Concerns expressed about Nowlan Park’s suitability for U20 final
Both Keith Rossiter and Paddy Deegan referenced the condition of the Nowlan Park pitch after Kilkenny’s win over Wexford on Sunday in the Leinster championship. The Wexford manager said he ‘couldn’t believe’ the state it was in.
“You wouldn’t have seen any sign of a line with the amount of damage done with the concert last week,” he said.
“How that can happen I don’t know, to be honest, before a big championship match.
“I saw a picture of it during the week and I saw a picture at about 11 o’clock this morning, I couldn’t believe it. But it is what it is, we would have gladly played in Wexford Park, which is a good sod at the minute, but I don’t think Kilkenny were going to change that.
“But Bruce had to be played, I suppose,” added Rossiter.
The All-Ireland u20 hurling final between Tipperary and Offaly is fixed for Nowlan Park next Saturday for 7.15 and many supporters have questioned the venue choice on two grounds. One, the state of the pitch after the recent Bruce Springsteen concert and two, the lack of flood-lights which may present an issue if the game went to extra-time.
All-Ireland senior hurling championship potential ties
And then there were eight. Limerick, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford, Offaly and Laois. One of those eight counties will be All-Ireland hurling champions by the end of July.
Here are some permutations for forthcoming routes to the final.
Pic credit: wiki.
Preliminary QFs:
Winner of Laois/Offaly at home vs Cork; Loser of Laois/Offaly at home vs Wexford, on weekend June 15.
All-Ireland QFs:
Loser of Dublin/Kilkenny v winner of Cork/Offaly/Laois; Loser Clare/Limerick v Wexford/Offaly/Laois, on weekend Saturday, June 22.
All-Ireland SFs:
Teams who have already met in the provincial championships are kept apart in separate semi-finals where possible. Both Munster and Leinster champions in action in separate games on same day.
All-Ireland final: Sunday, July 21.
Carlow unhappy with Chris Nolan’s red card
Carlow forward Chris Nolan was sent off when he came back out for the second half of his county’s Leinster championship relegation decider against Antrim. A scuffle had broke out between the two teams as they headed for the dressing rooms, with the video footage from the Left Wing Back showing that Nolan pushed an Antrim player to the ground.
Antrim were leading by one point at half-time, 3-9 to 1-14 and went onto win by six, 4-22 to 2-22. Nolan’s dismissal was key in the outcome of the game with the Mount Leinster Rangers ace having scored 1-1 from play in that first half
Carlow hurlers past and present tweeted their dissatisfaction with James Owens’ decision.
“Lads sacrifice so much and then have this,” said former Carlow player Paul Coady.
Current Carlow hurler Jack Kavanagh described it as ‘scandalous.’
Carlow are now relegated to the Joe McDonagh Cup for next year.
Limerick and Clare through to Munster final
Limerick and Clare are through to the Munster final after victories on the final day of the round-robin.
Cork will qualify in third place in the group with Waterford and Tipperary exiting the championship.
Results:
Limerick 0-30 Waterford 2-14
Tipperary 0-24 Clare 1-24
Galway knocked out on Leinster championship final day
Galway are out of the Leinster championship after their loss to Dublin on Sunday.
Kilkenny defeated Wexford in the other game, but Keith Rossiter’s side qualify in third place on the grounds that they had beaten Galway earlier in the championship. Carlow were relegated to the Joe McDonagh after losing to Antrim in Corrigan Park, with Chris Nolan’s red card proving decisive.
Results:
Galway 1-24 Dublin 2-27
Kilkenny 1-24 Wexford 2-20
Antrim 4-22 Carlow 2-22
Donal Óg and Jackie Tyrrell disagree on David Burke red card
“I didn’t interrupt you there now boy.”
Donal Óg and Jackie Tyrrell disagreed over Colm Lyons’ decision to send David Burke off in Dublin and Galway’s Leinster championship clash in Pearse Stadium, Salthill.
