An afternoon of captivating drama in Newbridge, Kilcormac-Killoughey and Naas served up a November hurling classic, that was illuminated by the live TG4 coverage that projected the game to a wider audience. The Offaly champions needed their wits about them to scramble for a draw in normal time through Colin Spain’s stunning right-wing point, and then celebrated victory with gusto after goalkeeper Conor Slevin banged over a free from distance in the 82nd minute to settle a pulsating clash.
Conor Slevin, an fear ceart san áit ceart ag an am ceart!🤩👏
Kilcormac Killoughey's goalkeeper is the hero in Newbridge after this extra time epic!
82 nóim (AB)
@NaasGAA 3-25
@kk_gaa_offaly 1-32
@GAA_BEO #GAABeo https://t.co/V5hXBhy1sD
There were scoring stars on both sides, Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey) and Jack Sheridan (Naas) recording matching tallies of 1-13, both scoring 1-2 from play
The 1-32 to 3-25 defeat was rough justice on a Naas team keen to push on in Leinster given their modern Kildare supremacy that has yielded eight titles on the bounce. The Offaly kingpins have their own motivations, eager to build on their last four county wins, and emulate the Kilcormac-Killoughey class of 2012, who were crowned Leinster champions. Next up is a semi-final test against Wexford’s Shelmaliers.
***
2. Play on, or last play? The Gowna conundrum
As Oisín O’Neill lined up the last kick of the ball in extra-time of Crossmaglen’s dramatic televised Ulster quarter-final win over Cavan champions Gowna on Saturday night, the task was a tricky one.
O’Neill has established himself as one of the more feared two-point shooters in the game and the free awarded by Paul Faloon was already contentious. However, with it being from long range and on the right wing for a right-footed kicker, it was a very difficult task.
Late, late drama as Rian O'Neill's two-pointer wins it for Crossmaglen and edges them past Gowna in the Ulster Club SFC quarter-final
📺Watch live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player: https://t.co/AKAre5FHdN https://t.co/ul1gdym4xC
Playing it short then for his brother Rian to kick over left Gowna fuming, not only at the cause of the free, but their belief that the free should have been the last kick of the game.
Oisín O’Neill said afterwards that referee Faloon said it was the ‘last play.’ In an age when county teams routinely drill holding possession for two and three-minute spells, it was a cruel way for Gowna’s season to end.
Still and all, thoughts of how they dropped off and allowed Rian O’Neill the space to run into and execute a shot will torture them.
Tempers flare after the Crossmaglen Rangers and Gowna game. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
***
3. A Munster breakthrough for Waterford football
The value of persistence. Rathgormack have stitched together four Waterford senior titles in a row, but for the last three campaigns that has failed to be the catalyst for provincial progression. Sunday in Dungarvan was a momentous occasion then as they defeated Éire Óg Ennis, the Clare champions who overturned them twelve months ago. A first Munster SFC win for the club since 1999, and a first for this current playing group.
Rathgormack's Jason Curry in possession against Dr Crokes' Fionn Fitzgerald in 2024. Ken Sutton / INPHO
Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO
In the process Rathgormack became the first Waterford representatives to taste success at this level in eight years. 2023 brought defeat against Castlehaven, 2024 at the hands of Dr Crokes, there was the 2025 loss to Éire Óg, and previously in 2019 there was an extra-time defeat to Clare’s St Joseph’s Miltown-Malbay.
Jason Curry’s scoring brilliance will command the headlines with his nine-point tally featuring three sparkling two-pointers from play. It was another moment of attacking magic that settled the game, Conor Murray’s fantastic long-range pass finding Reece O’Mahony for the goal that sealed victory.
The pass from Conor Murray 🤤 https://t.co/eTTIRPawB6
The reward is a semi-final against Dr Crokes on Sunday 22 November, a repeat of the 2024 encounter where Rathgormack agonisingly lost by a point to the Kerry champions.
***
4. The pride of the bold Shelmaliers
While the county representatives won Leinster senior hurling last year with St Martin’s squeezing Ballyhale Shamrocks out by a point in the final, the record of Wexford clubs in this tournament has somewhat mirrored their county teams’ equivalent. With 11 wins, they lag way behind Kilkenny with 24, and also trail the Offaly representatives with 13.
