Donegal 0-5 Meath 1-7 – Second half helps Meath seal the win.

By Patrick Sharkey,

A wide in the first minute made it hard for Meath. Donegal opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Susan White. Niamh O Sullivan then responded three minutes later with the opening point for the Royal ladies.

It went 10 minutes without any scores before Katie Long got a Donegal point. Aoife McColgan then made a big save for Donegal against a Byrne shot through on goal. Galloghy however then got herself a Meath point in the 23rd minute. Susan White then got her second point of the game. Stacey Grimes then got a point at the stroke of halftime for the royal to level it. The halftime score read Donegal 0-3 Meath 0-3. It was a low-scoring first half but if Susan White gets enough of the ball there is no doubt Donegal can trouble Meath a lot.

Meath began the second half on the front foot with Stacey Grimes and Niamh O Sullivan getting a point each.

It took until the midway point of the second half for Donegal to get going with a point from Ciara McGarvey.

Meath, however, was having none of it and Mary Kate Lynch got a 45th-minute goal to help the Royal pull.

Susan White however got back in gear in the 49th minute as she managed to get a point to help Donegal.

Meabh Byrne however showed her magic in the Meath shirt as she then managed to get a point to widen the gap between the Royal and the hills to four points. Meath made good use of their substitutes with Alva Leahy getting a point. The full-time score read Donegal 0-5 Meath 1-7. Meath proved all the doubters wrong today.

Donegal: Aoife McColgan, Katie Dowds (0-1), Evelyn McGinley, Emer Gallagher, Amy Boyle Carr, Jodie McFadden, Tara Hegarty, Shelly Twohig, Roisin Rodgers, Saskia Boyle, Kate Long (0-1), Louise Ryan, Susan White (0-3), Shannon McGroddy, Ciara McGarvey (0-1)Subs: Nicole McLaughlin for Jodie McFadden (43) Subs: Nicole McLaughlin, Ava Walsh, Niamh Carr, Connie Walsh, Shauna Higgins, Cait Gillespie.

Meath: M McGuirk, A Sheridan, MK Lynch, K Newe, N Gallogly (0-1), S Ennis, A Clearly, M O Shaughnessy, A Minogue, M Thynne, M Byrne(0-1), C Smyth, O Callan, S Grimes (0-2), N O Sullivan (0-2)Subs: Shelly Melia, Rachel Casserly, Alva Leahy

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“We get out of the blocks very early” – Andy McEntee feels he left Meath on good terms.

By Patrick Sharkey,

Episode 54: David Dempsey – The GAA Zone podcast

On episode 54 of the GAA Zone podcast, the GAA Zone editor Patrick Sharkey spoke to the Offaly and Bally Common senior footballer David Dempsey. — Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaazone/message

1. Episode 54: David Dempsey 31:09
2. Episode 53: Managerial Merry Go Round 31:24
3. Episode 52: Antrim hurling 2022 31:38
4. Episode 51: Andy McEntee 30:25
5. Episode 50: The future of GAA Media! 45:20

With club championships being played at all levels, it says it is unlikely that many GAA facilities could become available for accommodation use until after the winter. This happens as the Government is pushing plans for the potential use of sports halls, arenas, and locations around the country to accommodate people seeking refuge in Ireland. The Department of Justice today said that 43,972 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Ireland as of Thursday, 4 August. A total of 698 Ukrainian evacuees arrived in the country in the last week. Mr. O’Gorman confirmed that the Government has contacted sporting bodies about the use of sports halls and facilities to accommodate displaced Ukrainians. It added that in response to a request by Government in April, the IRFU asked clubs across the country to consider if they had suitable facilities.

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has been criticised for claiming the GAA is not welcome in unionist communities. One man however who is central to the Gaelic game’s boom in Belfast is the incoming Antrim senior men’s football manager Andy McEntee who spoke on episode 51 of the GAA Zone podcast about how the championship started for Meath against Wicklow saying: “Yeah, I think the score line might have been a little bit misleading. We get out of the blocks very early. Probably the quickest goal recorded in the championship, but we didn’t really push on as well as I would have”.

