NEED TO CATCH up on another super weekend of GAA? Look no further.
Near-perfect Dublin earn 9/10 rating
Reigning All-Ireland SFC champions Dublin made light work of Meath in the Leinster decider to claim their ninth provincial crown in the past decade.
Thanks to goals from Bernard Brogan, Eoghan O’Gara and Kevin McManamon the Dubs never looked like getting caught out and, refusing to take their foot off the pedal, led by as much as 20 points in the final quarter before declaring a score of 3 – 20 to 1 -10.
Donegal back on top of Ulster football
You can’t keep a good side down. So, after Jim McGuinness’ side were dethroned by Monaghan in Clones last year, Donegal exacted revenge at the same venue yesterday.
Odhran MacNiallais scored three points from play as 2012 All-Ireland winners chiselled out a hard-fought 0 – 15 to 1 – 09 win, with sub Chris McGuinness getting the Farney county’s goal.
It was not enough to defend the Anglo Celt crown, however, as Monaghan met a focused Donegal side with Ryan McHugh in imperious form.
Not that Pat Spillane was too impressed
The pundit reckons the founders of the GAA wouldn’t have enjoyed the fare in St. Tiernach’s Park either:
“Think of the men who gathered in Hayes’ Hotel in Thurles, this wasn’t the game they dreamt of.”
Though he may have been projecting slightly.
He was just jealous he didn’t get to drink cider out of an aul’ paint bucket on Church Hill
Classy celebration
Dublin players brought the Delaney Cup straight to five-year-old Molly McNally who is battling Neuroblastoma.
Dedicated fans of the weekend
It’s all very well for the Dubs singing while soaking up the sun on Hill 16. Try the national anthem on a close, wet Saturday evening in Dr Hyde Park.
We salute you, ladies.
Meath’s ‘what-might-have-been’ moment
Minors double up
Donegal‘s minors made it a day of double celebration for the north west county. John Campbell scored an early goal as Armagh were blitzed with 1 -07 before they managed a score of their own. Jamie Brennan punched home in the second half to wrap up a 2 -12 to 0 – 10 win in the Ulster final.
An eight-minute goal rush helped Dublin overcome Kildare in the Leinster MFC decider.
Con O’Callaghan, Colm Basquel and Aaron Byrne hit the Croke Park net to put Dublin into a commanding seven-point lead at the break and that deficit was only widened after the break as Cian O’Callaghan and co strode to a 3 – 16 to 1- 12 victory.
MDMA tested the waters to see if Rihanna could resist his latest bit of bling
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Donegal fans had their eye on a different international superstar
Friends in Clo’ places, eh?… Eh?
And it still wasn’t the best cardboard cut-out of the week
Wexford get the job done in 70 minutes
After taking 180 minutes to overcome Clare in their epic struggle of the past fortnight, Wexford managed without extra-time in their SHC qualifier victory over Waterford. Although, it was nervy enough in the final minutes of the 3 – 15 to 2 -15 win.
Banner hearts broken, AGAIN
Back to football, and Kildare scored seven unanswered points in the second half of their qualifier clash with Clare in Ennis on Saturday.
The massive turnaround brought the Lilywhites the narrowest of 0 – 13 to 0 – 12 win.
David Tubridy scored a third of his side’s points, but was left distraught as his late chance to level trailed wide.
Why not celebrate with a Johnny Doyle cake?
Some lucky mother…
Armagh get cheeky
Stephen Harold went full-Granny with this pinching challenge on Kevin Higgins.
With this momentum, who could blame them?
Many Armagh fans were ready to start planning late summer holidays after they exited the Ulster Championship to Monaghan, but the Orchard county have steadily picked up pace in the qualifiers.
On Saturday, they scored 17 points from play against a hotly-tipped Roscommon side. Next in their sights, Meath.
How about this point from Tony Kernan?
SWERVE.
Credit: Live Gaelic
Wexford and Kilkenny Power on to semi-finals
Wexford are also through to the final four, Ursula Jacob’s 1-10 marking the bulk of her side’s 5 – 19 to 0 – 13 win over Dublin.
Elsewhere, Cork sealed a runner-up spot by seeing off Galway to set up a quarter-final against Offaly. The Tribeswomen will face Clare.
Derry’s last Championship involvement
Martin O’Neill had Tomas Quinn talking him through the Leinster final.
There was needle in Dublin v Meath even before throw-in
Diarmuid Connolly opted not to shake hands with Paddy O’Rourke.
https://vine.co/v/M27EXlpv0T6
What’s next?
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is now down to 12 teams. With the dust settling on this weekend’s results, it leaves us a little clearer on the road to the quarter-finals.
Round 4a: (July 26) Cork v Sligo, Galway v Tipperary.
Round 4b: (Weekend of August 2) Meath v Armagh, Monaghan v Kildare.
Quarter-finals: (Weekend of August 2) Kerry v 4a winner, Mayo v 4a winner.
(August 9) Dublin v 4b winner, Donegal v 4b winner.
And here’s what we have to look forward to in the SHC
Quarter-final: (July 27): Limerick v Wexford, Tipperary v Dublin.
Cork and Kilkenny await in the semi-finals.
Same time next week?
