All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final: Louth V Carlow – Ladiesgaelic.ie – July 14 2024

Posted on July 14, 2024 by admin

Louth finish strongly to book place in junior final

TG4 All-Ireland JFC semi-final

Louth 2-11

Carlow 0-11

By Daire Walsh

Louth produced a late surge against Carlow at Parnell Park to advance to the TG4 All-Ireland junior championship final against Fermanagh.

A single point adrift inside the final-quarter of an intense tussle, Louth outscored their provincial rivals by 1-5 to 0-1 in the closing moments to ensure their place in the West County Hotel Cup decider.

While it was Louth who broke the deadlock in this game with a point on the run from team captain Aine Breen, Carlow raced three points clear with unanswered scores from Cliodhna Ní Shé (two), Rachel Sawyer and Megan Townsend.

Yet after Aoife Russell added to their tally with a white flag effort, the Wee County regained the ascendancy when former Republic of Ireland underage international Kate Flood displayed her soccer skills to poke a loose ball to the opposition net in the 23rd minute.

This was a blow for Carlow, but despite temporarily losing Townsend to a yellow card, another two-point salvo by Ní Shé had the Barrowsiders 0-6 to 1-2 in front at the interval.

This slender lead remained intact when Townsend returned to the fray on 34 minutes, but Louth ultimately restored parity courtesy of Niamh Rice’s outstanding point off the outside of her right boot. The Cooley Kickhams attacker was becoming increasingly prominent and she also found the range to cancel out Carlow points from Sawyer and Ní Shé.

Swapped frees between dead-ball specialists Ní Shé and Flood kept the tie delicately poised moving into the closing quarter, but Carlow were once again in the driving seat when the excellent Sawyer bagged her third point of the contest.

Yet the turning point of the game arrived in the 55th minute as centre half-back Breen got on the end of a sweeping Louth move to fire her side’s second goal of the game.

This was just the tonic that the Wee County needed and whereas Carlow’s sole contribution from that juncture onwards was a seventh Ní Shé point, Russell complimented a brace of efforts from the influential duo of Rice and Flood to offer Paul Hanlon’s side a passage to the junior showpiece alongside Fermanagh  — who they defeated in the competition’s 2019 final.

Scorers – Louth: K Flood 1-3 (0-3f), N Rice 0-5, A Breen 1-1, A Russell 0-2.

Carlow: C Ní Shé 0-7 (7f), R Sawyer 0-3, M Townsend 0-1.

LOUTH: R Lambe Fagan; A Whyte, E Murray, E Hand; L Byrne, A Breen, C Nolan; A Halligan, E Byrne; M Rooney, A Russell, S Matthews; N Rice, K Flood, C McDonald. Subs: L White for Matthews (39), H Lambe Sally for McDonald (42), C O’Reilly for Whyte (44), R O’Connor Leonard for Rooney (59), C Boyle for Murray (60).

CARLOW: N Hanley; A Carroll, A Roche, L Mullins; N Forde, R Bermingham, E Molloy; E Hayden, R Bailey; M Townsend, R Sawyer, S Doyle; S O’Neill, T Lyons, C Ní Shé. Subs: S McCullagh for Lyons (39), N Murphy for Townsend (54), E Ware for Hayden (56), M O’Neill for Muilins (59).

Referee: Ciara Gilroy (Down).

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final: Louth V Carlow – Ladiesgaelic.ie – July 14 2024

All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final: Leitrim V Wexford – Ladiesgaelic.ie – July 14 2024

Posted on July 14, 2024 by admin

Leitrim withstand late Wexford rally to reach intermediate decider

TG4 All-Ireland IFC semi-final

Leitrim 3-8

 Wexford 2-10

 By Daire Walsh

Leitrim survived a late onslaught from Wexford at Parnell Park to book their place in this year’s TG4 All-Ireland intermediate championship final.

Seven points behind — 3-8 to 1-7 — with a little over three minutes of normal time left to play, a determined Wexford outfit registered 1-3 without reply in a frantic finale to a pulsating last-four affair. The Slaneysiders even had a chance at the death to force the game into extra-time, but after an Aoife Cullen free floated wide of the target, Leitrim were guaranteed a spot in the competition’s August 4 decider at Croke Park alongside Tyrone.

In a lively opening to the contest, Leitrim’s Laura O’Dowd (whose sister Eilish won a TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title with Dublin in 2023) traded points with Wexford full-forward Kellie Kearney.

O’Dowd added her second of the game after the play was held up for a number of minutes to allow treatment for injured Model County corner-back Sarah Harding Kenny. While Wexford eventually equalised with an Aoife Cullen point, O’Dowd and Siomha Quinn later split the uprights to give Leitrim some breathing space.

Their Slaneyside counterparts kept in touch with a fine score by Tara Doyle, but right on the stroke of half-time, Muireann Devaney superbly shook the net from close-range to propel Leitrim into a 1-4 to 0-3 interval lead.

Wexford suffered a further set-back when Aisling Halligan was sin-binned two minutes into the second period, but Lizzy Kent’s side came roaring back into contention when Halligan’s half-back partner Ciara Banville fired a low shot past opposite netminder Michelle Monaghan moments later.

