Foras’s ownership, says. “How morning of quickly it unravelled — we need to how unusual this achievement is. The stop and talk when you mention than good — winding up orders, Éanna Buckley, the club’s head of odds are against us from running the unravelled – we need to centre of excellence,” O’Mahony says. energise the squad and even give operations who had worked for Cork we’ve approached the season is to try the game and look at that and learn lessons.” O’Neill some options which he the name of Rice. court dates, demotions and protests For context, it must be remembered club through stability and sustainabil- “There is still work in the background under the previous catastrophic own- and be oblivious, try and not look at came away look and learn lessons’ being done but that can help us thought he didn’t have. was another — but this title, whether it is con- with a 1-1 that within a couple of seasons after ity. It can’t be underestimated how big firmed away to Limerick tonight or at ers, agrees. “The atmosphere changed the wider picture, just the next game.” achieve that dominance. Foras mem- If that reads like clutching at straws, who rates Rice as a genuine Buckley, who watched the previous their league titles in 1993 and 2005, an achievement this season has been. prospect. home to the outgoing champions after that, I think,” he says. “The lads I see how big the expectation is now, the greatest plans in the world and bers want everything, not just the sil- then so be it. As it stands, the next had been finishing behind Dundalk, title wins from the terraces, admits the club was hamstrung by finan- youngest Irish player getting “He is one of the best Dundalk on Monday, will have felt so cial issues and in jeopardy. but we have so much development lose two or three games in a row and verware, but there is a duty of care to much sweeter for those who have not so needed to beat them and win a tro- that it has been unusual. “I remember that all changes in the bigger picture. make sure the investment doesn’t just game time in the Premier young talents coming saying after the cup final that previ- This time, they are deter- still to go. Football, especially the through at the club,” just endured the tumult but ensured phy to fully believe.” League of Ireland, is cyclical and Myself, I feel I can go further and we go into John’s side of the house.” League is 25-year-old There was also an element of for- ously we’ve always been put mined to make sure that it at Burn- Zabaleta said. “He’s the club would not face extinction. will not happen again. there will be a downtime. We need to can go further.” Buckley echoes that sentiment. “If Supporter-run clubs may not tune. Maguire was watched that day through the wringer, so it has The club’s record goalscorer was, you look at where the club is now, ley. It would be nice to going to be a huge “We won the league in make sure we’re as well-equipped as player for West Ham. always be the pure fairytale so often by representatives from Preston been a little strange.” however, a lot more definitive when we’re in a good place,” he says. “We report that Rice had They will not rest after this 1993 and almost went bank- possible to deal with that.” “He can play in the portrayed — there are always differ- North End, who were left impressed Pragmatic as that may be, support- talking about the future and the con- can always be in a better place but an come through the Irish success, though. History dic- rupt two years later,” Buckley middle, he can play ences of opinion and sometimes deci- but with nagging doubts over the ers can still dream. sensus is that he will sign a new deal. awful lot of people have contributed system, nursed carefully striker’s physical attributes. tates otherwise. adds. “We won the league in by Ruud Dokter, the FAI across the back four. He sion-making is slowed due to the 2005, ran into trouble three years “The potential is here to keep driving to bring us to where we are now. The The 23-year-old remained at former players, board members who director of high performance, reads the game well and inevitable democratic process. But for later. Rather than harking back to What future holds on and off the pitch the club forward,” Caulfield added. Turner’s Cross for the start of this Learning lessons from a 320- are no longer involved — they will be but in reality he is another he’s a strong lad. He has the City, the fans’ takeover in February 2010, when Foras took over, we “That’s the way I feel about it — obvi- season, while Preston and others in mile round trip the ones I think about if we close the who comes off the peg personality you need to per- 2010 has been an undisputed success. should be looking at learning from Another of Caulfield’s regular ously within the budgets and all that the Football League continued to league out.” marked ‘English football’. form and play in the Premier This title will merely validate the those mistakes.” reminders has been that City have because I’ve been working within monitor his progress. Maguire went Buckley still can vividly He is right. Caulfield and his squad Initially, he received his League. We just need to help Foras trust’s efforts. There are dozens of memories never won the double. The Class of them and I know what we can do and on to score 26 goals in 30 games recall the days when “we will get most of the credit for this footballing education at him. worth retelling from the dark days. ’05 came close, losing the final to what we can’t do. But I still feel it’s Cup final turning point before the Sky Bet Championship went from not getting season, but those who worked tire- Chelsea, where John Ter- “He is really young, but he is play- Morrissey remembers going to a Drogheda United a week after win- there for the club to drive on and Tips to becoming club eventually decided he was worth paid, not knowing keep going. I feel it’s a purple patch lessly behind the scenes to bring the ry was a strong influence ing well and will get chances.” ning the league. what was happening meeting where Foras outlined their Named West Ham’s young player Throughout the year, John Caulfield bringing to Deepdale, along with the They will be expected to beat Lim- for the club.” club back from the brink deserve and became his hero, to everything being initial budget plans. “I still think of the season and the FAI’s top has reminded anybody willing to lis- defender Kevin O’Connor, in mid-July. erick in their semi-final next Friday. O’Mahony encapsulates the feeling plenty of the praise, too. but he was released at gone” under the about it a lot,” he says. Under-17 international, Rice is some- ten that the roll of honour does not By that point, City’s lead was unas- And, of course, the chances are that of a vast majority of supporters when Without those who fought to keep 14 and then joined West disastrous owner- “It’s nice to sit here at the moment thing of an endangered species in befit a club of their stature. For a sailable and, considering the predicta- Dundalk will be waiting at the Aviva she says, “The work he has put in and the club alive, there would probably Ham. London born, ship of the and enjoy this after being a part of Irish football, but should thrive none- team that draws the largest crowds in ble dip in performances, even the Stadium again if they can beat Sham- how he has brought everyone not be a League of Ireland team in most hardened fan will admit that property Rice has made an theless. We can only hope the jour- the league — “we’re the biggest club Caulfield is soon out of contract and rock Rovers, whom they defeated 3-0 together behind the scenes is incredi- Cork. Never mind the best side in the their quest would have been far more developer Tom impact at West Ham ney isn’t too lonely. out there,” the manager has been could be tempted by a job in England in the League Cup final last week. ble. The team play with such intensity country. the best fond of saying — and has a seemingly challenging without the gifted striker. Coughlan. Get the skills

independent.ie/sport ∼S1 16 September 2018 The skills and knowledge employed by journalists are exactly the same as for sports journalists.

