IT WAS ALL-Ireland hurling and ladies football final weekend and as sure as night turns to day, the Kilkenny hurlers and Cork lades both left Dublin with the silverware.
On the flip side, Tipperary and Dublin, especially the latter, will be wondering where it all went wrong after both had impressive spells in their respective finals.
Here’s what you need to know after this weekend’s action:
Talking points
- For an incredible 35th time, Kilkenny are the All-Ireland senior hurling champions after a three point victory over Tipperary in Saturday’s replay. Second half goals from Richie and John Power proved the difference for the Cats who frustrated the Tipp forwards throughout.
- For the losers, they’ll wonder what might have been after Seamus Callanan decided to slot a penalty over the bar rather than go for goal midway through the second half. After the game, Eamon O’Shea admitted they were beaten by the better team but that his side would be back bigger and better next year.
- As dominant as the Kilkenny hurlers are, they pale in comparison to the Cork ladies over the last decade. The Rebelettes came from 10 points down to claim their ninth TG4 All-Ireland ladies football title in ten seasons. Trailing 2-10 to 0-6 with 15 minutes remaining, Cork produced some stunning football to move within two of Kerry’s record 11 Brendan Martin Cups.
- In the other ladies football action in Croke Park, a brilliant performance from goalkeeper Mary Rose Kelly ensured Wexford beat New York in the junior decider while Down had far too much for Fermanagh in an all Ulster intermediate final with Kyla Trainor scoring 2-4 in a 21 point win.
- Speaking of high-scoring, Ballintubber bagged themselves nine goals in a facile victory over Knockmore in the Mayo SFC semi-final. They’ll face Castlebar Mitchels in the decider after the 2013 losing All-Ireland finalists beat Garrymore by three points on Sunday.
Team of the year
Much to nobody’s surprise, Richie Hogan was chosen as The Sunday Game player of the year and here’s their team of the year:
Goals win games
Here are the two Kilkenny goals that won Kilkenny their latest Liam MacCarthey:
Stat attack
Chapeau to RTÉ Radio’s Damien O’Meara.
Not to mention this one:
This will haunt your dreams
He doesn’t even go here
It’s not an All-Ireland final unless you call out Joe Brolly afterwards.
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The joy of victory
The agony of defeat
Better than Shefflin
Cork captain Breige Corkery today picked up her 14th All-Ireland senior medal, her ninth in football after winning five camogie medals.
After the game, the midfielder said she was in shock but, very happy. Who could blame her?
Crowd control
Club call
Hurling -
AIB All-Ireland club champions Portumna survived a scare in the Galway SHC quarter-finals before eventually beating Loughrea by a single point; 2-15 to 1-17.
In Dublin there were wins for Ballyboden and St Judes in the quarter-finals while Rathdowney (Laois), Slaughtneil (Derry) and Cushendall (Antrim) all won their respective county titles.
The Kerry final ended in a draw between Kilmoyley and Lixnaw but the game was marred by an unsavoury incident.
Football -
Omagh are the Tyrone senior champions after a last gasp Ronan O’Neill goal sealed a 1-10 to 0-12 win over Carrickmore to secure their first title since 1988.
Aughawilan are the Leitrim champions while St Patrick’s picked up the senior crown in in Louth. In Roscommon, St Brigid’s are still on track for a fifth successive title after they had seven points to spare over Western Gaels in their semi-final clash.
Corofin have reached the Galway final with the simplest of wins over Miltown on a scoreline of 4-14 to 0-2. They’ll have to wait on their opponents though as Barna and St Michaels played out an 0-12 draw in Tuam on Sunday.
