Four Master 3-14 Buncrana 0-6 – Four Masters produc

By Patrick Sharkey,

Four Masters for back to back U17 titles at division one level. It was a convincing win.

Four Masters introduced themselves with a first-minute point from Oisin Doherty and a goal from Kevin Muldoon.

Dylan Mulholland then managed to get close but not close enough with a missed point from Buncrana. Oisin Doherty then managed to get the energy from a free-for-four master and it was a point. Conor McCahill then got a chance that was a Four Masters wide. Dylan Mulholland converted the free for the Inishowen side as Buncrana joined the fight. Dylan Mulholland then followed it with a point from play for Buncrana. Oisin Doherty converted another Four Masters free as the Donegal town men put a stamp on the game. Buncarana went back into their shells with a goal from Oisin Doherty. Shay Coyle came to the rescue for Buncrana and kept things going at the back. Conor McCahil finally got his long-awaited point as he pushed Masters further into the lead as Buncrana looked lost. However, Donal Óg O Brien came to the rescue as he got the third point for Buncrana. The buzz quickly evaporated as DYlan Mulholland missed his free kick. Oisin Doherty then got another point.

Conor McCahill then got another point as he got into the game with four minutes left in the first half. Kevin Muldoon broke free and then got the necessary point to have Four Masters in control with the second half looming. Another free kick came for Dylan Mulholland and another point came as a result as Buncrana didn’t wave goodbye just yet. Oisin Doherty then managed to get himself another free kick. The halftime score read Four Masters 2-8 Buncrana 0-4. It was not the first half Buncrana came for but it will be a different second half if Four Masters can become complacent. Experience however was key for Four Masters.

Conor McCahill opened the second half with another Four Masters point. Oisin Doherty then missed a free kick and the sandy pitches in Convoy came into effect. Cometh the man cometh the hour, Oisin Doherty then managed to get point six minutes into the second half.

Two minutes later Oisin Doherty managed to get another point with his tally building up.

However, with the guts of 20 minutes left, Conor McCahill got the all-important goal putting them ahead by 17 points. Theo Colhun then managed to get his first point of the game with 45 minutes left. With 13 minutes ticking Oisin Doherty then managed to get another point and it is nailed on certain that the minor cup is heading to Tír Conaill Park. With 51 minutes gone, Dylan Mulholland got near the net but it was all over for Buncrana. With eight minutes left, Dylan Mulholland then got the first Buncrana point of the second half. Aaron Cleary then became the third scorer for Buncrana with a point. The full-time score read Four Master 3-14 Buncrana 0-6.

Four Masters 4-10 Gwedore 1-8 – minor magic makes major impact

By Patrick Sharkey,

Four Masters opened it with two goals in the first five minutes from Conor Gallagher McCahill and Kevin Muldoon. Conor Gallagher McCahill then entered point territory converting one from a free kick.

Colm Doherty then got a point for Gwedore but Oisin Doherty found the back of the net for Four Masters. Martin Coyle was then unlucky not to get anything for Gwedore. Oisin Doherty then converted a free to push Four Masters further ahead with a point from a free and play. Gwedore could always depend on Colm Doherty as he was able to convert a free kick to bring it down to a 10-point deficit.

Martin Coyle then got a point after trying so hard. However, Oisin Doherty came to the fore again for Four Masters. Gwedore didn’t have the rub of the green once again with Coalan McFadden hitting the side post with five minutes to go. Jhonny McBride then managed to get a point for Gwedore. The halftime score read Four Masters 3-4 Gwedore 0-4. Goals win games.

Turlough Carr then got a point for Four Masters before Colm Doherty got a Gwedore point.

Oisin Doherty then came six minutes into the second half with his third point of added time.

Turlouch Carr then managed to get another point to bring Four Masters closer to the final.

The second half was a slow affair but Oisin Doherty then got another free kick point for the masters but Padraig McBride then got a point for Gwedore. Oisin Doherty then got the goal and Four Masters looked ahead to their final against Buncrana. As added time came in, Oisin Doherty then managed to get another free kick over the bar for the Donegal Town men.

Colm Doherty then however managed to get a constialtion goal for the West Donegal men.

Johnny McBride then managed to get another point for Gwedore. Lewis McCaughan then got a point to seal the deal and the full-time score read Four Masters 4-10 Gwedore 1-8. Goals win games.

Four master’s scorers: Conor Gallagher McCahill (1-0), 0-1f, Kevin Muldoon (1-0) Oisin Doherty (2-1, 0-5f, Tuluch Carr (0-2) Lewis McCaughan (0-1f)
Gaoth Dohair: Colm Doherty (1-2, 0-1f), Martin Coyle (0-1), Johnny McBride (0-1), Padraig McBride 0-1

“We got a bit panicky” – Kildare football fans wonder what 2023 could have been.