Irish Examiner Wednesday, 14.02.2018 The basics are the basics no matter which area of Wednesday Sport journalism you’re in: speed, accuracy, diligence, 20 OPINION n the same morning of the sometimes — and far too often — Ofarcical Galway- hard work. Mayo clash in Salthill, Marc Ó Sé, prompted by the flash- points in another Mayo game the previous weekend, wrote a column in a national news- paper posing the question: ‘Yes, Kerry are cynical, but what county isn’t?’ UNFINISHED The former Kerry great outlined how nearly all the best teams had players and an attitude of never hesitating “to do what was required”. Examples: The Meath team that battered a naïve Tyrone team in 1996; a much more streetwise Tyrone team in BUSINESS 2003; the Donegal team of 2012; the Mayo team that “bullied” Kerry last year; and the bril- liant Kerry team that he and Get the experience his brothers played on. “I have never denied that we were cynical… This is the way it has always been. There is not a team out there that, certainly not one that has enjoyed any kind of success, that does not have those players or that attitude.” What potential employers are looking for is While in many ways Ó Sé’s column was refreshing for its unashamed candour, its senti- ment, combined with the outright bolloxology that was evidence on a CV that you have the motivation that so pervasive in Salthill, made us pose and ponder another question: Yes, all the leading teams in feel the need to be cynical, but why don’t champions in other journalism requires. sports have to think and act that way? Did you ever hear anyone say last summer that the Philadelphia Eagles would have to become more cynical if they were to challenge for a GAA needs to STRETCHING THE RULES: Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor and Galway’s Eoghan Kerin tussle off the ball during last weekend’s Allianz FL Division 1 clash at . The Super Bowl? That if the Pep Picture: Diarmuid Greene Guardiola project at acknowledge that, along with its much-heralded community and amateur status, there is a pervasive cynicism that is ‘unique to our games’. Manchester City was to be realised, his team would have If you’re offered work experience, don’t just sit in to become more cynical? That the reason why the Golden Captains Sinead Aherne and Ciara O’Sullivan look forward to today’s TG4 All-Ireland State Warriors and Cleveland Ladies Football senior final clash between Dublin and Cork. Photo: Eóin Noonan Cavaliers had contested the previous three NBA finals was Only in Gaelic football is that the likes of Steph Curry, the corner looking at the internet. Go to the editors LeBron James, and Kevin Durant were willing to resort to whatever it takes? Dubs seeking to double INSIDE final for the first time, against the main own. We know the level of performance DUBLIN CORK Of course you didn’t. You force back then, Mayo. During that required for us to put ourselves in the e heard alright that match, the current Dublin captain frame but we just see it as a great op- might hav a KPI ÷ Your regular Sinead Aherne came off the bench portunity to deliver on all the effort the City and the Cavs would have cynical fouling up but to do so they smart, and ask: What can I do? Sport Supplement, and put her side level with six min- players and management have put in.” Ciara Trant Martina O’Brien improve their to substantially including: utes left in an extremely low-scoring Their win last year in the final over ST BRIGID’S CLONAKILTY defence, that their intensity, must break Cork’s : What affair. Mayo was graced with that record at- heartaigh joyously man in possession, they’re out ven aggression in snapped, the Eagles defence protocol, there’s been hardly to the ground to prevent an Muirc do you think Gemma Fay nudged Dublin in tendance of 46,286, which may not be focus and e onder and to spoil the runner before he ould have was out to smash Tom Brady, one act of cynicism. entry pass, or hurling a GPS revelling in the w psychological bind of this, Kieran front in the 56th minute but with 93 matched today but there’s hope that Sinead Finnegan Roisin Phelan that department w Martha Byrne Leah Caffrey Eimear Meaney Melissa Duggan Flick on any soccer match or some equivalent of a kick- innocence of kids playing the ever appears on the shoulder; Donaghy? Page seconds left on the clock Diane O’Hora it will still be a major draw given the FINGALLIANS MOURNEABBY AGHADA DOHENYS to significantly increase, but but once the play was CUALA NA FIANNA native games. it’s not like the linesman is 8 landed the telling blow, her goal being rivalry and the growing following for not their level of cynicism. complete, they left him on the box. In the odd game ing tee. In time, though, playing going to notice. Eamonn Mayo’s only score of the second half. the Dublin ladies team. A win for Cork In fact, the pervasiveness of untouched. A game loaded there might be the odd conten- Ten days ago in Castlebar, Sweeney: Bully Mayo won 1-4 to 0-5. Dublin held Cora will put them clear at the top of the roll Siobhan McGrath Shauna Kelly ling and especially football However, in doing so, for Sinead Goldrick Niamh Collins Maire O’Callaghan Emma Spillane void of tious dive, but for the most they played Kerry in a desper- hur tactics don’t Staunton scoreless, closely guarded by of honour, moving them one ahead of THOMAS DAVIS ARAGLEN DESMONDS cynicism in Gaelic football, with aggression, but de DERMOT FOXROCK C’TEELY FOXROCK C’TEELY MOURNEABBEY BANTRY BLUES tetchy affair. The Ronan won’t be so innocent. Some of the glory of the parish or the wash anymore, Maria Kavanagh, and still lost on a wet Kerry on 12 titles. both between the lines and cynicism, which part the sport is played in a ately those kids waved at by county, a little bit of the CROWE Back Page and cold October day. All Cork-Dublin meetings have been in its general discourse, is helped