This ramped up the pressure on Leitrim, but after a pointed free from captain Michelle Guckian helped them to settle again, Jonny Garrity’s charges ruthlessly added goals through Ailbhe Clancy and Devaney in the 38th and 40th minutes respectively.

Although Wexford raised white flags via the boots of Clara Donnelly, Doyle, Cullen and Amanda Power either side of the final-quarter mark, similar efforts by Devaney, Clancy and substitute Leah Fox looked set to ease Leitrim into a first intermediate final since 2007.

Wexford subsequently offered themselves a lifeline when an Aoife Cullen goal was supplemented by points from Grace Donovan, Chloe Foxe and Maria Byrne, but Leitrim did just enough to hold out.

Scorers – Leitrim: M Devaney 2-1, A Clancy 1-1 (0-1f), L O’Dowd 0-3, M Guckian 0-1 (1f), S Quinn, L Foxe 0-1 each.

Wexford: A Cullen 1-2 (0-1f), C Banville 1-0, T Doyle 0-2, M Byrne, A Power, C Donnelly, C Foxe, K Kearney, G Donovan 0-1 each.

LEITRIM: M Monaghan; E Quigley, C Tyrell, C Owens; S Reynolds, K Bruen, E Bruen; N Tighe, M Guckian; O Flynn, L O’Dowd, M Devaney; A Clancy, S Quinn, A Redican. Subs: L Fox for Quinn (43), M Murphy for Quigley (53), L McKeon for Flynn (57), B O’Rourke for Clancy (58).

 WEXFORD: S McCarthy; K English, M Byrne, S Harding Kenny; C Banville, A Halligan, A Power; R Murphy, B McDonald; C Donnelly, C Foxe, A Cullen, C Ní Nualláin, K Kearney, T Doyle. Subs: L Doyle for Harding Kenny (7), C Murray for Ní Nualláin (37), G Donovan for McDonald (46).

 Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies Football Championship Semi-Final: Leitrim V Wexford – Ladiesgaelic.ie – July 14 2024

SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division: DLR Waves V Athlone Town – The Westmeath Independent – July 13 2024

Posted on July 13, 2024 by admin

SOCCER: SSE AIRTRICITY WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION 

Moment of Molloy magic proves enough to seal Athlone victory

DLR Waves 0 

Athlone Town 1

DAIRE WALSH

ATHLONE Town manager Ciaran Kilduff sang the praises of Roisin Molloy after her superb 55th-minute goal helped Athlone Town to overcome a tricky challenge from DLR Waves in this Women’s Premier Division clash at the UCD Bowl last Saturday.

Holding a slender lead over Shelbourne at the summit of the competition’s table in advance of this contest, the Midlanders were looking for a moment of inspiration that might help them to maintain their excellent run of form in the opening half of the season. In this regard, it was Molloy who ultimately came up trumps as she unleashed a magnificent shot into the top left-hand corner of the net from the most acute of angles.

This was enough to get Athlone over the line in the end and with Shels being held to a scoreless draw by Wexford on the same day, they have now opened up a three-point gap at the top of the Premier Division.

“It probably wasn’t our best performance or anything like that, they’re a very improved team and they’re very good in fairness at what they do. We were expecting a tough game, but we probably said it was going to take a moment of magic and it did,” Kilduff remarked after the game.

“I said to the girls in there, Roisin probably deserves that more than anyone. She’s a real hard-working player and she has that quality. You’re just hoping one of those go in for her, but I’m delighted for her and it was a great win.”

After beginning their campaign on March 9 with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Galway United, Athlone embarked on an unbeaten streak of nine games in the Premier Division. A 2-1 success over Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght the week before Saturday’s tie was their seventh consecutive top-flight victory and this ensured they were brimming with confidence upon their arrival at Belfield on the weekend.

It was almost the perfect start to the action for the visitors, but centre-forward Casey Howe pulled a shot narrowly wide from a cross by Isabel Ryan – who had initially been picked out in a dangerous area by Laurie Ryan.

Howe, a Northern Ireland senior international, subsequently had a low shot saved by DLR custodian Eve Badana on 25 minutes.

Michelle Doonan was also leading the attack to good effect for the hosts and forced a fine stop from Athlone Town goalkeeper Katie Keane after she was released on goal moments after Howe’s effort.

As the action wore on, Isabel Ryan was proving to be a lively presence for Athlone down the right-flank while Madison Gibson was also displaying plenty of industry on the opposite wing. Nonetheless, DLR had showcased their defensive organisation in a stalemate against Bohemians in UCD a week earlier and kept Athlone at bay until the interval.

Their record of conceding just one goal in their previous six league games suggests that Athlone have a watertight rearguard themselves and having registered 10 goals in that particular run block of fixtures, they were confident of somehow finding a way to unlock DLR in this encounter.

There was certainly plenty of intensity to their play on the resumption with both Jesi Lynne Rossman and Kayleigh Shine going close to finding the net off a 50th minute corner. They were starting to force DLR on the back-foot once again and eventually found a way past Badana 10 minutes into the second half.

Whereas most players would have gone for a different option, Molloy didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger from an awkward right-hand angle and she got her just reward with a magnificent finish that Badana was powerless to keep out.