The Tipperary GAA community is in mourning after the death of Dillon Quirke after he collapsed.  

Dillon Quirke was playing for Clonoulty Rossmore in a Senior Hurling Tournament tie against Kilruane MacDonagh in Semple Stadium in Thurles on Friday evening. This is another example of community spirit.

Tipperary GAA has called off all matches due to take place in the County Hurling Championships.  

He received medical attention before being brought to Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel.  

The Kerry GAA County Board is reportedly considering taking legal action after a Twitter user made a comment about drug use in relation to a widely circulated video that followed Kerry’s victory against Galway. Kerry however would be well-liked in Meath after knocking out the team who knocked them out of Leinster.

A Kerry GAA chief has dismissed false rumors circulated in an online video that players took drugs.

Following Thursday night’s meeting of the Kilkenny County Board, Derek Lyng has been ratified as the Kilkenny senior hurling manager. Before that, the biggest management news was Mr. McEntee.

 Salthill Gardaí has asked GAA supporters traveling to the double-header Galway football championship games in Pearse Stadium today (Saturday) to use the Quincentenary Bridge route to and from the fixtures. Galway would have given Meath the toughest challenge in 2022 before they met Dublin in the Leinster SFC with McEntee saying: “Yeah I suppose if you went into the game and said you were going to score 1-14, you probably say yeah okay, but again score line might have been a bit misleading, unfortunately, it’s a game that we never really got into and you know yourself”.

A Derry GAA player has appeared in court in the United States over an attack that left a man at risk.  

Lyng will take over from Brian Cody after the legendary Cats boss stepped down last month. The Meath footballers had their own legendary manager stepping down as the Dunboyne man left after the Defeat to Clare saying: “Yeah well look, we seemed to end up playing Clare every year you know. I think bar one in my tenure, and they are always close games. You know they were never easy”.

Kerry 1-7 Meath 3-10 – Royal ladies demolish the Kingdom

By Patrick Sharkey in Croke Park,

The old master Eamonn Murray continued his astonishing All-Ireland final record at Croke Park this evening as his Meath side put Kerry to the sword in ruthless fashion. Kerry had plenty of fights in them.

Murray’s Meath had triumphed in three out of four All-Ireland finals including the upset against Westmeath.

But in 2022 the Royal lost their Midas touch against Dublin, falling to them in league and Leinster.

However, two-time All-Ireland winning manager Murray was back on form again this evening. Kerry weren’t exactly pushovers as they were powered by the ever-reliable Louise NI Mhuireachtaigh who scored a total of 1-2 and brought more than her shooting boos with her to Croke Park as she was always there for a Monica McGuirk kick out. Ni Mhuireachtaigh was then able to act as a decoy runner or a break ball magnet, depending on which is necessary. Louise was also able to link up the half-backs.

Murray once again showed his mastery of the lengthy gap between games which so many other counties complain about. However, one player Meath struggled to handle was the Kerry wingback Murphy.

Not a man for whinging, his side just went out and obliterated Darragh Lang and Declan Quill’s Kerry.

The first half was an absolute disaster for Kerry. Kerry was unable to handle the Meath half-forward Duggan.

Bar a few notable exceptions in their under-pressure defence, the Kingdom were literally second to every ball. One Kerry player who was quick enough to get to most balls was the halfback, Emma Costello.

Nothing before the throw-in disrupted them. The Munster side just found it very difficult to break down Meath.

Paris McCarthy came in on the corner, but she found Katie Newe far too hot to handle as the Rathoath woman only didn’t allow McCarthy to hit any first-half points. There were no excuses.

Emma Troy was also on fire in the first half, firing a point and a goal from play and having a hand in nine of the first 11 points – four of them direct assists – as Meath rocketed out into a 1-8 to 1-5 half-time lead. Katie Newe also deserves a lot of credit for her role as a cornerback for Meath.

