Irish Daily Mail, Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Gaelic Games 53 FARNEY FEELING THE LAST-EIGHT WOES Philip It is 30 years since Monaghan last reached an All-Ireland semi-final, losing to Cork, but they have had plenty of opportunities in Lanigan the meantime. Saturday week’s clash with Galway will present a seventh opportunity to reach the last four, but here are the six phases of last-eight hell they have already endured. GAA must not forget 2007 Monaghan 1-11 Kerry 1-12 Kerry never led in 69 minutes of this game — an early Tommy Freeman penalty putting Monaghan in the driving seat — kindness shown by until Tomás Ó Sé popped up to punch the winning point right at the death. 2013 Monaghan 0-12 Tyrone 0-14 rival sporting codes A game that will always be remembered for the tackle by Seán Cavanagh on Conor LIKE the much-trumpeted McManus that denied a clear goalscoring arrival of a baby elephant at chance, but what may be forgotten is the Dublin Zoo, the birth of a clear one–on-one goal chance which Stephen Gollogly failed to take earlier in new GAA club is that rare the half. and novel event, one that also involves special care 2014 Monaghan 0-11 Dublin 2-22 and attention. No hard luck story here, although for 25 Fifteen years ago, Ranelagh minutes they defended bravely and trailed Gaels came into this world blink- by just a point before two goals inside ing at the light and determined to thrive, not just survive. If a new three minutes from Diarmuid Connolly and club is like a protected species Bernard Brogan proved decisive. that needs a world conservation order and added security to stop 2015 Monaghan 0-14 Tyrone 0-18 the poachers taking aim, a new Best remembered for ‘hair gate’ after city club is like a genetic freak that Darren Hughes earned a red card for has really defied the odds, the tousling Tiernan McCann’s follicles, but that equivalent of an albino elephant. was as far as Monaghan’s sense of Based on the southside fringes of the city centre otherwise known as grievance could extend. They were Dublin 6, where gentrification and outplayed here, pretty much from pillar to rising rents act as a continuous post. pressure on locals to uproot, a can-do attitude and welcoming 2017 Monaghan 0-12 Dublin 1-19 policy attracted such support that With Dean Rock in fine shooting form, it is arguably the biggest success racking up 1-7, they never even had a sniff story of Dublin Gaelic Games this and were beaten out the gate at half-time, past decade. when they trailed by eight points, 0-11 to 0-3. What started out with one junior Testimonial match: The late football team and a hodgepodge of Liam Miller INPHO 2018 Monaghan 1-17 Kerry 1-17 country and city lads who just wanted to play ball – with Smyth’s Their opening round win over Kildare the growth of Gaelic Games abroad pub in Ranelagh the unofficial hub is arguably the biggest success presented them with their best chance yet – has now grown beyond all story of the association in the 21st and it seemed certain they would take it expectations. century. Clubs are sprouting up all when Karl O’Connell pushed them five Last summer, Ranelagh Gaels over the world and thriving. Again, points clear in the 60th minute. Then, had one of the biggest Cúl Camps their success is dependent on the Dejection: Conor James O’Donoghue pumped a high ball in in the country, 220 boys and girls shared use of facilities from other McManus (main) and a golden opportunity got away. enjoying Gaelic Games. Putting sporting organisations. and the Monaghan down deep roots into the commu- Not opening up all its own clubs Still, they get one more chance to grasp it nity and catering to all, it is every- panel (inset) SPORTSFILE in Salthill. along the same lines has brought thing positive that the GAA us to a point where the associa- represents. tion has been roundly hammered And get this, on a Saturday by its own, by politicians and by have left them in obvious bother. and we want to be in it.’ that’s the main thing. That’s what morning, their academy section, sports stars across the various Secondly, they remain in control Therein lies the crucial, and not we have to take out of this,’ added which caters for children from four codes to the extent that it has of their own destiny and should be so subtle, difference in what is at McManus. years up, takes place in a prized become an international embar- the more motivated side in stake for Galway and