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Hurling – Clare v Wexford – Starting Teams, Betting & Results

It’s the second week of Division 1 hurling, Clare will want to make up for loss last week and beat Wexford, we have starting teams, betting & results.

Team News
Clare (Allianz HL Division 1 v Wexford): Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Liam Corry; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, Aidan McCarthy; David Fitzgerald, Tony Kelly; Cathal Malone, TBC, Colin Guilfoyle; Ryan Taylor, Aron Shanagher, TBC.

Subs: Donal Tuohy, Aaron Fitzgerald, Shane Meehan, Paidí Fitzpatrick, Jack Browne, Shane Golden, Domhnall McMahon, Mark Rodgers, Cian Nolan, Ian Galvin, Jason McCarthy.

Betting
Clare 11/10
Wexford Evens

Saturday 15 May Results

Football Division 1 North round 1
At Healy Park
Donegal 0-18
Tyrone 0-16

Football Division 1 South round 1
At Austin Stack Park
Kerry 4-21
Galway 0-11

Football Division 2 North round 1
At Elverys MacHale Park
Mayo 2-21
Down 1-11

Football Division 2 South round 1
At Semple Stadium
Kildare 2-12
Cork 0-14

Football Division 3 North round 1
At Glennon Brothers Pearse Park
Derry 0-21
Longford 0-5

Football Division 3 North round 1
At Brewster Park
Fermanagh 0-15
Cavan 0-14

Football Division 3 South round 1
At the LIT Gaelic Grounds
Limerick 1-13
Tipperary 0-14

Football Division 4 North round 1
At Geraldines GFC
Antrim 1-15
Louth 3-8

Football Division 4 South round 1
At Fraher Field
Carlow 3-16
Waterford 0-10

Hurling Division 1 Group A round 2
At Semple Stadium
Tipperary 0-22
Cork 2-16

Hurling Division 1 Group B round 2
At MW Hire O’Moore Park
Dublin 0-30
Laois 1-19

Hurling Division 2A round 2
At Aughrim
Meath 0-20
Wicklow 0-11

Hurling Division 2B round 2
At St Conleth’s Park
Kildare 4-29
Donegal 0-14

Hurling Division 2B round 2
At Dr Hyde Park
Meath 1-20
Roscommon 1-9

Kerry cruise to a 22 point rout of Galway in league opener

Allianz Football League Division 1

Saturday 15th May 2021. Austin Stack Park, Tralee

Kerry 4-21 Galway 0-11

Score-by-score

Peter Keane’s Kerry came out with a point to prove after a disappointing end to their Munster championship campaign last year. One got the impression that winter in the Kingdom was spent dwelling on that dramatic exit. The Tribesmen struggled badly to keep pace with Kerry’s tempo, particularly in the first half. To be honest this game was done and dusted by the interval as Kerry led by ten points despite playing against the wind.

First Half

Paudie Clifford got the scoring underway with a point into the teeth of the wind. Damien Comer fisted over a quick leveller from the kick out. David Clifford showed that anything his brother could do he could replicate. Killian Spillane notched Kerry’s third point. A Matthew Tierney free came back off the post at the far end as Galway struggled to cope with Kerry’s pace and movement in the early stages. David Clifford kicked his second of the game and Kerry led by 0-4 v 0-1 inside the opening five minutes. 

The pace of scoring slowed down after the frantic opening spell. Galway’s Damien Comer saw an effort from the left get pushed wide by the strong cross-field breeze. Kerry’s next score came from a well struck 45’ from David Moran which was dubiously awarded after Seán Mulkerrin knocked the ball off Seán O’Sheas hip. David Clifford drilled over his third from play on twelve minutes. 

A sustained spell of Galway possession inside the Kerry half led to Dessie Connelly wining a free which Shane Walsh duly converted.

The game was even enough in this early stage, however, that all changed dramatically on the arrival of Kerry’s first goal. A quick free caught out the static Galway defence. Quick hands from Seán O’Shea and Killian Spillane set up an effort which David Clifford calmly palmed into the net. Killian Spillane fisted over a point after Bernard Power made a point blank save from Dara Moynihan to prevent a second Kerry goal in as many minutes.