This had Athlone in pole position for the maximum points on offer, but it took some heroic defence moments later to keep their narrow cushion intact. Just minutes after falling behind, DLR looked set to level matters when Doonan took the ball past the advanced Keane off a long delivery, only for the retreating Shine to block her shot towards an empty net.

This was as close as DLR came to snatching a positive result from this game and even though Chloe Singleton and Gibson had opportunities to double their lead, Athlone were a happy side heading back from Belfield on Saturday.

The 2023 FAI Women’s Cup champions are now in a strong position to push on for a genuine Premier Division title challenge with just nine games remaining in the current term, but having experienced plenty of ups and downs during his distinguished playing career in the League of Ireland, Kilduff recognises there could be a number of twists and turns in the weeks to come.

“You’d rather be three points ahead than three points behind, but it doesn’t mean anything. You don’t get a trophy at the halfway point. Three points, it’s a bit early to be looking at it yet. Tell me that with maybe two or three games to go, I’d probably be more excited. I’ve been around long enough to know that it matters for nothing just yet,” Kilduff added.

DLR Waves: Eve Badana; Amber Cosgrove, Jessica Gleeson, Chloe McCarthy, Bronagh Kane; Isobel Finnegan, Keelin Dodd; Abbie Brophy, Cliodhna Donnelly, Nadine Seward; Michelle Doonan. Subs: Rachel Doyle for Donnelly (half-time), Aisling Meehan for Seward (66), Freya Roche for Brophy (78).

Athlone Town: Katie Keane; Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Jesi Lynne Rossman, Shauna Brennan; Laurie Ryan, Roisin Molloy; Isabel Ryan, Chloe Singleton, Madison Gibson; Casey Howe. Subs: Hazel Donegan for I Ryan (65), Ciara O’Neill for Molloy (89).

Referee: Oliver Moran.

In A Nutshell

Player of the Match

Roisin Molloy (Athlone Town). Given how important her goal proved to be, it is hard to look beyond Sligo native Molloy when it comes to identifying the outstanding performer from this game.

Aside from her sublime second half finish, she also provided a strong presence in central midfield alongside dynamic team skipper Laurie Ryan throughout her 89 minutes on the field of play.

Kayleigh Shine was also a key performer on the day for Athlone and was one of the main reasons that her side emerged from Belfield with the seventh clean sheet of their league campaign.

Posted in League Of Ireland, Women's Soccer | Comments Off on SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division: DLR Waves V Athlone Town – The Westmeath Independent – July 13 2024

The Big Interview: Aoibhinn McHugh (Tyrone/Aghyaran) – Media West Ireland – July 13 2024

Posted on July 13, 2024 by admin

Tyrone’s Aoibhinn McHugh relishing Down challenge in All-Ireland Intermediate semis

By Daire Walsh

While she is now one of the more experienced players in the set-up, Tyrone captain Aoibhinn McHugh was still in the developmental stage of her inter-county career when the Red Hands last found themselves preparing for a TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship semi-final.

St Tiernach’s Park in Clones is the venue on Sunday afternoon (throw-in 2pm) as Tyrone take on provincial rivals Down for the right to compete for the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup in Croke Park on 4 August. Six years ago, McHugh was a squad member when the Ulster side overcame Sligo in an intermediate semi-final bout that was held in Ballyshannon.

She was also part of the panel 12 months earlier when Tyrone defeated the same county in the last-four of the second-tier competition and though they eventually fell short to Tipperary in that year’s Intermediate showpiece, the Red Hands made amends in 2018 with a superb final win over Meath at GAA HQ. Still a teenager at the time (she was the skipper when Tyrone won an Ulster minor title in 2017) McHugh acknowledges being part of this successful group gave her a sense of what to expect at the adult grade of county football.

“It was a great experience and a lovely way to join the panel. I think it showed all the younger girls at the time, who are now a bit older, just what it takes to win an All-Ireland. Just how much it takes and just how harsh championship football can be,” McHugh said.

“That was a really, really great experience and Tyrone ladies had some brilliant footballers as well that you just really looked up to as a young player coming through.”

Given she was an unused substitute for those intermediate deciders of 2017 and 2018, it wasn’t until Tyrone’s Lidl National Football League Division 2 decider against Kildare in April of this year that McHugh finally had a proper run-out in Croke Park. The Aghyaran star managed to kick a point from midfield, but the northerners ultimately lost out to the Lilywhites on a score of 2-09 to 0-12.

Yet by virtue of reaching the final, Tyrone had already secured promotion to Division 1 of the NFL for 2025 and it was an impressive run of seven unbeaten group games – five wins and two draws – that helped Sean O’Kane’s side to achieve this goal.

However, after Kildare got the better of them in the Division 2 showpiece, the Red Hand also suffered defeats at the hands of Monaghan in the semi-final of the TG4 Ulster Intermediate Football Championship and to Leitrim in Group 4 of the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship.

McHugh feels that her side have found it difficult to bring their springtime form into the summer months, but thanks to recent victories against Wicklow and Clare, they have kept themselves firmly in the shake-up for another final appearance in 2024.

“We’d a really good League campaign, we were really happy with it. It was a great start to the year, getting promotion and being in the Division 2 final. We have probably struggled to bring that into championship.