Troy was on her third marker by the start of the second half, with Paris McCarthy taking over from Síofra O’Shea, with Anna Galvin having started on the Royal legend. Emma Troy brought more than her shooting boots though, as the half-back got the raw end of the deal as her half-backs were attacking and she was left to hold the centre. The Boardsmill woman had all the qualities needed for Meath to push on. The primary school teacher showed a good reading of the game and the ability to stop runners without drawing the dreaded yellow card. The 27-year-old won every individual battle.

The Kerry forwards bar Paris Mccarthy was awful, but some of the high, straight deliveries did them no favours with Aoibhín Cleary, Shauna Ennis and co lapping it up magnificently. Emma Duggan didn’t have much of her opportunities lapped up by the Kerry backs as she scored 0-1 but brought more than scores as she was the key player in the transition from defence to attack. Duggan was always present on the 40. Emma is elusive, can maximise space and is a great passer. Kerry was confused about whether to follow her or lay in the space that she vacated. That was the key to Meath.

Meath scorers: N O’Sullivan 1-2, E Troy 1-1, B Lynch 1-0, V Wall (2f), S Grimes (2f) 0-3 each, E Duggan 0-1 (f).

Kerry scorers: L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 1-2 (0-2f), S O’Shea 0-2, C Murphy, L Scanlon, P McCarthy 0-1 each.

Meath: M McGuirk; S Ennis, MK Lynch, K Newe; A Leahy, E Troy, A Cleary; M O’Shaughnessy, O Lally; M Thynne, E Duggan, K Nesbitt; V Wall, S Grimes, N O’Sullivan.

Subs: O Byrne for Leahy (22), B Lynch for Nesbitt (42), O Duff for Newe (57), E White for Grimes (57), S Wall for Thynne (57).

Kerry: C Butler; J O’Sullivan, K Cronin, E Lynch; A O’Connell, A Costello, C Murphy; L Scanlon, C Lynch; N Carmody, S O’Shea, A Galvin; P McCarthy, D O’Leary, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh.

Subs: N Ní Chonchuir for Carmody (44), E McGlynn for McCarthy (45), A Dillane for O’Sullivan (55), C Evans for O’Leary (57), M O’Connell for A O’Connell (58).

Referee: Maggie Farrelly (Cavan).

Player of the match: Kerry looked at the real deal with Danielle O’Leary and Síofra O’Shea. but the player of the match has to be Niamh O’Sullivan for Meath

“GAA Media just has a bright future” – The future of Gaelic games media!

By Patrick Sharkey,

Episode 54: David Dempsey – The GAA Zone podcast

On episode 54 of the GAA Zone podcast, the GAA Zone editor Patrick Sharkey spoke to the Offaly and Bally Common senior footballer David Dempsey. — Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gaazone/message

1. Episode 54: David Dempsey 31:09
2. Episode 53: Managerial Merry Go Round 31:24
3. Episode 52: Antrim hurling 2022 31:38
4. Episode 51: Andy McEntee 30:25
5. Episode 50: The future of GAA Media! 45:20

Two-time All-Ireland winner with Meath, Colm O’Rourke, is set to take over as the Royal County’s senior football manager. O’Rourke takes the reins from Andy McEntee, who led the team for six seasons. The Royal County legend enjoyed a stunning career as a player and is now set to take the reins of the side as they bid to work their way back to the sport’s top table. The job was vacated by Andy McEntee following their Leinster Championship defeat to Dublin earlier this summer. Meath will compete in Division two of the 2023 National Football League. The news update was announced by Meath GAA.

The Sunday Game studio is going to look like a very different place in 2023. In episode 50 of the GAA Zone podcast, Mayo-based journalist Chloe Lynch hailed the role of the media in Gaelic games.

The Sunday Game pundit has been linked with the role on several occasions in the past, while he has also coached the Meath minor and Under-21 footballers. Lynch said: “Well in my opinion now, you know, GAA Media just has a bright future even though we have the veterans in the game. There is a lot to be worked on and when you have a new generation in, it’s a good future ahead and there is a lot to be done”. O’Rourke also managed the Irish team in International Rules tests against Australia.

Former Mayo footballer Alan Dillon has called on the GAA to push the inter-county season back out to August or September.