Water break: Kerry 1-7 Galway 0-2

Paul Conroy sent over a point from distance for Galway after a patient build up. Paudie Clifford drilled home the second Kerry goal after a clever reverse pass from  Moynihan. Shane Walsh hit another poor wide for Pádraic Joyce’s side. Gavin White missed a superb chance for a third Kerry goal as the Kingdom were cutting the Galway defence open at will. Paudie Clifford’s initial effort was well saved and White slipped at the crucial moment when the goal appeared at his mercy. 

Paul Conroy kicked his second and Galway’s fourth score. Joyce could see his side were struggling and he was quick to make changes on the sideline as Cooke and Heaney were replaced by Ronan Steed and Cathal Sweeney on 25 minutes. David Clifford was proving a handful for the Galway defence as he added another stylish point with his left foot from the right hand side. 

Dara Moynihan set up another goal chance for Paudie Clifford. This time the Fossa man dragged his right footed effort across the face of goal and wide. 

The Galway defence couldn’t lay a glove on their Kerry counterparts. Killian Spillane kicked over another score for Peter Keane’s men after a passing move which probed and tested for a gap before the space was created for Spillane. 

Dessie Connelly brought the Galway return for the half to five and Matthew Tierney made it six from the opposite side in first half stoppage time. There was still time for Spillane to add his fourth before the whistle for the interval. A ten point lead at the break was a fair reflection of the one sided nature of the half. 

Half-time: Kerry 2-10 Galway 0-6

The heavens opened in Tralee at the interval. Not that it bothered the home side. Kerry took up where they left off on the resumption. Sean O’Shea clipped over another free before David Clifford struck his second goal of the game. Damien Comer was repelled by debutant Fitzgibbon at the other end. The young shot stopper was a late replacement for Shane Ryan. The hat-trick was completed three minutes later with a soccer style goal. Clifford dummied his initial shot and a Cruyff style drag back left the defence bamboozled. Clifford then slotted the ball into an empty net. 

Peter Keane then emptied his bench and replaced David Moran with debutant Paul O’Shea (Kilcummin), a cousin of the Clifford’s. Brian O’Beaglaoich was black carded for a foul on Shane Walsh on 45mins. Damien Comer clipped over a point for Galway. Finian O’Laoi came in for the injured Paul Conroy as the day went from bad to worse for the tribesmen. 

David Clifford dispatched another free from the left to bring his personal tally to 3-06 prior to the whistle for the second water break. It was to be his final contribution of a superb personal display as Tommy Walsh replaced the younger Clifford.

Second water break: Kerry 4-13 Galway 0-7

Substitute Paul O’Shea kicked his first senior point for the Kingdom as the drubbing continued. Shane Walsh who had been unusually quiet kicked his first score from play with a booming left footed kick. Tommy Walsh kicked a point from a mark as the game ticked towards 60 minutes. 

Sean Kelly pointed and brought Galway’s tally into double figures. A brace from Sean O’Shea and another from Paudie Clifford rounded out the scoring as Kerry opening their league campaign in stunning fashion. Bernard Power made another point blank save from Sean O’Shea to prevent a fifth Kerry goal. The resulting wind assisted 45’ was sent over by O’Shea. Robert Finnerty won a late free for Galway which he converted himself. The final whistle which sounded shortly after came as relief to the by now dispirited Tribesmen. 

Full-time: Kerry 4-21 Galway 0-11
Teams

Kerry: S Ryan; B Ó Beaglaoich, T Morley, J Foley; P Murphy, G Crowley, G White; D Moran, J Barry; Dara Moynihan, S O’Shea, P Geaney; D Clifford, K Spillane, P Clifford.

Replacements: K Fitzgibbon, G O’Sullivan, D O’Connor (for Geaney 50’), P O’Shea (for Moran 50’), A Spillane (for Gavin White 60’), T Walsh, M Breen (for P.Murphy 65’), R Buckley, J O’Connor, M Burns (for Moynihan 62’), K O’Sullivan (for O’Beaglaoich 60’).

Galway: Bernard Power, Jack Glynn, Seán Mulkerrin, Liam Silke, Gary O’Donnell, Dylan McHugh, Johnny Heaney, Peter Cooke, Paul Conroy, Paul Kelly, Matthew Tierney, Eamonn Brannigan, Dessie Conneely, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh. Replacements: Connor Gleeson, Johnny Duane, Sean Andy Kelly, Cathal Sweeney (for Heaney 25’), Kieran Molloy (for , Ronan Steede (for Cooke 25’), Mattius Barrett, Robert Finnerty 0-1, Finnian Ó Laoi, Tomo Culhane, Liam Costello.