make it a sporting spirit, the nadir of Shanahan challenge on Evan ell- Micheál will either resort to or human spirit is corroded. At the time current manager Mick tight. The 2009 All-Ireland final saw Lauren Magee Olwen Carey brilliant the 1990 World Cup a distant Regan has been by now w Ashling Hutchings Hannah Looney unrivalled in any other Again, is that what you’d Bohan was in charge and he revealed Aherne put them ahead with eight min- KILMACUD CROKES THOMAS DAVIS FERMOY AGHADA spectacle. memory. Its best players — scrutinised; less so the run- be subjected to acts that their Finding a niche or a specialism can make the T is a remarkable but irrefutable So to defeat Cork in Croke Park to- that they had been together a phenom- utes to go but Cork finished strongly to team sport. sort to? Is Bruyne, ning battles off the ball in classmates who opted for the want your kids to re truth that the current All-Ireland day on the biggest occasion the sport enal 147 times. They didn’t want for win 1-9 to 0-11. Dublin manager Gerry It was something that Switch to the likes of Messi, De which men repeatedly cispheil nó rugbaí won’t. it what you’d want them to be senior ladies football champions, can offer, a fixture that managed effort or desire. McGill brought in renowned trainer Jim Noelle Healy Libby Coppinger struck us watching the rugby, another Kane — don’t have to stoop Carla Rowe ST BRIGID’S Lyndsey Davey Ciara O’Sullivan ST COLUM’S Eimear Scally There is something sad that subjected to? The kind of Dublin, have never beaten Cork in the stunning achieve- Another defeat followed in the Kilty to help their preparations and they CLANN MHUIRE SKERRIES HARPS MOURNEABBEY EIRE OG collision sport. to niggling or wrestling an dragged and pinned their Super Bowl the other week. insidious, underhand tactics the championship. Remarkable, ment of being the 2004 final a year later, and again in were full of running but Cork showed So far we’ve opponent to thrive and win. markers to the ground. Peter Canavan, the best ball- Itoo, that they only registered their first most-watched wom- 2009, the first of four losses on the greater composure in the final minutes. How after every play — e Aidan that someone lik had six games In Gaelic football, though, it Then there was Salthill last player of his generation, won win over Cork in Croke Park during en’s sporting event final day to Cork. Aherne was just 17 Two years later, more heartbreak in Niamh McEvoy Doireann O’Sullivan say, a running back gains Sinead Aherne Nicole Owens Aine O’Sullivan Orla Finn his two All- with his O’Shea — a model of disci- difference in a competitive world because if you the National League last February. For in Europe last year, years old in 2003 and the the quarter-finals. In the 44th minute ST SYLVESTER’S MOURNEABBY ere in the Six seems our best players feel Sunday. More of the same. In three yards — there w ST SYLVESTER’S ST SYLVESTER’S BEARA fact, worse, which prompted last act seeing him jump on pline, to his credit — is con- the most part playing Cork has been a would mean some- St Sylvester’s player they led by six points. Cork hit sev- Muireann Ni Scanaill (Fingallians), Deidre Murphy Caoimhe Moore (Kanturk), Orlagh Farmer (Midleton), no sneaky afters, no lousy Nations and, they do. Just take the last the back of an opponent and stantly exposed to in a sport distressing experience for Dublin. Not thing profound for has been a constant en unanswered points to win by the (St Brigid’s), Laura McGinley (Naomh Barrog), Kate Aisling Barrett (Donoughmore), Chloe Collins cheap shots. After being outside of the three Mayo games that have me to tweet: “The amount of only for Dublin, of course, but no county Dublin. influence on the minimum, the reigning champions Fitzgibbon (Clontarf), Aoife Kane (Kilmacud Crokes), (Dromtarriffe), Aisling Kelleher (St Valentine’s), Marie bolloxology that Gaelic foot- hauling him to the ground. that is woefully policed? Lucy Collins (Na Fianna), Jennifer Dunne (Cuala), Ambroe (St Valentine’s), Saoirse Noonan (Nemo fairly, if violently, French trying it been televised live. has been haunted as much by past Cork It would team right through dethroned in the process. “I honestly estling, dragging, Likewise, the abiding image of Rules and regulations can supremacy as the current champions. also see them the last 15 years. In thought we were gone,” admitted Cork Hannah O’Neill (Foxrock Cabinteely), Siobhan Killeen Rangers), Saoirse Moore (Fermoy), Nicole Quinn tackled and stopped on with As brilliant as the 2017 ball — wr (Clontarf), Katie Murray (Clontarf), Oonagh Whyte (Bandon), Meabh Cahalane (Eire Og), Daire Kiely as, it was sneaky afters — tolerates is , arguably the best help. A black ball. Empower- Even the league win in Croke Park in successfully de- that time Cork have manager Eamonn Ryan. (Clann Mhuire), Amy Connolly (Foxrock Cabinteely), (Valley Rovers), Eimear Kiely (Valley Rovers), Sadhbh by his opponent, he the HIA All-Ireland final w can show that you are as knowledgeable as anyone February came with a terrifying ending fend the title for the replaced Mayo as the Two years after that, in another t you’d wing-back to ever play the ing linesmen and umpires Siobhan Woods (Raheny), Tarah O’Sullivan (Foxrock O’Leary (Kinsale), Ciara Hughes (St Valentine’s), was able to get somewhat marred by the pitiful. Is that wha as Cork mounted the kind of revival first time. Their win game’s most luminous quarter-final, Dublin led by nine and Cabinteely), Eabha Rutledge (Kilmacud Crokes) Jenny Brew Dinan (Donoughmore) game, and Diarmuid Con- more. Having a second ref on back up outrageous and cynical acts want your young fella at?’ that has become their trademark; from last year was only their presence, their period of then Cork scored 1-10 without reply in That’s what it comes down nolly, definitely the best wing- the field. Harsher, longer