Kilkenny are back in big show. Last year the Cats didn’t even make it to Broadway, as their summer ended before Croke Park. But once again, Brian Cody has made sure his charges bounce back. It’ll be a so-called traditional All-Ireland this year; Tipp or Cork will join the Noresiders at HQ next month.
Henry Martin’s book about Limerick hurling was well named. But ‘Unlimited Heartbreak’ may need a new chapter or two at this stage. The season ends in dismay again for the Treaty but they played their part in a memorable contest in ridiculous conditions yesterday. As Cyril Farrell said on the Sunday Game: “When a guy gives everything on the pitch and he lies down and he can’t give anything else, you can’t ask much more.” That’ll be some comfort over a long winter. Perhaps.
It’s official: Dublin are an unstoppable juggernaut. Jim Gavin still insisted after the rout for Monaghan on Saturday evening that the Dubs were tested at Croker but Donegal will hope to do a lot, lot more than their Ulster colleagues next time out in the last four.
Brian Cody — 13 out of 16 semi-finals — has again negotiated the semi-final stage. And he looked as animated as ever on the drenched sideline all afternoon.
“It was a tremendous battle,” he said afterwards, ” here were savage questions asked of us today but, thanks be to God, we were able to answer them.”
Boom!
As the heavens opened and the TV signal seemed to wobble for those of us at home, the intensity on the pitch stepped up a level.
While, no doubt, this Limerick team will be back, Donal O’Grady is one of those with plenty of miles on the clock.
The 33-year-old was central to everything that went on yesterday though. He was one of the Munster side’s best performers all afternoon but should probably have seen the line. O’Grady was booked initially for a wild stroke… and then did this:
https://vine.co/v/MV2X0M0jeTg
He got away with it but was quickly called ashore by TJ Ryan.
Man of the match
The Sunday Game gave the prize to Limerick’s Seamus Hickey — whose interview was very emotional and honest — but you thought Richie Hogan of Kilkenny was the best player on the park yesterday.
There was a lad called Tommy Walsh from Tullaroan playing corner back for the Kilkenny minor hurlers on Sunday afternoon. A first cousin of his namesake.
Time is a flat circle, as they might say on True Detective.
New balls please
The crazy conditions forced some of the game’s best hurlers to improvise at Croker.
Shane Dowling scored this one-handed, tennis-style point in the first half.
https://vine.co/v/MVQEHB6DXBO
And then were eight
We know a lot more about the Ladies Football championship this morning. The champions Cork will face Mayo in the quarter-finals while Dublin and Kerry will also face off. The tie of the round, however, could well turn out to be the meeting of Connacht champions Galway and Monaghan, beaten All-Ireland finalists last year. Check out more here.
Down to four in the camogie
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
There was two games down for consideration on Saturday in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Camogie championship at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
As expected, there was never much between champions Galway and Clare in their much-anticipated quarter-final. But in a game that was halted at one stage because of a biblical downpour, Galway came through on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-14.
Cork, meanwhile, advanced as expected from the other quarter-final but there was no surprise either that Offaly made them work all the way to the way to the final whistle before prevailing 2-21 to 1-15 after a fantastic game.
The wins over the weekend for Donegal and Dublin mean the four counties in the All-Ireland senior football semi-finals this year after the same four counties in the minor semi-finals. Production lines are going well.
Can anyone stop the Dubs?
No, not in this form.
As the crowds made their way out of the stadium some Dublin supporters expressed concern their team had yet to be tested. They have been, they just passed those tests in third gear.
Following up a 16-point Leinster final win with a 17-point one in the quarter-final – despite missing three clear goal chances in the second half – shows just how far ahead of everyone else Dublin are. Read more talking points here
Doctor, doctor
You think you’ve seen it all and then something happens on a pitch that becomes the talking point.
No one saw this one coming.
The Donegal team doctor was thrown to the ground by an Armagh player on Saturday evening. The player, Aaron Findon, was booked for his actions. What do you think:
https://vine.co/v/MVd9MTn6HOe
Afterwards Joe Brolly and Des Cahill got into it on RTÉ radio. Got into real good.