Tyrone v Donegal – Starting Teams, Live scores, TV Coverage, Scorers & Result

Division 1 North – Tyrone v Donegal – Starting Teams, Live scores, TV Coverage, Scorers, Betting & Result

Click for Live score commentary Tyrone v Donegal

TV Coverage

Tyrone v Donegal Live on TG4 at 5pm

Team News
Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Rory Brennan, Ronan McNamee, Padraig Hampsey; Michael Cassidy, Peter Harte, Michael O’Neill; Frank Burns, Brian Kennedy; Paul Donaghy, Mattie Donnelly, Conor Meyler; Kieran McGeary, Conor McKenna, Richard Donnelly.

Subs: Benny Gallen, Mark Bradley, Lee Brennan, Darragh Canavan, Declan McClure, Darren McCurry, Hugh Pat McGeary, Michael McKernan, Cormac Munroe, Liam Rafferty, Niall Sludden.

Donegal:

Betting
Donegal 5/6
Tyrone 6/5

Laois v Dublin – Starting Teams, Live scores, TV Coverage, Scorers & Result

Hurling Divison 1b – Laois v Dublin – Starting Teams, Live scores, Betting, TV Coverage, Scorers & Result.

Click for Live Score commentary on Laois v Dublin 

TV Coverage

Live on GAAGO at 5pm

Team News –

Laois – Enda Rowland, Lee Cleese, Sean Downey, Donnchadh Hartnett, Jack Kelly, Podge Delaney, Ryan Mullaney, Fiachra Fennell, Paddy Purcell, Aaron Dunphy, Ciaran Commerford, Ciaran Collier, PJ Scully, Charles Dwyer, Ross King

Dublin: Alan Nolan; Paddy Smyth, Eoghan O’Donnell, Andrew Dunphy; Daire Gray, Liam Rushe, Sean Moran; Conor Burke, James Madden; Danny Sutcliffe, Chris Crummey, Ronan Hayes; Donal Burke, Eamonn Dillon, Davy Keogh.

Subs: Sean Brennan, Paul O’Dea, John Bellew, Riain McBride, Jake Malone, Fergal Whitely, Cian Boland, John Hetherton, Cian O’Sullivan, Oisín O’Rorke, Paul Crummey.

Betting
Laois 15/2
Dublin 1/10

Handicap
Laois +8
Dublin -8

Saturday 15 May

Hurling Division 2B round 2
Kildare v Donegal, St Conleth’s Park, 1pm
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm

Football Division 2 North round 1
Mayo v Down, Elverys MacHale Park, 2pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 North round 1
Louth v Antrim, Geraldines GFC, 3pm – GAAGO

Football Division 1 South round 1
Kerry v Galway, Austin Stack Park, 3pm – eir Sport

Hurling Division 2A round 2
Wicklow v Meath, Aughrim, 3pm

Football Division 2 South round 1
Cork v Kildare, Semple Stadium, 3:30pm – eir Sport

Hurling Division 1 Group B round 2
Laois v Dublin, MW Hire O’Moore Park, 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 North round 1
Longford v Derry, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 1 North round 1
Tyrone v Donegal, Heally Park, 5pm – TG4

Football Division 3 South round 1
Limerick v Tipperary, LIT Gaelic Grounds, 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 North round 1
Fermanagh v Cavan, Brewster Park, 7pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 South round 1
Waterford v Carlow, Fraher Field, 7pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 1 Group A round 2
Tipperary v Cork, Semple Stadium, 7.30pm – RTÉ / eir Sport

Sunday 16 May 

Football Division 1 North round 1
Monaghan v Armagh, Brewster Park, 3pm – TG4 player app / deferred

Football Division 1 South round 1
Roscommon v Dublin, Dr Hyde Park, 1.45pm – TG4

Football Division 2 North round 1
Meath v Westmeath, Páirc Tailteann, 3.45pm – GAAGO