eight points down with 40 minutes second, following the dominance only broken the final 20 minutes to win by four. “To unimpeded, carried out in the closing h forward of his generation, will suspensions. played they only lost by one. Repeat- breakthrough success in by Dublin’s wins in 2010 be honest, it did look like a lost cause,” with no minutes. Picture a Messi or to. The GAA has so muc TODAY IN CROKE PARK . . . be of them wrestling on the However, it starts firstly edly, Dublin have blown good leads 2010, which splintered a and last year. Aherne’s time said Ryan. member Steph wrestling an opponent going for it. A game from the against Cork, and when they finally long winning run by Cork as a player has been laced There followed the three lost finals ground when they weren’t with recognising the existing else in your field – be it tennis, golf, Formula 1 or of the gods in hurling and, in foot- won an All-Ireland senior title last year, that had reached five titles in with bitter defeats to Cork. of 2014, ’15 and ’16. In the first of those ÷ TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship final: Louth v Limerick, 11.45, (Ref: Niall throwing GPS devices at each culture and reality. opposing ball, potentially one of the best having lost the previous three finals succession until they tripped up And she is still a key player, Dublin were ten points clear with 16 McCormack) y, man. other. LeBron and Durant In its self-congratulation, to the same county, it was Mayo that at the start of the decade. That scoring 2-4 in the semi-final win minutes left. From there to the finish ÷ Half-time Exhibition Games — U10: St John Bosco (Down) v defence known to, and made b never had to resort to such the GAA often refers to its eliminated Cork from the competition year Cork were put out of the over Galway at Hyde Park, all they were outscored 2-6 to 0-3 and lost (Tipperary); G4M&O: Moy Davitts (Mayo) v Cashel () acciden- All played for the love of those in the semi-finals. championship by Tyrone, who of her tally coming in the first by one. They lost the ’15 final by two ÷ TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship final: Meath v Tyrone, 1.45 (Ref: h antics in their finals face-offs. community and amateur tally-on- Kieran games and community, whic And Mayo did Dublin the same Dublin beat comfortably in a half, to fire Dublin into their points, and in the ’16 decider they were Gerry Carmody) We know of clubs and teams status as “unique to our purpose we are reminded of by almost football – then you have more chance of getting service when defeating Cork in this one-sided final. fifth final in-a-row and a fourth a point behind at the end. You get the ÷ Half-time: Kerry’s 1993 Jubilee Team presented by Dáithí Ó Sé Shannon every corporate brand these that have as a key perform- games”, but it also needs to year’s league semi-final, Dublin then It was 15 years ago that the final against Cork in five years. picture. Cork have them in a psycho- ÷ Half-time Exhibition Games — U10: Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow) v falling on top is ance indicator (KPI) the recognise and address that its overturning Mayo in the final to win a ladies football finals breached Aherne has scored 4-24 in the logical bind. Today they set out to see Kilmovee Shamrocks (Mayo); G4M&O: Moylagh (Meath) v Plunketts (Tyrone) of him, digging days. The latest of those ads number of smart fouls they pervasive cynicism is also first league title. Prior to that Cork had the 30,000 attendance barrier. championship to date. if they can break it and you could do far ÷ TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship final: Cork v Dublin (4.0), (Ref: him. Once that brought to us by Allianz, in won five league titles on the trot. Until The crowd that year came to “We know the challenge worse than being there to see them try. Garryowen McMahon) conjunction with Micheál Ó commit: Instead of fouling the “unique to our games”. the Mayo defeat in last year’s champion- see Dublin contest a senior we’re facing,” she says. “There’s ÷ Half-time Exhibition Games — U10: St Sylvester’s (Dublin) v St Mary’s ball was ship, they were All-Ireland champions familiarity, of course, but equal- (Galway); G4M&O: Inch Rovers (Cork) v Erin Go Bragh (Dublin) commissioned or getting that first job. six years in succession. Noelle Healy is a key player for Dublin ly every game stands on its All-Ireland Ladies Football Finals, 4-page special 34 WINNER

Kevin Kilbane, Irish Pride By Rory Cassidy Bridgetown College, Wexford Learn from last year’s winner

Preston, England. 17-Year-Old wrong reasons. With a place in is engrossed in the 2010 World Cup and Ireland learning Amhran na bhFiann dominating, chaos unfolded. with the support of his cousin. That defeat aft er the Henry He is conscious that if he is handball fi asco still pains Kevin going to pull on the green today. ‘To lose that playoff jersey in front of thousands at in that manner certainly still he needs to hurts’. know the lyrics. Fast forward two years and Kilbane is making Kevin was always emotional his Irish debut in Reykjavik. when he heard Amhran na bhFi- ann. ‘I always thought about my Growing up in Preston in the family and what it would have 1980’s, all Kevin ever wanted meant for one of them if they to do was play for Ireland. He could have had the opportunity spent hours on the streets to represent their country’. practising football, wearing his Irish shirt. He was the fi rst I felt a remarkable connection generation of his family to be to Kevin during this interview. born across the pond and that culture. He is oft en pictured in the green shirt as an ‘incredible His immense pride to be Irish is always lingered with him. As a his Mayo jersey and supports feeling’ and one that he would something we can all aspire to youngster, Kilbane rejected the his beloved county