They’ve done it. At the second attempt Dublin made no mistake, winning this evening’s All-Ireland football final replay by a comfortable margin of six points. Jim Gavin’s all-conquering team made history at Croke Park by running out winners over Kerry by 1-18 to 0-15 to seal their fifth All-Ireland title in a row. I was in two minds in the […]
After all the hype and all the chatter – which made it sound like it was the first bloody All-Ireland to be contested in a decade – the day ends with no winner. They go again on Saturday week. Letdowns don’t come much greater than All-Ireland finals that end all-square. I’ve been in Croke Park to witness such an outcome […]
Yesterday was certainly one to forget for us – it was our first double-digit Championship defeat since we lost by ten points to Derry in the qualifiers back in 2007 – and it was one in which, from our perspective, there was precious little to celebrate. In such circumstances, it seems a bit daft to be talking about a Mayo […]
The sun shone brightly in Killarney and the crowds thronged to Fitzgerald Stadium where a sell-out crowd came to witness the Super 8s clash between Kerry and Mayo. There was nothing super in the outcome from Mayo’s perspective, however, as a fresher and hugely committed Kerry were far too strong for a Mayo team playing their fourth championship match in […]
It’s the morning after the defeat in Killarney, a day where, when the final whistle blew, it looked for all the world like our Championship run had ended for this year. But it hasn’t. This odd Championship structure, which we’re only now getting our heads around, sees us back in action yet again in a week’s time, this time with […]
The majestic Magillicuddy Reeks provided an idyllic backdrop to today’s Super 8s meeting with Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium. Down on the pitch, though, where the sun beat down and where the temperature was in the high twenties, what was on view was, from our perspective, far less attractive. Kerry were always on top in this game and they beat us […]
It’s the Championship but not as we know it. This afternoon in Killarney we take on Kerry in Phase 1 of the All-Ireland quarter-final. This Group 1 fixture – our first ever Super 8s match – throws in at Fitzgerald Stadium at 4pm this afternoon, with Tyrone ref Seán Hurson the man in charge. To say this clash in an […]
We’ve named our team for tomorrow’s All-Ireland quarter-final Group 1, Phase 1 meeting with Kerry at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney (throw-in 4pm). Here’s the starting fifteen we’ve going with for this opening Super 8s fixture: Mayo (All-Ireland SFC quarter-final, Group 1, Phase 1 v Kerry 14/7/2019): David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); Chris Barrett (Belmullet), Brendan Harrison (Aghamore), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Lee […]
So the Super 8s get going today and tomorrow we get our first taste of this new Championship format. It feels like a big football weekend and, after last year’s hiatus, it’s great to be in the thick of it. Although our game doesn’t throw in until 4pm tomorrow down in Killarney, I’m still hitting the road myself shortly. As […]
With thanks to Gamechanger for the heads-up about the announcement, Kerry have this evening named their team for Sunday’s mouth-watering Super 8s meeting with our lads. Here’s the team they’ve named for it: Kerry (All-Ireland SFC quarter-final, Group 1, Phase 1 v Mayo 14/7/2019): Shane Ryan (Rathmore); Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), Tadhg Morley (Templenoe), Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle); Paul Murphy (Rathmore), Jack […]