Football Division 2 South round 1
Clare v Laois, Cusack Park, 3.45pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 South round 1
Wicklow v Offaly, Aughrim, 2pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 North round 1
Sligo v Leitrim, Markievicz Park, 3pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 1 Group A round 2
Waterford v Westmeath, Walsh Park, 1.30pm – GAAGO
Galway v Limerick, Pearse Stadium, 3.45pm – TG4

Hurling Division 1 Group B round 2
Clare v Wexford, Cusack Park, 1pm – GAAGO
Kilkenny v Antrim, UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.30pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 2A round 2
Down v Carlow, Ballycran, 1pm
Offaly v Kerry, Bord Na Mona O’Connor Park, 2pm

Hurling Division 3A round 2
Armagh v Longford, Athletic Grounds, 1pm
Tyrone v Monaghan, Omagh, 2pm

Hurling Division 3B round 2
Cavan v Fermanagh, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
Leitrim v Louth, Avantcard Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 2pm

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Cork v Kildare – Starting Teams, Live scores, TV Coverage, Scorers & Result

Gaelic Football – Cork v Kildare – Starting Teams, Live scores, TV Coverage, Scorers, Betting & Result. Division 2 South.

Click for Live score commentary on Cork v Kildare

TV Coverage 

Live GAA on Eirsports at 3:30pm

Team News
Cork: Micheál Martin; Daniel O’Mahony, Sean Meehan, Kevin Flahive; Paul Walsh, Sean Powter, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Kevin O’Driscoll; Colm O’Callaghan, Sean White, Ruairi Deane; John O’Rourke, Brian Hurley, Cathail O’Mahony.

Subs: Anthony Casey, Sam Ryan, Paul Ring, Kevin O’Donovan, Tadhg Corkery, Cian Kiely, Brian Hartnett, Ciaran Sheehan, Dan Dineen, Mark Cronin, Blake Murphy.

Kildare: Mark Donnellan; Mark Dempsey, Mick O’Grady, Eoin Doyle; Kevin Flynn, David Hyland, Ryan Houlihan; Luke Flynn, Aaron Masterson; Alex Beirne, Daniel Flynn, Paul Cribbin; Jimmy Hyland, Kevin Feely, Darragh Kirwan.

Betting
Cork 8/15
Kildare 7/4

Handicap
Cork -2 10/11
Kildare +2 10/11

Saturday 15 May

Hurling Division 2B round 2
Kildare v Donegal, St Conleth’s Park, 1pm
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm

Football Division 2 North round 1
Mayo v Down, Elverys MacHale Park, 2pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 North round 1
Louth v Antrim, Geraldines GFC, 3pm – GAAGO

Football Division 1 South round 1
Kerry v Galway, Austin Stack Park, 3pm – eir Sport

Hurling Division 2A round 2
Wicklow v Meath, Aughrim, 3pm

Football Division 2 South round 1
Cork v Kildare, Semple Stadium, 3:30pm – eir Sport

Hurling Division 1 Group B round 2
Laois v Dublin, MW Hire O’Moore Park, 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 North round 1
Longford v Derry, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 1 North round 1
Tyrone v Donegal, Heally Park, 5pm – TG4

Football Division 3 South round 1
Limerick v Tipperary, LIT Gaelic Grounds, 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 North round 1
Fermanagh v Cavan, Brewster Park, 7pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 South round 1
Waterford v Carlow, Fraher Field, 7pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 1 Group A round 2
Tipperary v Cork, Semple Stadium, 7.30pm – RTÉ / eir Sport

Sunday 16 May 

Football Division 1 North round 1
Monaghan v Armagh, Brewster Park, 3pm – TG4 player app / deferred

Football Division 1 South round 1
Roscommon v Dublin, Dr Hyde Park, 1.45pm – TG4

Football Division 2 North round 1
Meath v Westmeath, Páirc Tailteann, 3.45pm – GAAGO

Football Division 2 South round 1
Clare v Laois, Cusack Park, 3.45pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 South round 1
Wicklow v Offaly, Aughrim, 2pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 North round 1
Sligo v Leitrim, Markievicz Park, 3pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 1 Group A round 2
Waterford v Westmeath, Walsh Park, 1.30pm – GAAGO
Galway v Limerick, Pearse Stadium, 3.45pm – TG4