“That’s the main focus for us now, trying to find a bit of that league form again and consistency. We were quite disappointed with a couple of those defeats, but at the same time they were early enough in the championship and our goal was to learn from them. Hopefully we have.”

Having secured a passage to the knockout rounds of the intermediate championship with a 3-11 to 0-05 group stage win over Wicklow at O’Neill Park in Dungannon on 9 June, last Sunday week saw Tyrone claiming the scalp of 2023 runners-up Clare at the quarter-final stage of the competition in Ennis.

The home team had appeared to hold all the aces when quickfire goals from Laurie Ryan and Ailish Considine had them 2-04 to 0-04 in front at the interval, but Tyrone had other ideas. Three-pointers courtesy of Chloe McCaffrey and Aoife Horisk got the visitors back on level terms before the third-quarter had drawn to a close and they ultimately pushed on for a 2-08 to 2-07 victory.

‘Having a career is obviously quite different to football because if football doesn’t go your way or something doesn’t go your way, you forget about it’

Considering she has been on the receiving end of some narrow losses in the past – Leitrim had a point to spare over Tyrone in their group stage meeting in Ballinamore at the beginning of June – this was a triumph that McHugh savoured.

“We were delighted with our performance against Clare and getting over the line. It was a real tight game and one of those games it was nice to win in the end because it had been so tight. You were glad to hear the final whistle.

“We were quite disappointed at half-time to have conceded the two goals. The fact that they were back-to-back and the way we conceded them. I think half-time probably came at a good time for us and then it was just about getting out in the second half and trying to get back in the game. Thank God we were able to do that.”

Away from the football field, McHugh is currently being kept busy with her job as a trainee solicitor with the Belfast-based Baker McKenzie. Even though this can leave her with a sizable commute to and from training, it is something that she is relatively unfazed by.

“It’s definitely busy, but it’s nice to have something different. Having a career is obviously quite different to football because if football doesn’t go your way or something doesn’t go your way, you forget about it. You’re back on a Monday morning and that’s it.

“There’s a little bit of travelling, but you’re just used to it at this point and you’re just hoping it will be all worth it.”

Reaching an All-Ireland Intermediate final would certainly make everything worthwhile for McHugh and her Tyrone colleagues, but she also recognises that a Down side that have blossomed since winning last year’s All-Ireland Junior showpiece will be doing all they can to stand in their way.

“It’s the team that deserves it on the day, so we won’t be underestimating Down at all. They’re a big challenge for us on Sunday. At the same time, we’ll be looking forward to it because that is what you play football for and you want a challenge,” McHugh added.

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on The Big Interview: Aoibhinn McHugh (Tyrone/Aghyaran) – Media West Ireland – July 13 2024

New Zealand V England Second Summer Test Odds Piece: Gambling.com – July 12 2024

Posted on July 12, 2024 by admin

New Zealand Vs England Second Test Betting Tips: The Panel’s Best Bets

Daire Walsh

Following a tense battle at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin last weekend, anticipation is high ahead of the second summer test between New Zealand and England at Auckland’s Eden Park tomorrow.

Like their original meeting, the best betting sites for rugby union are taking a major interest in this encounter in the southern hemisphere.

While Maro Itoje did cross the whitewash just past the second-quarter in Dunedin on Saturday last, New Zealand appeared to be in control of their destiny thanks to tries from Sevu Reece and Ardie Savea either side of Itoje’s effort.

Yet England found themselves on level terms (10-10) at the interval courtesy of a stoppage-time penalty from Marcus Smith.

The visitors threatened to topple the heavily-favoured All Blacks when Immanuel Feyi-Waboso dotted down just eight minutes after the resumption.

However, there was plenty of time for New Zealand to respond and a brace of penalties by Damian McKenzie ensured it was a winning start to life as head coach for Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson.

Considering how competitive they were for the majority of the game, England will have left Forsyth Barr Stadium with an air of disappointment at finishing on the wrong side of the result.

The final score of 16-15 was the exact same as their World Cup semi-final reversal to South Africa in Paris last October.

Whereas it won’t be until this November that Steve Borthwick’s men get an opportunity to exact some revenge on the Springboks, they have an immediate chance to turn the tables on the All Blacks at Eden Park this weekend.

The Panel have studied the form and the odds to bring you three great value bets ahead of New Zealand vs England at Eden Park.

New Zealand Vs England Prediction: English Hoping For A Strong Opening Half 

If England are to get the better of the All Blacks – something they last managed under the stewardship of Eddie Jones at the penultimate stage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup – then it is imperative that they stop them from gaining an attacking foothold in the opening period of the game.

To their credit, Borthwick’s charges largely managed that in last weekend’s first test and in that World Cup clash with South Africa last year, kicking specialist Owen Farrell helped them to develop a 12-6 interval cushion.

As that game demonstrated, being ahead at half-time provides no guarantee of England coming out on top against a big nation. Still, it certainly isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that they could bring a slender advantage into the break at Eden Park.

Odds of 15/8 are available on betting apps for England to lead at half-time. While New Zealand are 4/9 to lead at the interval, it is worth pursuing England as the team to be in command at the end of the first half.

The Panel Tip 1: England To Lead At Half-Time – 15/8 with BetVictor

New Zealand Vs England Prediction: Another Close Finish

Of course, it is New Zealand who remain the favourites to win the second Test rating their prospects at 1/4. By way of comparison, the best odds available on an English win are 10/3 on new betting sites.