Kerry unsurprisingly dominated The Sunday Game’s Team of the Year after beating Galway in the All-Ireland final. Cork-based journalist Matthew Hurley, better known as the GAA stats man, joined in on the podcast saying: “Yeah, I think it has a great enough future, not just in the national media like”.

John Comer was the main influence in shaping the football career of full-forward Comer and sadly passed away at the start of 2017. Lynch said:” Well we all know it kind of has a lot of positives and” negatives together and you know, and we all have our own little outlet of trying to get up in the business and you know there is a lot to be worked on and you know. Say the like the likes of us who use our voices to reinvent it really and add a little of 21st century inro it.” Despite being crestfallen following the result on Sunday, the Tribesmen can hold their head high after a fantastic campaign.

Much of the talk, heading into the All-Ireland, was about David Clifford and Shane Walsh, but they were sharing column inches and headlines with Sean O’Shea and Damien Comer. Mr.Hurley said: “Yeah I think it’s been excellent. I was kind of skeptical. The main thing we talk about in media exploring GAA games is exploring them further afield abroad. We thought Sky would do it in 2013”.

Ryan had a very calm and assuring presence in the Kerry defense all year. The Mayo woman said:” It’s a hard one. It’s everywhere, to be honest. Like you know the fact you can get like RTÉ player in the Chicago and like Dubai and all that but in my opinion, now it’s Twitter kind of the main. You yourself seeing the GAA twitter and again everyone knows everyone and like I saw Brian Cody left”.

Kerry claimed their 38th All-Ireland title with an entertaining victory over Galway on Sunday. Hurley said: “Look it is and it isn’t. I just think the Sunday game for example isn’t spreading GAA as much”.

The Dublin boss is yet to sit down with the county board for a full review. The 20-year-old says: “Well to be honest I’m surprised they haven’t thought about it by now! It’s a hard one. RTÉ just owns the rights and so does Sky. I say if they did, there would just be more controversy because I know they have the app but nobody’s using it. I read the reviews. I was going to download it and like it was a load of bad reviews. You know as long as they get the money, they don’t give two hoops but as Matt was saying like they don’t give enough to fans that have given say their whole weeks’ wages even “.

Donegal 1-7 Meath 0-12- The Royal sink Donegal’s All Ireland final hopes

By Patrick Sharkey in Croke Park,

Emma Duggan struck a monster free in the 55th minute to secure a landmark victory for Meath over Donegal and send them into the All-Ireland final. Meath appeared to be cruising into the decider against Kerry after leading by three points early in the second half before Donegal, aided by a Katy Heron point, fought back and looked set to force extra time. It seemed for all the world as though the white line fever that has been Meath’s downfall so often in recent years would afflict them again but Duggan held her nerve brilliantly to hit the winner into the breeze from some 20 meters with the game’s last score. Their July 31 meeting with Kerry will be the first final between the two counties.

The first shot of the game was taken by Geraldine McLauglin who got herself a point. Stacey Grimes responded with a Meath score, but it was quickly cancelled out by a Geraldine McLaughlin point. The first wide of the game came from the Meath forward Niamh OSullivan in the sixth minute. Donegal had the next shot which went off the post. Entrepreneur Orlagh Lally failed to get her shot over the bar for Meath then. Emma Duggan however came to the rescue for Meath or so they thought but her shot went wide. Aoibheann Leahy then tried a long-range effort for Meath which Roisin McCafferty had no problem saving for Donegal. Stacey Grimes then got the point to put Meath level.
Niamh Hegarty quickly broke into attack but her shot was not enough to trouble the scoreboard.

Niamh McLaughlin then played the role of captain fantastic when she was able to hit over the point to put the Northwest side into the lead. Niamh Mclaughlin then got a goal from the penalty to really put Donegal into first gear. Aoibhín Cleary then missed a chance for Meath to salvage something with five minutes in the first half.

