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Post by Mickmack on Feb 18, 2017 19:49:03 GMT
Mick, a bit biased there re the kerry midfield duo for UCD, neither of whom played well at all. well you couldnt say that St Marys won the midfield area either. I would say they held their own. Barry and Jack set up the first goal for Basquel. The finishing by UCD was very poor and that was the difference
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 18, 2017 19:49:18 GMT
Mick, a bit biased there re the kerry midfield duo for UCD, neither of whom played well at all. well you couldnt say that St Marys won the midfield area either. I would say they held their own. Barry and Jack set up the first goal for Basquel. The finishing by UCD was very poor and that was the difference
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Post by taggert on Feb 18, 2017 20:34:38 GMT
You couldn't say that but what you could say is that it isn't the first time that a northern team has successfully opted to run the legs off a slower, bigger, one-dimensional unit in midfield rather than contest the game on traditional catch-and-kick terms. There is a reason Marc O'Connor is down under and Barry isn't - mobility and the ability to cover ground has a lot to do with it.
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 18, 2017 22:06:26 GMT
You couldn't say that but what you could say is that it isn't the first time that a northern team has successfully opted to run the legs off a slower, bigger, one-dimensional unit in midfield rather than contest the game on traditional catch-and-kick terms. There is a reason Marc O'Connor is down under and Barry isn't - mobility and the ability to cover ground has a lot to do with it. A bit harsh maybe... It would take a well thought out plan involving 10 or 12 players to counteract the running game. Midfielders would be just a part of that. Anyway, entertaining game overall.
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Post by taggert on Feb 18, 2017 23:31:23 GMT
A fair point.
Must agree re game, excellent contest and best Sigerson final for some time. Certainly the better TEAM won with UCD looking very much a collection of talented individuals but a disjointed unit overall. No doubting the ravenous hunger of St. Marys too....
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Post by kerrygold on Feb 19, 2017 12:32:40 GMT
You couldn't say that but what you could say is that it isn't the first time that a northern team has successfully opted to run the legs off a slower, bigger, one-dimensional unit in midfield rather than contest the game on traditional catch-and-kick terms. There is a reason Marc O'Connor is down under and Barry isn't - mobility and the ability to cover ground has a lot to do with it. There is a lot more to it than just that, better footballing awareness also. By far the pick of the best from the last three minor teams.
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Post by taggert on Feb 19, 2017 13:04:58 GMT
Yes Kerrygold, one did not need not be an einstein to have known that Marc was the cream of the crop. I saw it with my own eyes.
The basis of my argument here was that Barry O'S was not very good in the final, is not blessed with great mobility, and is a poor 2nd best to Marc by comparison.
To that end, we ought not to be pretending that a poor display was anything other than just that.
We also ought not to be expecting him to be the second coming of Jack or Dara O'Shea, as unlike Marc, he is not in that bracket.
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 19, 2017 13:48:59 GMT
Barry o Sullivan and jack Barry played well enough. . I'll be sticking to my guns on this line taggert.
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 20, 2017 17:00:18 GMT
First title for ‘remarkable’ Mary’s
Monday, February 20, 2017Eoghan Cormican, Bekan Sigerson Cup Final
St Mary’s University Belfast 0-13 University College Dublin 2-6
There are 850 students enrolled at St Mary’s University in Belfast. Less than 200 are male.
So when Paddy Tally describes their first Sigerson Cup win in 28 years as “nothing short of remarkable”, you can’t but agree.
Tally, a member of Mickey Harte’s Tyrone backroom team in 2003, is a senior lecturer in PE at the teacher training college.
He began coaching the Sigerson team in 1999.
Every year was an uphill battle given their tiny playing pool. Every year ended in disappointment.
That was until Saturday.
Having taken down DCU and UCC to progress to their first final in 24 years, the northerners continued their giant-killing run to dethrone 2016 champions UCD and, in the process, secure a first Sigerson crown since 1989.
“Most secondary schools would have a bigger pick than us,” said the winning St Mary’s manager.
“Every footballer eligible to play for the college is on this panel. What these guys have done is nothing short of remarkable and I don’t know if there is any comparable in sport.”
Central to their victory were the outstanding performances of Conor Meyler at half-back, Conall McCann at midfield and Kieran McGeary.
All three have played championship for Tyrone, but none were offered scholarships or enticed to enrol at St Mary’s because of their football pedigree.
That’s not how they conduct their business on the Falls Road campus.
“If they come, they come, and we’ll work with them,” continued Tally.
“These guys had to pay for the socks and shorts they wear. These guys are made to pay for everything because I don’t believe in handouts. You don’t get anything easy in sport or life. That’s the mentality we wanted to impress upon these lads.