The Derry native said it was no big deal and that Cahill was ‘overblowing’ the incident. Listen here:
https://soundcloud.com/rtesport/brolly-push-on-doctor-no-big-deal
Ticket to ride
The taxi expenses must be cut for the likes of the aforementioned Cahill and Brolly these days. The outspoken football pundit hopped in a Garda vehicle on the way to Croker on Saturday evening.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
While Des and co took a spin to Donnybrook from these guys after Sunday’s action. Fair dues.
Your GAA weekend review
Talking points
Back where he belongs
As Ronan O’Gara said:
Boom!
As the heavens opened and the TV signal seemed to wobble for those of us at home, the intensity on the pitch stepped up a level.
This shoulder seemed to sum it up:
Credit: Balls
A cut above
While, no doubt, this Limerick team will be back, Donal O’Grady is one of those with plenty of miles on the clock.
The 33-year-old was central to everything that went on yesterday though. He was one of the Munster side’s best performers all afternoon but should probably have seen the line. O’Grady was booked initially for a wild stroke… and then did this:
https://vine.co/v/MV2X0M0jeTg
He got away with it but was quickly called ashore by TJ Ryan.
Man of the match
The Sunday Game gave the prize to Limerick’s Seamus Hickey — whose interview was very emotional and honest — but you thought Richie Hogan of Kilkenny was the best player on the park yesterday.
Tweets of the day
‘You should see the cousin’
There was a lad called Tommy Walsh from Tullaroan playing corner back for the Kilkenny minor hurlers on Sunday afternoon. A first cousin of his namesake.
Time is a flat circle, as they might say on True Detective.
New balls please
The crazy conditions forced some of the game’s best hurlers to improvise at Croker.
Shane Dowling scored this one-handed, tennis-style point in the first half.
https://vine.co/v/MVQEHB6DXBO
And then were eight
We know a lot more about the Ladies Football championship this morning. The champions Cork will face Mayo in the quarter-finals while Dublin and Kerry will also face off. The tie of the round, however, could well turn out to be the meeting of Connacht champions Galway and Monaghan, beaten All-Ireland finalists last year. Check out more here.
Down to four in the camogie
There was two games down for consideration on Saturday in the Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Camogie championship at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
As expected, there was never much between champions Galway and Clare in their much-anticipated quarter-final. But in a game that was halted at one stage because of a biblical downpour, Galway came through on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-14.
Cork, meanwhile, advanced as expected from the other quarter-final but there was no surprise either that Offaly made them work all the way to the way to the final whistle before prevailing 2-21 to 1-15 after a fantastic game.
Little and large
Can anyone stop the Dubs?
No, not in this form.
As the crowds made their way out of the stadium some Dublin supporters expressed concern their team had yet to be tested. They have been, they just passed those tests in third gear.
Following up a 16-point Leinster final win with a 17-point one in the quarter-final – despite missing three clear goal chances in the second half – shows just how far ahead of everyone else Dublin are. Read more talking points here
Doctor, doctor
You think you’ve seen it all and then something happens on a pitch that becomes the talking point.
No one saw this one coming.
The Donegal team doctor was thrown to the ground by an Armagh player on Saturday evening. The player, Aaron Findon, was booked for his actions. What do you think:
https://vine.co/v/MVd9MTn6HOe
Afterwards Joe Brolly and Des Cahill got into it on RTÉ radio. Got into real good.
The Derry native said it was no big deal and that Cahill was ‘overblowing’ the incident. Listen here:
https://soundcloud.com/rtesport/brolly-push-on-doctor-no-big-deal
Ticket to ride
The taxi expenses must be cut for the likes of the aforementioned Cahill and Brolly these days. The outspoken football pundit hopped in a Garda vehicle on the way to Croker on Saturday evening.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
While Des and co took a spin to Donnybrook from these guys after Sunday’s action. Fair dues.
What’s next?
Oh just the small matter of Tipp v Cork, the first meeting of the two Munster rivals at Croke Park ever. See you back here, this time next week.
Kilkenny’s survival, Limerick’s heartache and the rest of today’s hurling talking points
Cork to face Mayo in last eight of Ladies Football championship
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