Nevertheless, a tight affair is expected once again and it is interesting to look at what value can be found for the various winning margins in Auckland.

At the moment, bookmakers view a six to 10-point triumph for New Zealand as the most likely outcome with odds around 9/2 available.

The recent history between these teams suggests that another short gap might separate the teams at the final whistle tomorrow.

Prior to last weekend’s one-point win, the two sides shared the spoils in a 25-25 draw in an autumn international at Twickenham Stadium in 2022.

Granted, both teams were under different coaching groups at that point – Eddie Jones was in his final days as England supremo, while Ian Foster was at the helm of the All Blacks – but there seems a good chance that another arm wrestle is in store for their latest bout.

Heading into tomorrow’s test, Bet365 are offering 4/1 on New Zealand winning by a margin of between one and five points.

Given how nail-biting the first test was, this is a scenario that could well play itself out once again.

The Panel Tip 2: New Zealand To Win By 1-5 Points – 4/1 with Bet365

New Zealand Vs England Prediction: Reece To Strike Again

Since making his All Blacks debut in 2019, Sevu Reece has marked himself out as one of the most clinical finishers in Test rugby. Last week’s finish in Dunedin was his 16th try in just 24 senior international appearances.

After opening the scoring last week, he played the full 80 minutes on the right-wing. He has once again been selected in the number 14 jersey and there is ever possibility that the game might become stretched as it wears on.

There is every chance he might get some attacking opportunities in the closing stages in the second Test against England.

Therefore, the odds of 8/1 on Reece being the last try scorer in tomorrow’s test is one of the more interesting bets on offer.

Indeed, when you consider the final try of their first meeting in Dunedin was garnered on 48 minutes, the action mightn’t necessarily be in its closing stages when and if it arrives.

The Panel Tip 3: Sevu Reece To The Last Try Scorer – 8/1 with Betway

Posted in International Rugby | Comments Off on New Zealand V England Second Summer Test Odds Piece: Gambling.com – July 12 2024

Women’s Six Nations Summer Series: Ireland U20s V Italy U20s – Independent.ie – July 9 2024

Posted on July 9, 2024 by admin

Ireland U20 fall to Italy defeat despite late brace of tries from Kelly Burke

Women’s U20 Summer Series: Italy 24, Ireland 17

Daire Walsh

Despite replacement hooker Kelly Burke grabbing a late brace of tries, the Ireland U20s fell to a seven-point defeat at the hands of host nation Italy in their second game of the Women’s Six Nations Summer Series in Parma today.

Eager to bounce back from a 33-10 reversal against England five days earlier, Ireland eventually broke the deadlock on 22 minutes when industrious back-row Ivana Kiripati powered over the whitewash for a try that was supplemented by an Ellen O’Sullivan-Sexton conversion.

Niamh Briggs’ side subsequently lost both Amanda McQuade and Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair to injury (Eadaoin Murtagh was also withdrawn on the half-hour) and in their absence, Italian prop Vittoria Zanette pounced for a converted try that left the teams tied at 7-7 during the interval.

The game was very much up for grabs on the resumption, but Italy created daylight between the teams after winger Martina Busana crashed over to the right of the posts on the stroke of 50 minutes.

The Villorba player followed up this effort with another try on the opposite flank to move the Italians further clear and having failed to add the bonuses to her own scores, she expertly supplied the extras to a Greta Copat finish inside the final-quarter.

This left all of 17 points between the teams but while they eventually came out on the wrong side of the result, Burke’s tries in the 73rd and 80th minutes will offer Ireland plenty of encouragement heading into their final game of the tournament against Scotland this Sunday.

Scorers – Italy: M Busana 2, V Zanette, G Copat tries, M Busana 2 cons. Ireland: K Burke 2, I Kiripati tries, E O’Sullivan-Sexton con.

Italy: R Emma Grassi; E Cecati (M Pirpiliu h-t), A Pellizzon (V Zeni 62), G Corradini, M Busana; S Mannini, N Mastrangelo (A Antonietta Bitonci h-t); V Zanette (A Fortuna 51), C Cheli (D Spinelli 51), A Maione (A Cittadini h-t); M A Della Sala (E Costantini 74), E Costantini (F Andreoli h-t); M Tonellotto, M Jelic, E Errichiello (G Copat 62).

Ireland: N Gallagher (H Clarke 53); R O’Connor, L Linn (K Flannery h-t), E Nic Dhonnacha, C Barrett; E O’Sullivan-Sexton (L Linn 61), M Goulding (J Gaffney 57); G Burke (H Wilson 53), A McQuade (K Burke 25), S Barrett (L Morris 57); J Neill, C Ni Chonchobhair (B Heylmann 25); F Oviawe, E Murtagh (R Maher 30 (S Barrett 72)), I Kiripati.

Referee: B Casares-Fernandez (Spain).