Burke was sent off in the first half for what was perceived as a head-high tackle on Fergal Whitely. Donal Óg felt that the decision was the correct one, criticising Burke for ‘giving the referee the opportunity’ to send him off.
“He’s asking for trouble,” added Donal Óg.
Jackie Tyrrell differed on the grounds that he felt it wasn’t dangerous play.
“I don’t see a red card there. I see that as a yellow card all day long. Whether you’re asking for trouble or not, or experienced or not, it’s not a red card. The letter of the law for me says this is not a sending off. This is not dangerous play for me.”
Donegal were sensational in their 0-21 to 0-14 win over Tyrone in the first round of the All-Ireland senior football championship on Saturday evening.
Peadar Mogan was the star-of-the-show, kicking three from play in a swashbuckling showing from wing back but it was a team effort. Oisin Gallen, Jason McGee and Ryan McHugh also showed well for Jim McGuinness’ side, who continued their winning run on the back of their recent Ulster championship triumph.
There was a huge Donegal support in Ballybofey on Saturday as the upbeat mood regarding the county’s footballers continued.
Interestingly, rather than soak in the victory with their supporters, the Donegal players ran straight off the field and into the dressing rooms after the final whistle.
Speaking on GAAGO, former Donegal player Michael Murphy was impressed with his county’s display, and said that this business-like demeanour is a sign that they won’t be getting carried away.
“Everybody knows their exact roles, what they’re doing defensively when they don’t have the ball and offensively when they do have it,” Murphy said on GAAGO.
“It might be predictable but they’re doing it so well and they’re so in-sync that it’s so hard to stop.
“The added bonus of being Ulster champions also gives them confidence.”
“But they will not be getting carried away. They’ll be keeping a lid on things. One day at a time. You seen the way they got off the pitch quick today,” he said.
Jim McGuinness, meanwhile, was impressed with the honesty of his side.
“Delighted that the team were able to express themselves tonight,” he said after the game.
“They played with that confidence you get from winning an Ulster title. It’s obviously only one game in the group, but it sets us up nicely.”
“They brought a lot of defensive intensity in the second half. They’re a bit weary in there now.”
He went onto say that their immediate focus is on Cork, with the team reportedly whisked away from Ballybofey to the county’s training base in Convoy to begin recovery ahead of their clash with Cork next weekend. The recovery, according to the Irish Independent, consisted of ice baths and ice cream.
“Obviously the added pressure of your own home fans in your own home stadium,” said McGuinness.
We are just delighted to get over the line, two points on the board, happy with the performance and getting ready as quickly as we can for Cork next weekend,” said McGuinness who conducted the post-match press conference in the Donegal’s GAA training centre in Convoy.
Saturday’s results
All-Ireland SFC round 1
Dublin 2-19 Roscommon 0-13, Croke Park
Donegal 0-21 Tyrone 0-14, Ballybofey
Armagh 0-16 Westmeath 0-11, Box-It Athletic Grounds
Louth 3-10 Meath 0-9, Inniskeen
Joe McDonagh Cup round 5
Kerry 3-13 Meath 1-10, Austin Stack Park
Down 3-25 Offaly 5-23, Ballycran
Westmeath 2-26 Laois 0-16, TEG Cusack Park
Leinster MHC final
Kilkenny 1-13 Dublin 1-9, Laois Hire O’Moore Park
Sunday’s fixtures
Leinster SHC round 5
Kilkenny v Wexford, UPMC Nowlan Park, 2.00 – GAAGO
Galway v Dublin, Pearse Stadium, 2.00 – RTE
Antrim v Carlow, Corrigan Park, 2.00
Munster SHC round 5
Limerick v Waterford, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4.00 – RTE
Tipperary v Clare, FBD Semple Stadium, 4.00 – RTE News/Player
Ulster MFC final
Derry v Armagh, Healy Park, 1.00
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