This year’s champions Shelmaliers are relative newcomers and are finding their feet, under manager Richie Power, the Kilkenny hurling great. After their first county title in 2014 they lost a first round game in Leinster to Kilcormac/Killoughey. For their second go, in 2020, there was no provincial championship owing to Covid.
Despite losing Paul Hearne to a second yellow card on 35 minutes, they stuck to their task and eventually got over the line on Sunday with a late score to beat Westmeath’s Lough Lene Gaels in their first provincial win.
On 22 November they get the chance to avenge that 2014 defeat when they meet Kilcormac/Killoughey again.
***
5. Salthill back in Connacht and now set for big test
Salthill-Knocknacarra’s 14-year absence from the Connacht football arena came to an end on Sunday. They travelled to Carrick-on-Shannon for a quarter-final against Leitrim champions Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins, and had to battle to emerge with a four-point success. With a quartet of county seniors in Rob Finnerty, Tomo Culhane, Cathal Sweeney and Matthew Thompson sharing the scoring load, the game was a reminder of what can settle contests at this stage of a season.
The previous outing for Salthill-Knocknacarra in the Connacht SFC was back in November 2012, when they lost out by seven points to St Brigid’s in Pearse Stadium. Current manager Finian Hanley was defensive anchor and team captain that day. The same opposition beckon next Sunday. The game has been selected for a live TV slot. The Roscommon outfit have featured in two of the last three All-Ireland deciders, and hammered Sligo’s St Mary’s by 21 points on Saturday. They will pose a formidable challenge for Salthill-Knocknacarra.
Finian Hanley in action in 2012 for Salthill-Knocknacarra against Roscommon's St Brigid's. Mike Shaughnessy / INPHO
Mike Shaughnessy / INPHO / INPHO
***
Related Reads
Late extra-time drama as Kilcormac-Killoughey sink Naas to reach Leinster semi-final
Ulster champions Scotstown survive extra-time battle to keep provincial defence on track
Nemo Rangers march on to Munster semi-finals, as Rathgormack advance to meet Dr Crokes
6. Jeepers Keepers in Ulster
Cor Blimey, the Ulster senior club football championship has a stacked look to it.
What has emerged in stark terms is the sheer quality of goalkeeping in the competition.
As they enter the semi-final stage, three of the top half dozen goalkeepers in Gaelic football are all present with Rory Beggan (Scotstown), Niall Morgan (Edendork) and Shaun Patton (St Eunan’s) involved.
Scotstown's Rory Beggan fouls Magherafelt's Shane Heavron. Andrew Paton / INPHO
Andrew Paton / INPHO / INPHO
Edendork meet Crossmaglen in one Ulster semi-final. Scotstown and St Eunan’s will feature Beggan and Patton in the other match, two of the biggest boots in the game, going head-to-head.
Is it all a coincidence, or just a result of having some of the best goalkeepers hiding in plain sight?
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Leinster hurling classic, a Waterford breakthrough, late Ulster football drama
1. A Newbridge hurling classic
An afternoon of captivating drama in Newbridge, Kilcormac-Killoughey and Naas served up a November hurling classic, that was illuminated by the live TG4 coverage that projected the game to a wider audience. The Offaly champions needed their wits about them to scramble for a draw in normal time through Colin Spain’s stunning right-wing point, and then celebrated victory with gusto after goalkeeper Conor Slevin banged over a free from distance in the 82nd minute to settle a pulsating clash.
There were scoring stars on both sides, Adam Screeney (Kilcormac-Killoughey) and Jack Sheridan (Naas) recording matching tallies of 1-13, both scoring 1-2 from play
The 1-32 to 3-25 defeat was rough justice on a Naas team keen to push on in Leinster given their modern Kildare supremacy that has yielded eight titles on the bounce. The Offaly kingpins have their own motivations, eager to build on their last four county wins, and emulate the Kilcormac-Killoughey class of 2012, who were crowned Leinster champions. Next up is a semi-final test against Wexford’s Shelmaliers.
***
2. Play on, or last play? The Gowna conundrum
As Oisín O’Neill lined up the last kick of the ball in extra-time of Crossmaglen’s dramatic televised Ulster quarter-final win over Cavan champions Gowna on Saturday night, the task was a tricky one.
O’Neill has established himself as one of the more feared two-point shooters in the game and the free awarded by Paul Faloon was already contentious. However, with it being from long range and on the right wing for a right-footed kicker, it was a very difficult task.