Posted in International Rugby, Women's Rugby | Comments Off on Women’s Six Nations Summer Series: Ireland U20s V Italy U20s – Independent.ie – July 9 2024

All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship Follow-Up Piece: Galway V Dublin – Media West Ireland – July 8 2024

Posted on July 8, 2024 by admin
BELL TOLLS

We owe Cork one back – Galway ace Nicola Ward cannot wait for revenge in All-Ireland semi-final rematch

It may be the end of an era for Dublin
Daire Walsh

GALWAY’S Nicola Ward reckons they owe Cork a beatdown.

The Tribe will meet the Rebelettes in the TG4 All-Ireland SFC semi-final after dethroning reigning champions Dublin 3-7 to 1-12 in an epic contest at Parnell Park on Saturday evening.

Cork won 1-12 to 1-10 when the sides clashed in the Championship back in June and now they will meet again.

The Galway defender said: “I think we owe Cork one back.

“I’m sure it will be another ding-dong battle, as it always is.

“We’ll enjoy this one and appreciate it because a lot of the time we can always fall short on the wrong end, so it’s nice when you get days like this.”

Galway never let Dublin build a big lead and struck late in extra-time when Aoife O’Rourke fired home the decisive goal.

Ward added: “We’ve played Dublin down through the years.

“I suppose we’ve missed them in the Championship stages but in league games, this year they just pipped us by a point.

“Last year we beat them down in Tuam and in the 2019 All-Ireland there was a goal in it.

“We knew we could match them.

“It’s our belief, we touched on that during the week as well.

“There’s no point coming here thinking we’re going to stand down to the All-Ireland champions.

“We had to come and we had to go hell for leather with them, one-on-one.

“We played football. Both teams did, fair play to them.”

END OF AN ERA

Dublin manager Mick Bohan, who was without injured stars Carla Rowe, Orlagh Nolan and Kate Sullivan, hinted that his term may be coming to an end.

Bohan said: “I certainly know it’s time for me to put a bit more time in at home.

“I’ve been missing a lot, somebody has to cover for that.

“Maybe it’s someone else’s time, we’ll see.

“I thought we just weathered the storm and it would have been obviously a fabulous character win, but in fairness to Galway they stuck at it.

“The first two goals, we had won the initial tackles, spilled the ball and normally we’d pounce but that’s what we’re trying to figure out.

“We kind of played with the jitters that we normally don’t see from them.

“That was a knock-on effect of losing a few players. It stabilises the ship and that wasn’t there.

“We’d have huge respect for Galway, we always had.

“I think the Clonberne crew in particular, when it went to extra-time, they were excellent.

“Nicola Ward was superb in extra-time.”

Galway led by 2-2 to 1-4 at the interval, with Roisin Leonard getting both of their goals.

Hannah Tyrrell converted a penalty in between for the All-Ireland champions.

And the Dubs led 1-12 to 2-7 at the start of the second half in extra-time and were once again in a strong position to push on for victory.

But Galway kept in touch and sealed a semi-final spot when O’Rourke finished a good move to the net in the dying moments.

SCORERS — Galway: R Leonard 2-3, 3f, O Divilly 0-3f, A O’Rourke 1-0, A Morrissey 0-1. Dublin: H Tyrrell 1-5, 1-0 pen, 4f, N Owens 0-2, N Donlon 0-1, S Goldrick 0-1, J Dunne 0-1, A Timothy 0-1, S Aherne 0-1.

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship Follow-Up Piece: Galway V Dublin – Media West Ireland – July 8 2024

All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Piece: Emma O’Byrne (Dublin) – The Irish Examiner – July 6 2024

Posted on July 8, 2024 by admin

‘Hurling-camogie double header good step forward’

Daire Walsh

As she prepares to line out at the famed stadium later today, Dublin’s Emma O’Byrne has expressed her hope that camogie and hurling double headers will become the norm at Croke Park in the years to come.

Back on March 20, 2022, the defender, from Good Counsel/Liffey Gaels, was part of a Sky Blues side that took on Down in a National Camogie League Division 1 clash in GAA HQ. A league meeting between the Dublin men’s footballers and Donegal followed this tussle and, just over two years later, O’Byrne and her inter-county colleagues are back at the Jones’ Road venue for a similar occasion.

Before Clare and Kilkenny do battle in the penultimate round of the All-Ireland SHC, the latter’s camogie side will lock horns with Dublin at the quarter-final stage of their senior championship.

This is the second year in succession that Kilkenny have shared a billing with their male counterparts in Croke Park and, with the full integration of the GAA, the LGFA and the Camogie Association in the pipeline, O’Byrne sees this as the way forward.

“It’s good that we could get the opportunity to get another double header and hopefully, with the integration now coming forward, double headers will become more of a normal thing. Hopefully we can push for that,” O’Byrne remarked at a camogie championship quarter-final launch earlier this week.

“I think it’s really exciting for the camogie side of things, but hopefully it will just become the norm in the future.

“I think it’s all about building towards that end goal of full integration and full exposure for all codes. This is a good step forward.”

Although they were already in a strong position coming into the game, Dublin sealed third spot in Group Two of the All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship with a commanding 4-20 to 0-6 victory over Down at St Malachy’s Kilclief last Saturday.

This also ensured they reached the quarter-finals of the top-tier competition for the second time in just three seasons. The Metropolitans will be hoping for better fortune than they enjoyed at this stage of the championship two years ago, when eventual champions Kilkenny had 16 points to spare over them at Semple Stadium in Thurles.