Hurling Division 1 Group B round 2
Clare v Wexford, Cusack Park, 1pm – GAAGO
Kilkenny v Antrim, UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.30pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 2A round 2
Down v Carlow, Ballycran, 1pm
Offaly v Kerry, Bord Na Mona O’Connor Park, 2pm

Hurling Division 3A round 2
Armagh v Longford, Athletic Grounds, 1pm
Tyrone v Monaghan, Omagh, 2pm

Hurling Division 3B round 2
Cavan v Fermanagh, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
Leitrim v Louth, Avantcard Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 2pm

Louth v Antrim – Starting Teams, Live scores, TV Coverage, Scorers & Result

Division 4 Gaelic Football – Louth v Antrim – Starting Teams, Live scores, Betting, TV Coverage, Scorers & Result

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORE COMMENTARY

TV Coverage – LIVE ON GAA GO at 3pm Saturday

Team News
Louth – Martin McEneaney, Dan Corcoran, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny, Liam Jackson, Anthony Williams, Eoghan Callaghan, Beven Duffy, Ciaran Byrne, Andy McDonnell, Ciaran Keenan, Ciaran Downey, Sean Marry, Sam Mulroy (C), Declan Byrne

Antrim – Michael Byrne, Jason McAuley, Declan Lynch, Peter Healy, Marc Jordan, James Lavery, Dermot McAleese, Conor Stewart, Mark Sweeney, Ryan Murray, Mick McCann, Ruairi McCann, Odhran Eastwood, Kevin Small, Conor Murray

Betting
Louth 4/7
Antrim 7/4

Handicap
Louth -2 10/11
Antrim +2 10/11

Kerry v Galway – Starting Teams, Live scores, TV Coverage, Scorers & Result

Kerry v Galway – Starting Teams, Live scores, TV Coverage, Betting, Match Scorers & Result

Teams
Galway: Bernard Power; Jack Glynn, Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin, Liam Silke; Gary O’Donnell, Dylan McHugh, Johnny Heaney; Peter Cooke, Paul Conroy; Paul Kelly, Matthew Tierney, Eamonn Brannigan; Dessie Conneely, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.

Subs: Connor Gleeson, Johnny Duane, Sean Andy Kelly, Cathal Sweeney, Kieran Molloy, Ronan Steede, Mattius Barrett, Robert Finnerty, Finnian Ó Laoi, Tomo Culhane, Liam Costello.

GAA TV Coverage – Live on TG4 at 3pm

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORE UPDATES ON KERRY V GALWAY 

Betting
Kerry 2/5
Galway 11/4

Handicap
Kerry -3 10/11
Galway +3 10/11

Saturday 15 May

Hurling Division 2B round 2
Kildare v Donegal, St Conleth’s Park, 1pm
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm

Football Division 2 North round 1
Mayo v Down, Elverys MacHale Park, 2pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 North round 1
Louth v Antrim, Geraldines GFC, 3pm – GAAGO

Football Division 1 South round 1
Kerry v Galway, Austin Stack Park, 3pm – eir Sport

Hurling Division 2A round 2
Wicklow v Meath, Aughrim, 3pm

Football Division 2 South round 1
Cork v Kildare, Semple Stadium, 3:30pm – eir Sport

Hurling Division 1 Group B round 2
Laois v Dublin, MW Hire O’Moore Park, 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 North round 1
Longford v Derry, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 1 North round 1
Tyrone v Donegal, Heally Park, 5pm – TG4

Football Division 3 South round 1
Limerick v Tipperary, LIT Gaelic Grounds, 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 North round 1
Fermanagh v Cavan, Brewster Park, 7pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 South round 1
Waterford v Carlow, Fraher Field, 7pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 1 Group A round 2
Tipperary v Cork, Semple Stadium, 7.30pm – RTÉ / eir Sport

Sunday 16 May 

Football Division 1 North round 1
Monaghan v Armagh, Brewster Park, 3pm – TG4 player app / deferred

Football Division 1 South round 1
Roscommon v Dublin, Dr Hyde Park, 1.45pm – TG4

Football Division 2 North round 1
Meath v Westmeath, Páirc Tailteann, 3.45pm – GAAGO