Playing it short then for his brother Rian to kick over left Gowna fuming, not only at the cause of the free, but their belief that the free should have been the last kick of the game.
Oisín O’Neill said afterwards that referee Faloon said it was the ‘last play.’ In an age when county teams routinely drill holding possession for two and three-minute spells, it was a cruel way for Gowna’s season to end.
Still and all, thoughts of how they dropped off and allowed Rian O’Neill the space to run into and execute a shot will torture them.
***
3. A Munster breakthrough for Waterford football
The value of persistence. Rathgormack have stitched together four Waterford senior titles in a row, but for the last three campaigns that has failed to be the catalyst for provincial progression. Sunday in Dungarvan was a momentous occasion then as they defeated Éire Óg Ennis, the Clare champions who overturned them twelve months ago. A first Munster SFC win for the club since 1999, and a first for this current playing group.
In the process Rathgormack became the first Waterford representatives to taste success at this level in eight years. 2023 brought defeat against Castlehaven, 2024 at the hands of Dr Crokes, there was the 2025 loss to Éire Óg, and previously in 2019 there was an extra-time defeat to Clare’s St Joseph’s Miltown-Malbay.
Jason Curry’s scoring brilliance will command the headlines with his nine-point tally featuring three sparkling two-pointers from play. It was another moment of attacking magic that settled the game, Conor Murray’s fantastic long-range pass finding Reece O’Mahony for the goal that sealed victory.
The reward is a semi-final against Dr Crokes on Sunday 22 November, a repeat of the 2024 encounter where Rathgormack agonisingly lost by a point to the Kerry champions.
***
4. The pride of the bold Shelmaliers
While the county representatives won Leinster senior hurling last year with St Martin’s squeezing Ballyhale Shamrocks out by a point in the final, the record of Wexford clubs in this tournament has somewhat mirrored their county teams’ equivalent. With 11 wins, they lag way behind Kilkenny with 24, and also trail the Offaly representatives with 13.
This year’s champions Shelmaliers are relative newcomers and are finding their feet, under manager Richie Power, the Kilkenny hurling great. After their first county title in 2014 they lost a first round game in Leinster to Kilcormac/Killoughey. For their second go, in 2020, there was no provincial championship owing to Covid.
Despite losing Paul Hearne to a second yellow card on 35 minutes, they stuck to their task and eventually got over the line on Sunday with a late score to beat Westmeath’s Lough Lene Gaels in their first provincial win.
On 22 November they get the chance to avenge that 2014 defeat when they meet Kilcormac/Killoughey again.
***
5. Salthill back in Connacht and now set for big test
Salthill-Knocknacarra’s 14-year absence from the Connacht football arena came to an end on Sunday. They travelled to Carrick-on-Shannon for a quarter-final against Leitrim champions Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins, and had to battle to emerge with a four-point success. With a quartet of county seniors in Rob Finnerty, Tomo Culhane, Cathal Sweeney and Matthew Thompson sharing the scoring load, the game was a reminder of what can settle contests at this stage of a season.
The previous outing for Salthill-Knocknacarra in the Connacht SFC was back in November 2012, when they lost out by seven points to St Brigid’s in Pearse Stadium. Current manager Finian Hanley was defensive anchor and team captain that day. The same opposition beckon next Sunday. The game has been selected for a live TV slot. The Roscommon outfit have featured in two of the last three All-Ireland deciders, and hammered Sligo’s St Mary’s by 21 points on Saturday. They will pose a formidable challenge for Salthill-Knocknacarra.
***
6. Jeepers Keepers in Ulster
Cor Blimey, the Ulster senior club football championship has a stacked look to it.
What has emerged in stark terms is the sheer quality of goalkeeping in the competition.
As they enter the semi-final stage, three of the top half dozen goalkeepers in Gaelic football are all present with Rory Beggan (Scotstown), Niall Morgan (Edendork) and Shaun Patton (St Eunan’s) involved.
Edendork meet Crossmaglen in one Ulster semi-final. Scotstown and St Eunan’s will feature Beggan and Patton in the other match, two of the biggest boots in the game, going head-to-head.
Is it all a coincidence, or just a result of having some of the best goalkeepers hiding in plain sight?
***
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