You have to go back to 2017 for the most recent quarter-final victory that Dublin recorded in the senior championship – a 1-16 to 0-12 success over provincial rivals Wexford – but O’Byrne senses a desire within the current squad to get themselves back into the last-four of the O’Duffy Cup.

“I think it’s not just a matter of reaching the quarter-final, this time around we’re really pushing to get the win and building on working towards that, breaking past the quarter-final spot.”

If Dublin did manage to overcome the considerable challenge of Kilkenny, it would represent a significant moment in what has already been a productive 2024 to date for Bill McCormack’s team.

With O’Byrne playing a key role at full-back, Dublin claimed the National Camogie League Division 1B title courtesy of a final win at the expense of Wexford at SETU Carlow on April 13.

Having watched on as a number of her team-mates achieved success at club level in recent times, the 24-year-old student took confidence from getting her hands on a substantial piece of silverware.

“I think when you look at the players in the team, we do have a lot of girls coming back from club success with Vincent’s and Jude’s.

“It’s good to be able to get that winning feeling into the rest of the girls after that win in the league.

“That winning mindset just radiates through the team,” O’Byrne added.

Posted in Camogie | Comments Off on All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship Piece: Emma O’Byrne (Dublin) – The Irish Examiner – July 6 2024

All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship Quarter-Final: Galway V Dublin – Ladiesgaelic.ie – July 6 2024

Posted on July 8, 2024 by admin

O’Rourke goals sends champs Dublin crashing out after epic quarter-final

TG4 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final

Galway 3-7

Dublin 1-12

(after extra-time)

By Daire Walsh

 Aoife O’Rourke grabbed the crucial match-winning score at Parnell Park as Galway secured a sensational extra-time win to dethrone 2023 champions Dublin in a gripping TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final encounter.

A week on from their male compatriots producing an identical result at the expense of Dublin in the Sam Maguire Cup at nearby Croke Park, the Tribeswomen pulled out all the stops to set up a semi-final showdown with Cork at Glenisk O’Connor Park on July 20.

 While Galway opened the scoring in the third-minute with a routine free from Olivia Divilly, Dublin — who lined out without the services of team captain Carla Rowe — subsequently opened up a three-point lead with unanswered scores from Sinead Goldrick, Jennifer Dunne, Nicole Owens and Hannah Tyrrell.

However, the visitors were back on level terms when corner-forward Roisin Leonard buried a low shot to the net on 14 minutes and proceeded to move back in front when the same player convincingly slotted a free between the posts.

Dublin looked like they were going to end the opening period in the ascendancy when Tyrrell dispatched a 28th minute penalty to the net, only for a second goal from the excellent Leonard on the stroke of half-time to offer the westerners a slender 2-2 to 1-4 buffer heading into the dressing rooms.

Yet despite registering a number of wides either side of the interval, Dublin eventually regained their lead with the help of two points on the bounce from Anabelle Timothy and Tyrrell. The latter score was immediately preceded by the sin-binning of opposition wing-back Aoife Ni Cheallaigh and in her absence, Owens and Tyrrell points either side of another dead-ball special by Leonard had the holders within reach of a last-four spot.

Galway refused to give in, however, and points from substitute Ailish Morrissey and Leonard meant that an additional 20 minutes were required to produce a winner.

Yet with defender Niamh Donlon and six-time All-Ireland winner Sinead Aherne supplementing a brace of scores from Tyrrell, Dublin led 1-12 to 2-7 at the start of the second half in extra-time and were once again in a strong position to push on for victory.

A 0-2 salvo from Olivia Divilly was all that Galway had mustered in the additional periods up to this point, but the Tribeswomen dramatically found themselves back in the driving seat when O’Rourke found a way past Jackies’ net-minder Abby Shiels with an unstoppable left-footed shot four minutes from the end.

Dunne and Tyrrell had opportunities in the tense final moments to force this compelling affair into a free-taking contest, but much to the relief of the Galway faithful in attendance, their efforts fell just short of the target.

 Scorers for Galway: R Leonard 2-3 (0-3f), O Divilly 0-3 (3f), A O’Rourke 1-0, A Morrissey 0-1.

Dublin: H Tyrrell 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-4f), N Owens 0-2, N Donlon, S Goldrick, J Dunne, A Timothy, S Aherne 0-1 each.

GALWAY: D Gower; M Jordan, S Lynch, K Geraghty; A Ni Cheallaigh, N Ward, C Cooney; M Glynn, A Davoren; O Divilly, L Ward, N Divilly; E Reaney, L Coen, R Leonard. Subs: A Morrissey for Reaney (39), M Walsh for Glynn, A Trill for N Divilly (both 44), S Hynes for Coen (55), A O’Rourke for Leonard (67), M Banek for Cooney (68), Coen for Davoren (72), E Gavin for Geraghty (79).

DUBLIN: A Shiels; N Donlon, L Caffrey, A Kane; S Goldrick, M Byrne, L Magee; J Dunne, O Carey; C O’Connor, N Crowley, E Gribben; H Tyrrell, N Hetherton, N Owens. Subs: A Timothy for Gribben (h-t), G Kos for Carey, S Aherne for Kane (both 51), J Tobin for Magee (61), Magee for Owens (70), C Darby for Donlon (77).