Football Division 2 South round 1
Clare v Laois, Cusack Park, 3.45pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 South round 1
Wicklow v Offaly, Aughrim, 2pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 North round 1
Sligo v Leitrim, Markievicz Park, 3pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 1 Group A round 2
Waterford v Westmeath, Walsh Park, 1.30pm – GAAGO
Galway v Limerick, Pearse Stadium, 3.45pm – TG4

Hurling Division 1 Group B round 2
Clare v Wexford, Cusack Park, 1pm – GAAGO
Kilkenny v Antrim, UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.30pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 2A round 2
Down v Carlow, Ballycran, 1pm
Offaly v Kerry, Bord Na Mona O’Connor Park, 2pm

Hurling Division 3A round 2
Armagh v Longford, Athletic Grounds, 1pm
Tyrone v Monaghan, Omagh, 2pm

Hurling Division 3B round 2
Cavan v Fermanagh, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
Leitrim v Louth, Avantcard Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 2pm

Mayo v Down – Starting Teams, Live scores, TV Coverage, Scorers & Result

Division 2 GAA 2021 – Mayo v Down, we have starting teams, live scores, TV coverage details, Scorers, and results. 

Live GAA scores
Click here for live score commentary for Myo v Down

TV Coverage

Live on GAAGO at 2pm on Saturday

Teams 

Mayo: Rob Hennelly; Enda Hession, Oisin Mullin, Lee Keegan; Michael Plunkett, Paddy Durcan, Rory Brickenden; Matthew Ruane, Diarmuid O’Connor; Fionn McDonagh, Kevin McLoughlin, Jordan Flynn; Tommy Conroy, Cillian O’Connor, Ryan O’Donoghue.

Down: R Burns, G Collins, G McGovern, P Murdock, P Laverty, K McKernan, J Flynn, R McEvoy, C Mooney, C Doherty, C Poland, D Guinness, B O Hagan, J Guinness, C Quinn

Betting

Mayo 1/4

Down 7/2

Handicap

Mayo -4 10/11

Down +4 10/11

Saturday 15 May

Hurling Division 2B round 2
Kildare v Donegal, St Conleth’s Park, 1pm
Roscommon v Mayo, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm

Football Division 2 North round 1
Mayo v Down, Elverys MacHale Park, 2pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 North round 1
Louth v Antrim, Geraldines GFC, 3pm – GAAGO

Football Division 1 South round 1
Kerry v Galway, Austin Stack Park, 3pm – eir Sport

Hurling Division 2A round 2
Wicklow v Meath, Aughrim, 3pm

Football Division 2 South round 1
Cork v Kildare, Semple Stadium, 3:30pm – eir Sport

Hurling Division 1 Group B round 2
Laois v Dublin, MW Hire O’Moore Park, 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 North round 1
Longford v Derry, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 1 North round 1
Tyrone v Donegal, Heally Park, 5pm – TG4

Football Division 3 South round 1
Limerick v Tipperary, LIT Gaelic Grounds, 5pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 North round 1
Fermanagh v Cavan, Brewster Park, 7pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 South round 1
Waterford v Carlow, Fraher Field, 7pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 1 Group A round 2
Tipperary v Cork, Semple Stadium, 7.30pm – RTÉ / eir Sport

Sunday 16 May 

Football Division 1 North round 1
Monaghan v Armagh, Brewster Park, 3pm – TG4 player app / deferred

Football Division 1 South round 1
Roscommon v Dublin, Dr Hyde Park, 1.45pm – TG4

Football Division 2 North round 1
Meath v Westmeath, Páirc Tailteann, 3.45pm – GAAGO

Football Division 2 South round 1
Clare v Laois, Cusack Park, 3.45pm – GAAGO

Football Division 3 South round 1
Wicklow v Offaly, Aughrim, 2pm – GAAGO

Football Division 4 North round 1
Sligo v Leitrim, Markievicz Park, 3pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 1 Group A round 2
Waterford v Westmeath, Walsh Park, 1.30pm – GAAGO
Galway v Limerick, Pearse Stadium, 3.45pm – TG4

Hurling Division 1 Group B round 2
Clare v Wexford, Cusack Park, 1pm – GAAGO
Kilkenny v Antrim, UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.30pm – GAAGO

Hurling Division 2A round 2
Down v Carlow, Ballycran, 1pm
Offaly v Kerry, Bord Na Mona O’Connor Park, 2pm