regularly. He like to bott le permanently. He have. When 17 year old Kilbane chance to play for England. He works here, he lives here and revealed to me that he feels was learning the anthem at was aware it wasn’t the future in my mind and his mind, he is that game ‘shaped him’ as an home in Preston he would’ve in international football he had without question Irish. international player. only dreamed of having such an in mind although at the time he illustrious career. He followed hadn’t been off ered the chance ‘It just brought everything back The pinnacle of Kevin’s career his passion, you can too. to play for Ireland. from when I was a boy watch- was undoubtedly representing ing Euro 88, Italia 90 and USA Ireland in the 2002 World Cup. Throughout a noteworthy 94 that this was where I always Kevin felt ‘overwhelming pride’ career Kevin handled many wanted to be. That’s what I knowing his family were in the questions about his cultural always dreamed of becoming: stadium. It was his childhood identity. At the time the media an international footballer’. In dream and it had fi nally come in England branded players 1997, Kilbane played his fi rst true. such as Kilbane, Jason McAteer senior game against Iceland in a 4-2 win. Kevin aff ectionately Unfortunately, that infamous Wednesday, 14.02.2018 Wednesday Sport and as ‘Plastic 20 OPINION Paddys’. It is evident that Kevin remembers hearing the anthem night in Saint-Denis will live n the same morning of the sometimes — and far too often — Ofarcical Galway- for the fi rst time and donning long in Kevin’s mind for all the Mayo clash in Salthill, Marc Ó Sé, prompted by the flash- has a genuine grá for Irish points in another Mayo game the previous weekend, wrote a column in a national news- paper posing the question: ‘Yes, Kerry are cynical, but what county isn’t?’ The former Kerry great outlined how nearly all the best teams had players and an attitude of never hesitating “to do what was required”. Examples: The Meath team that battered a naïve Tyrone ∼ team in 1996; a much more 104 October 14, 2018 streetwise Tyrone team in 2003; the Donegal team of 2012; the Mayo team that “bullied” Kerry last year; and the bril- liant Kerry team that he and his brothers played on. “I have never denied that we were cynical… This is the way 1RA Monday, May 21, 2018 ...... 3 it has always been. There is 1RA not a team out there that, 2 ...... Monday, May 21, 2018 certainly not one that has INSIDE: YOUR ACTION-PACKED SPORTS SECTION enjoyed any kind of success,

that does not have those THE players or that attitude.” Kerry's THE While in many ways Ó Sé’s } Even with Mo Salah THE GAME column was refreshing for its } } GAME unashamed candour, its senti- new boss can De Bruyne doesn't make ment, combined with the outright bolloxology that was stop Dubs out City still my Premier RESULTS so pervasive in Salthill, made SATURDAY the smart ULSTER SFC: Quarter-final - us pose and ponder another dream of 5 dream team of Fermanagh 0-12 Armagh 0-7. MUNSTER SFC: Quarter-finals - question: Yes, all the leading Clare 1-23 Limerick 0-14; Tipperary 0-20 teams in Gaelic football feel in a row bet for title this season Waterford 0-9. ~ ~ Laois 1-20 Antrim JOE McDONAGH CUP - the need to be cynical, but why ~ 1-19; Carlow 0-21 Meath 1-14. don’t champions in other CUP - 4-14 SPILLANE ROY CURTIS ALDRIDGE Lancashire 2-19; Fermanagh 1-19 Cavan 2-16 sports have to think and act LEINSTER MHC: Rd 2 - Offaly 3-19 SEE PAGES 94&95 SEE PAGES 90&91 Kildare 0-14; Kilkenny 3-21 Wexford 1-12; that way? SEE PAGES 84&85 Antrim 0-16 Meath 0-11; Westmeath 8-18 Did you ever hear anyone TY Down 1-4; Dublin 2-21 Laois 0-7. TREA YESTERDAY OR mance. This was perfor s. No 1 is ual TRICK breakthrough they have number of factor t the A ULSTER SFC: Quarter-final - say last summer tha NEW Championship, e team dis- spent years waiting for. we haven’t won a Champ- a strong cohesiv Monaghan 1-18 Tyrone 1-16. Philadelphia Eagles would new Limerick. By GORDON But Kiely was busy calm- ionship match in a couple play. The collective. ick team ULSTER MFC: Qualifiers Rd 3 - have to become more cynical For too long now, the MANNING ing down the emotion that of years and we needed to Six of the Limer Monaghan 1-20 Down 1-16 (AET); Derry 2-11 have been is beginning to sweep win one. were part of last year’s Fermanagh 0-5. Treaty men GAA Writer at won the All-Ire- if they were to challenge for a at Pearse Stadium. The GAA needs to enigma of through the county. “This is our first Champ- squad th LEINSTER SHC: Rd 2 - Wexford 0-22 1 clash c great i Division g the FL a Allianz m weekend’s p last u during ball s Seán the e title — Dublin 2-14; Kilkenny 2-19 Offaly 1-13. off r r-21 tussle u Unde j and Kerin n roup. l Eoghan o h this g c in wit Galway’s p w and ly ionshi O’Connor e three i are Cillian K “There STRETCHING THE RULES: Mayo’s IRELAND..0 DENMARK..0 He said: Super Bowl? That if the Pep — shooting Picture: Diarmuid Greene hurling way to the dressing-room more games to go in this That’s a significant mile- Finn, Lynch, , MUNSTER SHC: Rd 1 - Cork 2-23 Clare Guardiola project at acknowledge that, along with its much-heralded community and amateur status, there is a pervasive cynicism that is ‘unique to our games’. GREEN GIANT . . . (left) fends off Dan McCormack underage stars, fizzled afterwards, he was inter- round-robin series, so it’s stone in itself. , Gillane and 1-21; Limerick 1-23 Tipperary 2-14. as to be out by senior, drifters, cepted by a fan who leapt heads down and ready for “The challenge is there Flanagan. JOE McDONAGH CUP: Rd 3 - Manchester City w here in May, long gone into the manager’s arms: ‘I training on Tuesday night. now to build on that. The Séamus Hickey is the Westmeath 2-12 Kerry 0-15. e f***in’ love ya, Kiely.’ ecovery hunger is definitely there only survivor from the 2007 CUP: Rd 2 - Down 2-20 realised, his team would hav by September. “It’s all about r London 1-21. day in the Gaelic Back out on the pitch, now for the next 48 hours. within this group. All-Ireland senior final. to become more cynical? That DIVING Yester MUNSTER MHC: Rd 1 - Cork 0-26 Clare nds, this Limerick with the rain bucketing It’s great to win, but it’s “We have three games left But the likes of Quaid, Grou have 3-13; Limerick 1-17 Tipperary 2-12. the reason why the Golden AMBITION . . . team planted down a few down and Tipp fans home- only game one of four. in the round robin — let’s Hannon and Mulcahy It’s Diar we ward-bound, carried go and see what we can do. been firefighting on Shan- ick full-back markers — and began to “There’s no getting State Warriors and Cleveland Limer onside for years now. Séamus Hickey create a new identity. signed autographs and away.” “I’m sure there are plenty n p, they brought the posed happily for pictures. Down in the Tipp dress- of learnings in today before As Mulcahy finished his Cavaliers had contested the Ye ing, dives in to block a dogs-of-war quality Limer- Séamus Flanagan walked ing room, Michael Ryan we go to Cork in two interview yesterday even previous three NBA finals was is off the pitch in his bare way, weeks’ time. predictably, ‘Seán South football ick sides have always dis- decided to hide a in Gaelic shot by Jason Only rryowen’ was blar- FIXTURES that the likes of Steph Curry, played in Championship. feet, clutching his boots choosing not to talk with “There’s a great sense of from Ga Forde at the time it came under his arm, and with a the press. calmness and focus there ing from the dressing room. go as Tipp But this TOMORROW LeBron James, and Kevin ounds dence, big Championship scalp in Perhaps he had nothing for the last few weeks and But this does not feel like Gaelic Gr with an assured confi LEINSTER JFC: Quarter-finals - inty that they were his back pocket. to say. Or perhaps he was it was reflected in our the same old Limerick. Durant were willing to resort a certa — Longford v Cavan (, 7.0); Wicklow than the other guy. Graeme Mulcahy propped just afraid of what he performance there But by the time Lynch v Kildare (Joule Park, 7.0). better to to whatever it takes? Limerick won by six himself against a wall, might actually say. in the last quar- the last player WEDNESDAY field — ts on a wet, grey day — explaining to a group of His team had been out- ter of an hour.” leave the LEINSTER MFC: Rd 2 - Offaly v Of course you didn’t. You poin way Barry Murphy’s 68th-minute reporters what the victory played and out-battled. But if Lim- made his Westmeath (O’Connor Park, 7.0); Meath v t Byrnes out to the show- Dublin (Pairc Tailteann, 7.0); Louth v Wicklow might have heard alright tha goal finally putting daylight meant for Limerick. Coming down the stretch, erick were a They don’t , Ameri- (Ardee, 7.0); Wexford v Laois (Innovate KPI n the teams. As he did, a smiling in the 58th minute, a neat team head- ers , 7.0); Carlow v Kildare a betwee City and the Cavs would have fouling cynical can hip smart, Diarmuid Byrnes strode by houlder by ing in the (Netwatch Cullen Park, 7.0). t in truth, Tipp were point over his s By JOHN FALLON Bu rtist to substantially improve their DEN’ hanging on for large peri- and fired a light-hearted Noel McGrath gave Tipp a right direc- have any hop a FRIDAY - DIARMUID BYRNES starred as Limerick blew ods, Limerick playing with volley towards his team- 2-13 to 0-18 lead they tion, Tipp Mackle ULSTER UNDER-20FC: Quarter- defence, that their intensity, had finals - Fermanagh v Armagh (Brewster heartaigh joyously man in possession, they’re out the control of a team that mate: ‘Go away Mul, you’re scarcely deserved. looked more protocol, there’s been hardly to the ground to prevent an Muirc the new-look Munster SHC wide open with baggage — replaced Park, 8.0); Tyrone v Monaghan (Healy focus and even aggression in snapped, the Eagles defence believed in themselves. useless.’ From there, the top teams unsure of Park, 8.0). lling in the wonder and to spoil the runner before he this deserved win at the . Seán one act of cynicism. entry pass, or hurling a GPS reve This was no hit-and-hope Nicky Quaid, the rain see it through, finish it out. themselves. LEINSTER MHC: Rd 3 - Laois v Kilkenny that department would have was out to smash Tom Brady, It is a first victory in th on k on any soccer match or some equivalent of a kick- innocence of kids playing the ever appears on the shoulder; job. They dismantled streaming down his fore- But for the remainder of Injuries they’re fresh Sou (O’Moore Park, 7.0); Kildare v Meath (St to significantly increase, but but once the play was Flic the since 2015 Tipp, line by line. head, pulled off his jersey the game, Tipp added just a to key play- the sound Conleths Park, 7.0); Carlow v Down (Pairc native games. it’s not like the linesman is for Shannonsiders — and handed it to a young t. In that closing ers like system. Tailteann, 7.0). complete, they left him on the box. In the odd game ing tee. As manager single poin SATURDAY not their level of cynicism. and John Kiely’s men Limerick fan. ut-scored Brendan Kiely said: In time, though, playing going to notice. MATCH John Kiely period Limerick o and free Cork v Tip- eness of untouched. A game loaded there might be the odd conten- Ten days ago in Castlebar, were worth every point Heroes all, now. to 0-1. Maher and “The young MUNSTER SFC: Semi-final - In fact, the pervasiv er, in doing so, for made the visitors 1-6 perary (, 7.0). or the most they played Kerry in a desper- hurling and especially football Howev of it against a disap- his It was one of those days When it mattered, Limer- had players have cynicism in Gaelic football, with aggression, but devoid of tious dive, but f pointing Tipperary side. REPORT to it. ULSTER SFC: Quarter-final - Down v the glory of the parish or the when the sun could not ick bossed it, owned it. Tipp