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship Quarter-Final: Galway V Dublin – Ladiesgaelic.ie – July 6 2024

The Big Interview: Niamh Henderson (Armagh/Clann Eireann) – Media West Ireland – July 6 2024

Posted on July 8, 2024 by admin

‘I was nervous coming back in that Kerry game’ – Niamh Henderson making huge strides with Armagh after years away

Daire Walsh

It may have only been a fifth-round game in Division 1 of the Lidl National Football League, but for Niamh Henderson, Armagh’s clash with Kerry at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds on March 3 of this year was one of major significance.

A part of the Orchard County side that secured the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship crown with a final victory over Waterford in 2012, Henderson also went on to win NFL Division 3 and 2 titles with Armagh in 2014 and 2015, respectively. However, after needing two operations on her knee, she ended up being out of football for a long time.

In the summer of 2018, Henderson gave birth to her son Noah, and although she returned to club action with Clann Éireann, she remained away from the inter-county scene until she was enticed back this year. The visit of Kerry to the Athletic Grounds in March saw her donning the Orchard jersey for the first time in almost nine years and she registered a point from full-forward in a 3-14 to 1-13 success at the Kingdom’s expense.

“I have to say, I was nervous coming back for that Kerry game. Obviously, it was a big game for us and it was on our home pitch. I just said to myself ‘I need to be brave and just go out and try my best’. Be proud to wear the Armagh jersey,” Henderson explains.

“Obviously, I took that time out when I had hurt my knee and then I had my wee boy. He’s six now, so he’s at a really good age. I’m just delighted that I can wear the Armagh jersey and also be a role model for him.

“That was a big day for me and I think I’ve just continued to build from that. Get a bit more confident within the team and just gelling with the girls a bit more. It’s going well so far and I’m delighted that I made that decision to come back this year.”

After being managed by him at local level with Clann Éireann in 2023, Henderson now finds herself under the guidance of Greg McGonigle within the Armagh set-up.

Having had a successful club journey with the former Monaghan and Dublin boss – she captained Clann to Armagh and Ulster Championship titles last year – the special needs teacher has added further silverware since making her long-awaited return to the inter-county game.

Before producing a player-of-the-match display in Armagh’s TG4 Ulster Senior Football Championship triumph over Donegal in May, Henderson played the full 60 minutes a month earlier when the Orchard women claimed a historic Lidl National Football League Division 1 crown at the expense of Kerry.

This was her first time back playing in Croke Park since that All-Ireland intermediate final victory of 2012, providing Henderson with another reason to be grateful for her second coming as an inter-county star.

“It was such a big win for us. Thankfully, we were able to beat Kerry narrowly and then having that match in Croke Park was just amazing. When we won the All-Ireland intermediate in 2012 with Armagh, I never thought I’d be back on that Croke Park pitch.

“I was just absolutely delighted and overwhelmed. For me and Noah, my wee boy, to be able to lift the cup in Croke Park together is a moment I will treasure forever. I’m so happy I did make that decision to come back.”

Clann Éireann are well represented within the ranks of the Armagh ladies’ squad – there were eight of them alone on the match day panel for their league final win – and the same is true of their male counterparts.

When the Armagh men overcame Roscommon in an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final at Croke Park last Saturday, the Clann triumvirate of Barry McCambridge (brother of ladies captain Clodagh McCambridge), Tiernan Kelly and Conor Turbitt were all included in their starting line-up.

Given her team has a quarter-final date with Mayo to look forward to this weekend, Henderson (whose older brother Ryan played with Armagh in the past) is hoping to take plenty of inspiration from the exploits of Kieran McGeeney’s charges.

“I was down watching the match in Croke Park at the weekend. I’m glad I went down because it just gave me that wee bit extra motivation to be like, ‘Right, let’s go this weekend and do the same thing, get to the semi-final’. We have Barry, Tiernan Kelly and Turbo [Conor Turbitt], who are all from Clann Éireann.

“It was great to see them boys really breaking into the team this year and making such an impact. Obviously, Barry got his goal and got player of the match, and then Turbo and TK have been causing havoc as well. It is great to be able to go down and watch them, and that gives us motivation to go and do the same thing.”

Following quarter-final defeats in each of the past three seasons, Armagh will be aiming for a return to the last four of the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship when they take on the aforementioned Mayo at BOX-IT Athletic Grounds tomorrow evening (throw-in 5.45pm).

As a result of finishing at the summit of Group 1 in the Brendan Martin Cup, the Orchard women have been granted home advantage for their last-eight duel with Liam McHale’s Westerners. Whilst she is hopeful this can work in their favour, Armagh have reason to be wary of a Mayo side seeking a fourth semi-final spot in as many years.

“The home advantage is a really big advantage for us this weekend. Obviously, we travelled to Mayo in the league game and it’s a right wee bit away. We’re really delighted that we don’t have to do that big, long journey,” Henderson adds.

“We know it will be a hard-hitting, physical game because Mayo are that type of team. They’ll not back down easily and they’ll put it up to us. I think if we bring our ‘A’ game and our best performance, and play the way we have been playing at times and reach our potential, then there’s no reason why we can’t get to the semi-final.”

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