Hurling Division 3A round 2
Armagh v Longford, Athletic Grounds, 1pm
Tyrone v Monaghan, Omagh, 2pm

Hurling Division 3B round 2
Cavan v Fermanagh, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
Leitrim v Louth, Avantcard Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 2pm

Rainbow Cup, Round 3: Munster 20 Connacht 24 – Niall Murray Man of the match

Munster  20  Connacht 24

Rainbow Cup, Round 3 – Thomond Park, Friday 14th May 2021
Connacht dug out a gritty win in torrential conditions against a strongly fancied Munster side in Thomond Park. It was a much-improved performance from Andy Friend’s side from last Saturday’s capitulation against Leinster at home. For Johann van Graan’s Munster side it’s a serious setback to their Rainbow Cup ambitions after wins over Leinster and Ulster in the first two rounds.
Pre-game

The announcement earlier today that the inaugural Rainbow Cup will now culminate in a ‘North v South’ final on June 19th has added a layer to intrigue to this previously unheralded competition. Munster’s ambitions in this competition have been made clear from their opening team selection against Leinster. They are anxious to stop the now decade-long trophy drought. However, Connacht also had a point to prove after shipping fifty points against Leinster last time out.

Match Report

Conor Fitzgerald got the scoring underway for the visitors with a penalty after four minutes. It didn’t take Munster long to respond and after a series of pick and go drives James Cronin crashed over. Ben Healy added the extras. Munster were massive favorites with the bookies pre-game and the apparent ease of the score made one fear the worst for Connacht. But Andy Friend’s side weren’t working off the same script. Immediately from the restart, the underdogs hit back with a try in the corner for Sammy Arnold who beat Craig Casey in the air after Billy Holland had fumbled the kickoff. Arnold then raced clear to score. Conor Fitzgerald nailed the conversion from under the East stand. 

After a frantic opening ten minutes, the game calmed down somewhat after that. A knock to Craig Casey shortly after saw an early introduction for Conor Murray for the duration of the HIA. The rain that had been threatening all day arrived after 15 minutes making the ball-handling trickier.

Munster’s  Shane Daly was given a yellow card on 22 minutes for a deliberate knock-on. Connacht made the extra man count with a superb try from Conor Fitzgerald. The out-half took a superb line to cut open the Munster rearguard, when perhaps they expected a pass outside. Fitzgerald then converted his own score and Connacht led by ten just before the half-hour mark. 

Munster found a way back into the game through a familiar route. The Connacht defense was powerless to stop a driving maul off the back of a lineout. Hooker Rhys Marshall was the man to touch it down. Ben Healy added the conversion to cut the gap back to three points. 

Half-time: Munster 14 Connacht 17

Connacht’s first attack of the second half yielded their third try of the game. A kick ahead was gathered by Kieran Marmion who raced in for the score. The conversion stretched the westerners’ lead out to ten. 

Munster thought they had reduced the deficit five minutes later. This time Peter O’Mahony crashed over, however, after consulting Joy Neville the TMO, the score was chalked off due to O’Donoghue holding back Abraham Papali’i in the build-up. 

A block on Abraham Papali’i by Jack O’Donoghue led to Peter O’Mahony’s try being chalked off. Photo credit: Shane Tighe.

Munster unloaded the cavalry off the bench in the second half with Tadhg Beirne, Murray, Carbery and Earls all entering the fray as the home side chased the game.

Healy did reduce the arrears with a penalty from near halfway on 51 minutes. Munster showed their pragmatic nature by opting to take the three points on offer from another penalty with ten minutes to go. Joey Carbery, fresh off the bench defied the tricky underfoot conditions to nail his kick from the ten-meter line. 

Andrew Conway’s effort was chalked off after a knock-on in the build-up. Photo credit: Shane Tighe

Munster believed they had hit the front with ten minutes to go. A superb cross-field kick sent Andrew Conway scampering over in the corner. However, there was another TMO check on this score. Damien de Allende was shown to have knocked on in the build-up and once again the score was chalked off. 

Munster pushed for the Connacht line with the last play of the game. Daniel Jones’ full-time whistle sounded after Stephen Archer knock-on. Connacht’s celebrations were cut short when a captain’s challenge was called by Peter O’Mahoney. This was quashed when a review showed the ball went forward off the back of Archer’s hand rather than a boot. With that, the final whistle sounded and Connacht had their first win over Munster in seven meetings and only their second of the professional era at Thomond.