By Patrick Sharkey,

GAA Zone Podcast Episode 60: Kildare Football Season Review 2023 – The GAA Zone podcast

Join us for an exhilarating ride as we celebrate our 60th episode of the GAA Zone Podcast! During this special instalment, we dive deep into the heart of Gaelic football with a comprehensive review. — Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaazone/message

1. GAA Zone Podcast Episode 60: Kildare Football Season Review 2023 30:27
2. Episode 59: All Ireland Football Semi-Final Recap 2023 34:51
3. Episode 58: Keith Higgins 31:08
4. Episode 57: Roisín McCafferty 30:57
5. Episode 56: Westmeath aim to raid Orchard and send Saffrons packing 30:44

Get ready for an exhilarating ride as we celebrate our 60th episode of the GAA Zone Podcast! In this special instalment, we’re diving deep into the heart of Gaelic football with a comprehensive review.

Kevin Feeley’s deep knowledge and genuine love for the game shine through as we relive the moments that defined Kildare’s season. The Kildare senior footballer started by talking about a narrow loss to Dublin saying: “The lads put in a great performance in fairness yeah ehm it was probably as well as we’ve played against Dublin in recent times anyway ehm and it you know felt like we had them you know we had beatings of them. We were kind of two or three points up for most of the game.”

Mr. Feeley added:” Ehm but I think I don’t know whether it was a lack of belief or whether they just kind of is shooting efficiency. We got a bit panicky and kind of shooting from the wrong areas in the last few minutes. Whereas the Dublin were patient and kind of worked the ball into guaranteed scoring zones. Eh and if you kind of looked at the shooting percentages for the last 20 minutes of the game. Dublin was a lot more efficient. Ehm in towards the end of the game but eh you know it was it was encouraging at the time that we eh that we kind of played as well as we did and we came so close to beating Dublin in Leinster but ehm in hindsight it was probably Dublin were only just getting going really at that point of the season. They hadn’t eh they hadn’t really turned on their peak performance just yet and were probably timing their run for a little bit later in the year. Ehm given how little kind of importance the provincials have now these days you know. “Traditional Unionist Voice councillor Allister Kyle believes there is an “ongoing agenda by the BBC to divert funding from as many different areas as possible towards GAA”. In instruction, the TUV councillor for the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough was critical of a decision to axe The Irish League Show from the BBC schedule. The semi-hour show carried highlights from the Irish Premiership. Kyle said this decision was “all the more bizarre” considering the BBC had live broadcasts from both All-Ireland Football Championship semi-finals. A week prior, the BBC also had live coverage from both hurling semi-finals. “I am deeply disappointed that the Irish League show has been cut by the BBC,” told Kyle, who is also a director of Coleraine FC. As an avid Irish league fan, I always enjoyed watching our local presenter’s comments on the highlights of the local game throughout the province. Year after year this coverage has been cut from a Final Score programme showing the goals at 5.30pm on Saturday night and an in-depth analysis on the Monday evening to a late-night programme held on BBC2. We now find that the BBC has axed the programme completely. Engagement with the Irish League has been growing year on year with spectators and interest rising through the hard work of the clubs themselves and new initiatives organised by NIFL, the League’s governing body. This would make one think that the BBC as a publicly funded broadcaster would be increasing their coverage of the brand that is Northern Irish football. The interest in the Irish League extends”.

What was your standout moment from Kildare’s football season this year? Feely mentioned the game against Sligo saying:” Um no, it was an element of them catching us by surprise. Well, I thought Niall not in that they caught us by surprise. We had all the kind of tape, and we’d watch to them.”

Kevin added: “They were games and they have done very well and they kind of comfortably won division four. And you know had had a decent kind of campaign as well, but you know as much as they are a good team and played very well ehm you know we were we were never we played so far within ourselves in that game eh it was extremely disappointing like you know we never got going at all.”

Dublin 0-18 Kerry 1-10. The Kingdom failed to capture the Capital.

By Patrick Sharkey in Croke Park,

Kerry’s 30-year All-Ireland football championship drought continues as Dublin defeated the two-in-a-row All-Ireland finalists with five points to spare in this LGFA All-Ireland SFC final.

In front of 45,326 at a sun-drenched Croke ParkStadium, Dublin was much stronger than their Kerry counterparts and first to the ball, but it was the kingdom who got their all-decisive goal ten minutes from time when starter Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, who was only on the field four minutes, raised the game’s only green flag.

Kerry still holds the impressive nine-a-row effort all the same.

Kerry made zero changes to their All-Ireland championship semi-final victory to Mayo two weeks ago, while Dublin remained unchanged from their 12-point defeat of Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final final two weeks ago.

It had been 13 days since that defeat of the Rebels, but Mike Bohan’s side showed no sign of rustiness and was quickest out of the traps. Kerry could have and should have, taken the lead inside two minutes, but Kerry ‘keeper Abby Sheils superbly saved a Louise Ní Muirteachearch shot on goal.