Yyvonne Bonner knocked a little bit of momentum out of Donegal getting a wide, but Meath failed to capitalise on it with Vikki Wall hitting the ball into Emma Duggan before she missed it. Orlagh Lally knew how to show how it’s done when she got a much needed third point for Meath on the stroke of half-time. The half-time score read Donegal 1-3 Meath 0-3. It was by no means a high-scoring first half, but the Royals got taught a harsh lesson on how not scoring a goal could be detrimental.

Vickki Wall came out of the traps for Meath when her and Niamh O’Suillvan got points within the first minute of the second half for Meath to crawl back to a point. Then in typical Emma Duggan fashion she then got near the Donegal goal mouth two minutes later but calmly struck it over the bar to make it level. Stacey Grimes then got her first point of the second half six minutes into the half.

Niamh O’Sullivan tries to extend the Meath led to two points but it just wasn’t to be. Stacey Grimes however showed enough composure to slot over a free kick to extend the Meath lead by two points.

Karen Guthrie captured the Donegal meltdown when the Glenfin woman failed to kick the ball over the bar.

Donegal now needed a goal to come back into the game when Stacey Grimes got the fourth point got herself.

Donegal showed they weren’t finished yet when Karen Guthrie got their first point of the second half, 14 minutes into it. Sharpshooter Geraldine McLaughlin couldn’t have done the same afterward as her free kick fell short.

Glenfin had more luck however as Katy Heron then came out and got herself a point to bring it back to Donegal being a point down with 13 minutes to go.

Meath however changed personal in attack straight after with the more experienced Bridgetta Lynch replacing Kelsey Nesbit.

Yvonne Bonner then however was the Donegal hero with 10 minutes to go scoring the point to level it. It was getting intense for Meath as star player Vikki Wall got a yellow card at an important moment. The shooting boots stayed on Emma Duggan as she managed to get a point to put Meath ahead by a point with eight minutes left. Then out of nowhere Emma Duggan returned straight after to get a point again to put Meath two points ahead. Donegal however knew change was needed in attack when they brought on Susan White for Róisín Rodgers with less than five minutes to go.

Karen Guthrie then got the point to put Donegal a point behind with two minutes from a free kick.

Meath looked to have booked their place in the All Ireland final for the fourth year in a row when Emma Duggan got a last-minute point.

SCORERS

Meath: S Grimes 0-5 (4f), E Duggan 0-4 (1f), O Lally, V Wall, N O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Donegal: N McLaughlin 1-1 (1-0 pen), Y Bonner, G McLaughlin 0-2 each, K Guthrie (f), K Herron 0-1 each.

TEAMS

Meath: M McGuirk; S Ennis, MK Lynch, K Newe; A Leahy, E Troy, A Cleary; M O’Shaughnessy, O Lally; M Thynne, E Duggan, K Nesbitt; V Wall, S Grimes, N O’Sullivan.

Subs: B Lynch for Nesbitt (47), O Byrne for O’Shaughnessy (53), E White for O’Sullivan (58), O Duff for Lynch (60).

Donegal: R McCafferty; E Gallagher, E McGinley, T Kennedy; S Twohig, Nicole McLaughlin, A Boyle Carr; K Herron, Niamh McLaughlin; Y Bonner, N Hegarty, R Rodgers; D Foley, T Hegarty, G McLaughlin.

Subs: K Guthrie for T Hegarty (30), S White for Rodgers (56).

Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).

Player of the Match: Donegal showed they didn’t come to Croke Park to make up the numbers with Deirdre Foley and Niamh Hegarty showed their Inishowen spirit by keeping the Meath defenders on their toes. Mary Kate Lynch and Kate Newe made sure that Donegal didn’t get near the Meath goal mouth but the player of the match has to be Emma Duggan. Duggan scored 0-4 but brought more than her shooting boots as she was the key player for Meath in the transition from defense to attack. Emma was always present on the 40-meter line when the Royal needed to attack. The Dunboyne woman was elusive and always maximized space and was efficient in her passing. Donegal became unsure whether to have a marker following the student at all times or occupy the space she vacated. This was the key reason the Leinster side could unlock the Donegal defense. Any individual battle wasn’t out of reach for Duggan either. Emma dominated.