Full-Time: Munster 20 Connacht 24
Teams:
Munster: 15. Matt Gallagher; 14.Andrew Conway, 13.Dan Goggin, 12.Damian de Allende, 11.Shane Daly; 10.Ben Healy, 9.Craig Casey; 1.James Cronin, 2.Rhys Marshall, 3.John Ryan; 4.Jean Kleyn, 5.Billy Holland; 6.Jack O’Donoghue, 7.Peter O’Mahony (C), 8.CJ Stander.

Replacements: Niall Scannell (for Marshall 48’), Dave Kilcoyne (for Cronin 58’), Stephen Archer (for Ryan 58’), Tadhg Beirne (for Holland 52’), Fineen Wycherley (for Kleyn 78’), Conor Murray (for Casey HIA 13-27’& 52’), Joey Carbery (for Healy 62’), Keith Earls (for Gallagher 69’).

Connacht: 15. John Porch, 14. Sammy Arnold, 13. Sean O’Brien, 12. Tom Daly, 11. Alex Wootton, 10. Conor Fitzgerald, 9. Kieran Marmion, 1. Paddy McAllister, 2. Shane Delahunt, 3. Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 4. Niall Murray, 5. Ultan Dillane, 6. Cian Prendergast, 7. Conor Oliver, 8. Abraham Papali’i.

Replacements: 16. Dave Heffernan (for Delahunt 57’), 17. Denis Buckley (for McAllister 10-18 HIA &40’), 18. Finlay Bealham (for Robertson-McCoy 39’.), 19. Eoghan Masterson (for Papali’i 69’), 20. Sean Masterson (for Oliver 46’), 21. Caolin Blade (for Marmion 65’), 22. Jack Carty (for Fitzgerald 54’), 23. Peter Sullivan (for Arnold 69’).

Referee: Daniel Jones.

Irish teenager Bosun Lawal has a big fan in Troy Deeney

The 17-year-old recently won Watford’s Academy Player of the Season.

It’s been some journey over the past couple of years for Irish midfielder/defender Bosun Lawal.

Just two years ago, he was humbly plying his trade for Bohs-SKB u17s alongside the likes of Evan Ferguson – who recently completed his move to Brighton & Hove Albion. Today, he’s the holder of Watford FC’s Academy Player of the Season 20/21 after a highly impressive season for their u18s and u23s.

The talented 17-year-old has clearly caught the eye of Watford captain Troy Deeney who didn’t hold back when expressing his admiration for the teenager.

“You know what, he’s got a little bit of (Abdoulaye) Doucouré about him,” said Deeney while appearing as a special guest on Watford’s End of Season Award’s Show.

“He can go past somebody effortlessly and keep striding – he’s got a big long stride.

“I thought he did really well. Three or four days after playing in the u23s, he played another 90 minutes and it was effortless to him I think.

“There’s not many young players that catch your eye and you go ‘oh, he’s gonna have a career’ and he certainly does that, yeah.”

High praise indeed.

Watford Head of Academy Coaching Barry Quin also heaped praise on the Dubliner after winning the award.

“He really does deserve this award, Bosun. He’s worked extremely hard, it’s been noticed all through the season and very, very popular player,” said Quin.

“People look at him and obviously assume his size and strength would be his attributes, they certainly are part of it. But he’s more than that, he’s much more than that. You know, he’s a ball player, can play in a couple of position, low maintence – a manager’s dream.

“The sky’s the limit – with the right opportunity, I think the sky’s the limit. I think he could go all the way.”

Lawal has quite obviously caught the eye of those involved with Watford FC, but he’s somewhat gone under the radar in comparison to other Irish prospects, despite his obvious talent from the beginning.

Neil Fox, who’s highly involved with St Kevin’s, was also full of praise for Lawal following his move to Watford in June 2019, saying: “Watford are getting a very good player and potential future Ireland senior international.”

Lawal has represented Ireland up to u17 level and could find himself at u19 or u21 level with training camps/fixtures coming up very shortly.

With Watford playing in the Premier League next season, could we see Bosun Lawal get some top flight minutes under his belt?