Monaghan ‘Kerry came here as favourites sporting venue on Dublin’s south rassment. BBC Sport even carried Salthill. next month. and as one of the top teams in the side. a critique of the backlash on its ‘It will be tough but our season Galway are playing — again a country and we gave them a run That venue? Donnybrook Sta- website over the weekend. is on the line now,’ insisted Conor draw will suffice — to avoid Dub- for about 74 minutes there, we dium, the spiritual home of Lein- Against a backdrop of govern- McManus, who produced one of lin in the semi-final, while Mona- just forgot about the last ster rugby. ment pressure to make a decision the great individual performances ghan are playing to simply stay minute.’ The ground is available thanks in keeping with the conditions of of this summer in shooting 1-9, 1-5 alive. From here, they just need to for- to the kindness of strangers. Lein- €30million in state grant aid given from play on Sunday. That gifts an edge to Monaghan get every minute that has gone ster Rugby rent it out with no to Páirc Uí Chaoimh, GAA direc- ‘There’s an All-Ireland semi-final and it is one they must take. before as they put it all on the thought to sporting apartheid. tor general Tom Ryan and presi- up for grabs in two weeks’ time ‘We’re still in the Championship, line. The rugby club just did what felt dent John Horan are today meet- like the honourable thing and put ing the event organisers to see sporting rivalries aside for the whether the charity fundraiser needs of a community. There is involving a Manchester United also the bigger picture of a coun- legends selection against a joint Flynn remains hopeful of a GAA U-turn try beset with an obesity crisis Celtic/Republic of Ireland XI will among children, and the mental actually take place in the ground. From Back Page secretary Jack and Simon Coveney, to ‘People got ahead of health problems attached to the Anderson, have claimed reconsider its position. themselves and made an Two summers ago, in a different smartphone generation enabled ground where Brian O’Driscoll be moved to Páirc Uí that by declaring the ‘I welcome it; I think it announcement that was by a government who cosies up to Chaoimh, Cork GAA’s used to tog out, Ranelagh Gaels game a charity event it is a very positive move. I absolutely untrue. the tech giants a short drive held a club day for all its members. 45,000-capacity stadium would circumvent a think everyone can be ‘I wanted to clarify the away. which was redeveloped After the adult men’s and women’s violation of rule. winners here if we can position so there is not It’s a part of Dublin where land teams played a mixed fun match at a cost in excess of Michael Flynn, the find a way and I am fully more confusion and that and pitches are at such a premium ¤80million. at Donnybrook Stadium, and the property developer who respectful of their social media that the adult teams which oper- academy and juvenile section did Today’s sitdown comes is chairing the situation,’ said Flynn, misinformation is ate out of Bushy Park in Terenure a version of the same, they trooped just four days after organising committee speaking on Cork’s Red corrected because that also depend on the kindness of inside to the Bective Rangers Croke Park issued a for the memorial game, FM yesterday. is not helpful. strangers, training sessions taking clubhouse for refreshments and to statement that it could warned that today’s Flynn took to the ‘I don’t want the GAA or place previously at Monkstown’s watch the Republic of Ireland’s not accede to the meeting should not be airwaves after erroneous anyone else thinking we rugby club or the hockey pitch in Euro 2016 qualifier against request to play a soccer interpreted as a change reports on social media, have taken this for St Killian’s School, Clonskeagh. Belgium. match at the ground. of position by the GAA, which had claimed that granted already and All of which exposes the double A group of GAA members watch- However, a number of who have come under a decision had been that this is happening. standards at work in the venue ing a soccer game in a rugby club. legal experts, including pressure from senior taken on Saturday to ‘Nothing could be debacle at the heart of the Liam And the sky didn’t fall in. former Disputes government ministers, move the game to Páirc further from the truth,’ Miller testimonial controversy. Resolution Authority including Shane Ross Uí Chaoimh.