Three minutes later, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh was denied a certain goal after linking up.

Tyrell did well to ease through the Kerry defence after collecting the ball from Caoimhe.

Points from play from the impressive Hannah Tyrell and Orlagh Nolan gave Dublin a well-deserved lead inside seven minutes.

Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh kicked over Kerry’s first point of the afternoon in the ninth minute.

The point of the game came just shy of the 13th-minute mark. A tightly marked Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, in almost no space, somehow managed to kick straight over the black spot.

Dublin responded well and points from Jodi Egan, Caoimhe O Connor, and a Hannah Tyrell free had Dublin five points ahead midway through the opening half.

Hannah Tyrell free put Dublin six points ahead by the 25th minute – 0-9 to 0-3 in favour.

However, after Tyrell got her sixth point of the game, the momentum really started to swing.

It could have been a lot worse for Quill’s women at the break, but Butler again denied Egan the opening goal of the game right on the verge of half-time – her third goal-saving chance.

Dublin extended their lead to six after the restart with Rowe and Niamh Heffertom pointing.

Kerry was in search of that all-important goal at this stage and Leah Caffery did superbly.

Ní Mhuircheartaigh had yet another goal-scoring chance just minutes later but Dublin cornerback Leah Caffery blocked on the line.

Just seconds after Butler made her fourth goal chance save of the afternoon, Aishling O’Connell pointed to narrow the deficit to eight points, but Kerry got their goal five minutes from time – the impressive O’Shea laid off to Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh before the starter drilled low into the Dublin net putting Quill’s charges five points down – 0-17 to 1-10.

Both sides then exchanged a point but that was enough for Brendan Martin to remain in the capital city.

Dublin scorers: Hannah Tyrell (0-5, 0-2f) Orlagh Nolan (0-1), Jennifer Dunne (0-1), Caoimhe O Connor (0-1), Jodi Egan (0-1), Carla Rowe (0-3, 0-1f) Kate Sullivan (0-1) Niamh Hefferton (0-1), Jenifer Dunne (0-1)
Kerry scorers: Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (1-4, 0-4f), Naimh Camody (0-2), Aishling O’Connell (0-1)
Kerry Substitutes: Mary O Conell for Louise Galvin half time. Mamy Harrington for Niamh Ní Chonchuir 47 minutes. Siofra O’Shea for Hannah O’Donnoghue 41 minutes.
Dublin Substitutes: Anna Kane for Niamh Hefferton 42 minutes. Sineád Aherne for Kate Sullivan 55 minutes. Danielle Gibben for Ellen Lawless 60 minutes.

Clare 2-10 Kildare 2-11- Late Clare rally held off by Lillywhites

By Patrick Sharkey in Croke park,

Róisín Byrne was excellent for the Eastsiders as they saw the game out with the only blemish on an otherwise perfect afternoon for Kildare being Fildema Marrinan and Chloe Molony’s two late goals.

If there was a way to make a statement, this was it as Diane O’Hora’s Kildare beat Clare.

The Eastsiders delivered a statement performance against youthul side that was hopeful.

With just eight minutes played, it was 0-2 to 0-1, but Kildare came back into it through scores from Róisin Byrne and Triona Duggan. Kildare was kept at bay early enough because of some superb saves and kickouts from the CLare Amy Lenihan who kept her cool.

The closest they got to pegging Kildare back was making the score-line read 0-2 to 1-3, and that did very little to disrupt the rhythm of the team from Munster.

Fidelma Manning personally embodied the blue and yellow cause as she scored three points in the opening 30 minutes at Croke Park. This made it 0-5 to 2-6 at the break and Kildare pushed up for a goal once played resumed.

Byrne was denied by the Clare back-line during this advance and Dowling fired narrowly wide.

Their attempts to get back in the game were complicated by a searing run from Fildema.

However the first half advantage was enough as Kildare ended up booking their place in the senior championship next year but as for Clare they should be proud of their efforts put in.

Clare were in total control and the goal just padded their tally, and almost everything they hit went over the bar.

Kildare scorers: Roísín Byrne (0-6, 0-1f), Ellen Dowling (1-2), Triona Duggan (0-1), Lara Gilbert (0-1), Aoife Rattigan (0-1), Neassa Dooley (0-2)
Clare scorers: Fildema Marrinan (1-4), Chloe Moloney (0-2, 0-2f), Clíodhna Blake (0-2),
Clare subs: Ciara McCarthy for Laura Griffey 39 minutes. Roisin looney for Caoimhe Cahill 46 minutes. Orla Devitt for Jonna Doohan 57 minutes.
Kildare substitutions: Graínne Keneally for Triona Duggan 41 minutes. Mia Doherty for Aoife Rattigan 49 minutes. Fiona Tourte for Lauren Burke 52 minutes.