forced Ryan’s hand, but adjusted well Antrim (Pairc Esler, 7.0. BBC iPlayer). t is played in a ately tetchy affair. The Ronan won’t be so innocent. Some of Tipp manager to play. both between the lines and cynicism, which part the spor pierce through the clouds seemed bereft of leaders. still the juggling of their They just want LEINSTER SHC: Rd 3 - Offaly v Wexford Shanahan challenge on Evan those kids waved at by county, a little bit of the Michael Ryan can have then Tipp hit back. above the Gaelic Grounds. Kiely admitted: “We were defensive set-up — particu- “They’re not carrying any (O’Connor Park, 7.0). in its general discourse, is helped make it a sporting spirit, the nadir of no complaint about the Dan McCormack got which is Micheál will either resort to or human spirit is corroded. But it felt as if, finally, stronger on the day. We larly moving Séamus Ken- baggage either, SFC: Semi-final - brilliant the 1990 World Cup a distant Regan has been by now well- outcome of this one as the opening goal when Limerick made the kind of ally stronger. nedy to full-back — sent out half the battle. Roscommon v Leitrim (Pairc Sean unrivalled in any other he drilled home a were physic MacDiarmada, 5.30). scrutinised; less so the run- be subjected to acts that their Again, is that what you’d the Treaty came of age “Fifteen minutes into the a message of uncertainty. “Sometimes you could t. spectacle. memory. Its best players — with an awesome dis- rebound after John even or eight seasons LEINSTER SFC: Quarter-final - Laois v team spor kids to resort to? Is second half, I really couldn’t It suggested Tipp were have s Westmeath (O’Connor Park, 5.0). ning battles off the ball in classmates who opted for the want your play that was full of McGrath’s effort had r belt, seven or t Switch to the likes of Messi, De Bruyne, see any other result. vulnerable. So it proved. under you : Rd 2 - Sligo v It was something tha ant them to be running throughout. come back off the post. of baggage. e to stoop which men repeatedly cispheil nó rugbaí won’t. it what you’d w “I thought we were Both sides were guilty of eight seasons Fermanagh (, 3.0); Cavan v struck us watching the rugby, another Kane — don’t hav Kiely made good use The sides were level bad wides and sloppy These boys are coming into Lancashire (Ballyconnell, 1.0). There is something sad that subjected to? The kind of three times in the first getting dominant in the other week. collision sport. to niggling or wrestling an dragged and pinned their THERE of his bench to keep all the key areas, patches of play. it fresh and free.” ULSTER UNDER-20FC: Quarter-final Super Bowl 11 minutes of the sec- Down v Antrim (Pairc Esler, 5.0). insidious, underhand tactics up a tempo that Tipp larly at But while some of those As he finished up, the - e and win. markers to the ground. Peter Canavan, the best ball- ond half. OF particu Ulster v How after every play — So far we’ve opponent to thriv struggled to stay with. the back. mistakes seemed to eat at music flipped again as the LEINSTER UNDER-21HC: Rd 1 - player of his generation, won that someone like Aidan Indeed, the visitors But Limerick’s domi- Carlow (Abbottstown, TBC); Laois v Dublin ames In Gaelic football, though, it Then there was Salthill last “The win Tipp, Limerick appeared distinctive tones of Dolores (TBC, TBC). say, a running back gains had six g managed just one point nance and sharpness HE o All-Irelands with his O’Shea — a model of disci- WORRY: Mo Salah in action for Egypt T is signifi- perpetually unruffled. O’Riordan belted Zombie LEINSTER MHC: Rd 3 - Offaly v Antrim seems our best players feel Sunday. More of the same. In his tw in the final 16 minutes saw them pull 0-18 to three yards — there were in the Six N nt for a Aaron Gillane did not down the tunnel. (TBC, 1.30). A ca pline, to his credit — is con- 1-12 in front after 50 M ct, worse, which prompted last act seeing him jump on as Limerick finished e early wides to The Cranberries. One of no sneaky afters, no lousy Nations and, they do. Just take the last fa minutes thanks to allow som the back of an opponent and stantly exposed to in a sport strongly to secure a unsettle him, while Byrnes their own. outside of the three Mayo games that have me to tweet: “The amount of badly-needed success. efforts from Gillane, The message in the music cheap shots. After being that is woefully policed? Hegarty and Byrnes. and were been televised live. bolloxology that Gaelic foot- hauling him to the ground. The green-clad fans H superb in a half-back line is quite clear. French trying it Tipp responded with C fairly, if violently, in the crowd of 20,423 T A set the agenda all day. This is a team very much estling, dragging, Likewise, the abiding image of Rules and regulations can Forde finding the roof M that on with As brilliant as the 2017 ball — wr POOL FEARS will hope this victory is Perhaps most satisfying of of Limerick. tackled and stopped help. A black ball. Empower- of the net after a deliv- DIARMUID BYRNES eland final was, it was sneaky afters — tolerates is Lee Keegan, arguably the best the start of a golden THE wing-back was the rock on all for Limerick was the But a new Limerick. by his opponent, he the HIA All-Ir era at senior level after ery from Billy d, in your ver play the ing linesmen and umpires McCarthy and Noel fact this was not a win ‘In your hea somewhat marred by the pitiful. Is that what you’d wing-back to e solid underage success which Limerick built this win. He ey are fighting.’ was able to get ef on McGrath edged them in was immense as they snuffed born out of a star head, th want your young fella at?’ game, and Diarmuid Con- more. Having a second r in recent years. individ- The Munster SHC just got BARRY outrageous and cynical acts front on 59 minutes. back up They will need to out the Tipp half-forwards. very interesting. That’s what it comes down nolly, definitely the best wing- the field. Harsher, longer OVER SALAH However, it was Lim- The Patrickswell ace, 24, improve their discipline unimpeded, carried out in the closing erick who took control From Front Page to. The GAA has so much forward of his generation, will suspensions. in defence after giving landed three long-range home scratching your with no minutes. Picture a Messi or the oppor- from there with Byrnes points – two 65s and the ever, it starts firstly outstanding. After Gil- head wondering, ‘Why are Steph wrestling an opponent going for it. A game from the be of them wrestling on the How tunity to shoot seven third from a free. member points from frees in lane levelled, he dou- His leadership and we training six times a gods in hurling and, in foot- ground when they weren’t with recognising the existing WAS bled their lead after week and then not of the INJURY the opening half. Cian Lynch had scored calmness under pres- the best throwing GPS devices at each culture and reality. performing?’ ball, potentially one of The Silvermines club- from out the field. sure rubbed off on opposing In its self-congratulation, man obliged with each those around him. “This year, we said if we known to, and made by, man. other. LeBron and Durant Any hopes of a Tipp can give performances that defence BY KEVIN PALMER of them to give the revival ended when All played for the love of those never had to resort to such the GAA often refers to its Premier County a 1-10 we will be there or there- acciden- Barry Murphy raced abouts. And we will con- games and community, which antics in their finals face-offs. community and amateur to 0-12 interval lead. through to flick to the tally-on- Kieran LIVERPOOL face an anxious wait UNDER PRESSURE: Limerick corner-for- net three minutes from tinue to do that. We’ll know y almost We know of clubs and teams status as “unique to our ward Graeme Mulcahy in a couple of months’ time purpose we are reminded of b Hbefore discovering the extent Martin O’Neill needs WALES BOSS: Giggs time. Game over. every corporate brand these that have as a key perform- games”, but it also needs to was superb in that LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Finn, S Hickey, where we’re at.” falling on top Shannon of Mohamed Salah’s injury, after he to get revenge against opening half, shooting R English; D Byrnes 0-3, 2 65, 1f, D Ultimately, Murphy’s late is ance indicator (KPI) the recognise and address that its four points from play. Hannon, D Morrissey; D O’Donovan of him, digging days. The latest of those ads limped out of an international with goal proved vital. number of smart fouls they pervasive cynicism is also Wales on Tuesday night But the home side 0-1, C Lynch 0-2; G Hegarty 0-2, K Hannon added: “Barry’s t brought to us by Allianz, in Egypt on Friday night. struggled to push Hayes, T Morrissey 0-2; A Gillane 0-8, him. Once tha the ames”. 6f, S Flanagan 0-1; G Mulcahy 0-4. goal was the decisive conjunction with Micheál Ó commit: Instead of fouling “unique to our g Initial reports suggested Salah’s ahead, with debutant Subs: D Dempsey for Morrissey 54 score and got us across ball was keeper — MAKE OR BREAK . . . Hmuscle injury picked up against mins, B Murphy 1-0 for Mulcahy 54, P Seán Finn breaks his the line, so happy days. son of ex-Tipp net- Ryan for Flanagan 62, P Browne for blocking Tipp “There is a good desire Swaziland was not serious, but the minder and manager O’Donovan 67. from the boys and the Eyptian FA confirmed last night that Ken — producing a TIPPERARY: B Hogan; A Flynn, S forward John McGrath superb reflex save to Kennedy, D Maher; B Heffernan, lads who came on made a Padraic Maher, R Maher; W Connors, massive difference. the player will miss their next match on deny Gearóid Hegarty B McCarthy; D McCormack 1-0, N after 17 minutes, when McGrath 0-2, S Curran; J O’Dwyer “ made a Tuesday and has returned to Liverpool ONE... serious interception on the sides were dead- 0-1, J Forde 1-9, 9f, J McGrath 0-2. for treatment. By ROY CURTIS locked at 0-3 each. Subs: S O’Brien for D Maher 43 mins, John McGrath, who was “Mohamed Salah had complained Aaron Gillane’s acc- B Maher for Connors 50, S Callanan bearing down on goal. That for Curran 53, Patrick Maher for and Barry Murphy’s goal during yesterday’s match versus O’Neill desperately needs win uracy helped Limerick McCarthy 65. H MARTIN O’NEILL desper- go back in front, but REFEREE: James McGrath (Westmeath). from the subs were huge.” Swaziland about stress in his muscle,” ately needs a victory over stated the Egyptian FA. “He was 35 medically examined and underwent Wales on Tuesday – to an X-ray post-game. silence debates about his over Wales to save his job “Following communication with Irish future. HLiverpool’s medical staff, it was a Denmark side stripped of their cent of possession and had just three determined the player would be O’Neill faces a winter of one superstar, Christian Eriksen, attempts at goal compared to Den- mark’s 15. unable to play in the next match on discontent unless his team (inset left). can avenge last month’s 4-1 Yet O’Neill, who strongly defended Tuesday.” Ireland stopped the defensive rot – his formation, strangely insisted af- Liverpool play Huddersfield in the Cardiff humiliation by Ryan but were again anaemic in attack as terwards: “Perhaps Denmark were HPremier League next Saturday, Giggs’s side. O’Neill deployed key players in bizarre hanging on in the end.” with Salah now facing a race to be It follows last night’s hugely positions. fit to play for Jurgen Klopp’s title underwhelming display against The home side enjoyed only 36 per- FULL MATCH REPORT INSIDE chasers.

Published by SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS Ltd. P.O. Box 641 Independent House, 27-32 Talbot Street, Dublin 1, Ireland. Tel: 01-8849000. Printed by Independent News & Media & . Distribution by NEWSPREAD.