“These boys have come out of the wee clubs in the different counties in Ulster, they’ve come together and decided they were going to win the Sigerson Cup. And they’ve done it. It is unbelievable. They had to dig very, very deep and they did. They are a credit.”
Mind you, they endured the worst possible start. In a carbon copy of their semi-final, Marys’ defence was rocked by the concession of two early goals.
Playing into the wind, UCD were in dreamland when Colm Basquel finished off a move involving midfield pair Jack Barry and Barry O’Sullivan after 51 seconds. The same player added a second two minutes later.
The response of the Belfast side was to kick nine points in-a-row. Oisín O’Neill landed three frees, while the likes of McCann, Meyler and Cathal McShane also contributed.
A Paul Mannion point ended UCD’s 26-minute barren spell, a rare passage of play that didn’t end with a blue shirt being hounded out of possession. The composure and rigid organisation of their opponents frustrated the Belfield outfit.
Jack McCaffrey was yellow-carded, so too was Eamon Wallace. They’d finish with five players in the book of referee Conor Lane, while Barry O’Sullivan saw black late on.
The 0-9 to 2-1 deficit facing them at half-time was hardly insurmountable. Within 16 seconds of the restart, Conor Mullally had breached the opposition cover. His shot, however, was saved by Mark Reid.
They spent the next quarter of an hour camped in the St Mary’s half. Paul Mannion missed a free and a ’45.
Barry McGinn missed a free. Stephen Coen kicked wide, with McGinn off target for a second occasion. They did everything bar put the ball between the posts.
McShane compounded UCD woes when raising a white flag in a counter-attacking move that was to be repeated time and time again.
McGinn and Conor McCarthy narrowed the gap to the minimum, but John Divilly’s students failed to secure parity.
Corey Quinn and McGeary edged Tally’s side 0-13 to 2-4 clear entering the four minutes of second-half stoppages, where they just about held on.
“Our mistakes, probably, cost us,” said UCD boss Divilly. “We had lots and lots of chances there in the second-half to draw level or go ahead and we did not take them. If you don’t take them, you’re not going to win. St Mary’s have come the hard way. Hats off to them.”
“We had lots and lots of chances there in the second-half to draw level or go ahead and we did not take them. If you don’t take them, you’re not going to win. St Mary’s have come the hard way. Hats off to them.”
Scorers for St Mary’s: O’Neill (0-4, 0-3 frees); K McGeary (0-1 free), C McCann, C McShane (0-2 each); C Meyler, C Corrigan, C Quinn (0-1 each).
Scorers for UCD: C Basquel (2-1); C McCarthy (0-2, 0-1 free); E Wallace, P Mannion, B McGinn (0-1 each).
ST MARY’S: M Reid (Down); R Mooney (Derry), A McKay (Armagh), K Mallon (Armagh); C Byrne (Tyrone), C Mac Iomhar (Armagh), C Meyler (Tyrone); C McCann (Tyrone), O O’Neill (Armagh); C Corrigan (Fermanagh), K McGeary (Tyrone), S McConville (Down); K McKernan (Down), M Fitzpatrick (Antrim), C McShane (Tyrone).
Subs: C Quinn (Down) for McConville (45 mins); J Hannigan (Antrim) for McKay (61).
UCD: C Honan (Meath); E Murchan (Dublin), M Fitzsimmons (Dublin), R McDaid (Dublin); C Mullally (Dublin), S Coen (Mayo), J McCaffrey (Dublin); B O’Sullivan (Kerry), J Barry (Kerry); A McDonnell (Louth), C McCarthy (Monaghan), E Wallace (Meath); P Mannion (Dublin), C Basquel (Dublin), B McGinn (Monaghan).
Subs: L Casey (Tipperary) for McDonnell (HT); T Hayes (Cavan) for Mannion (56); L Moran (Longford) for O’Sullivan (57, bc).
Referee: C Lane (Cork).
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Post by OnTheForty on Feb 21, 2017 14:01:05 GMT
There are 850 students enrolled at St Mary’s University in Belfast. Less than 200 are male. A 4 to 1 female to male ratio? Happy Days! Maybe this explains their success. They will go back as heroes to claim their gladiator tributes Bit like the Clare hurlers in 95 who were a team of bachelors, and apparently enjoyed the fruits of their success.
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Post by buck02 on Feb 21, 2017 16:38:43 GMT
Yes Kerrygold, one did not need not be an einstein to have known that Marc was the cream of the crop. I saw it with my own eyes. The basis of my argument here was that Barry O'S was not very good in the final, is not blessed with great mobility, and is a poor 2nd best to Marc by comparison. To that end, we ought not to be pretending that a poor display was anything other than just that. We also ought not to be expecting him to be the second coming of Jack or Dara O'Shea, as unlike Marc, he is not in that bracket. Interesting taggert. I would argue that Darragh O Se was a very inconsistent player from when he started out on the senior team until he matured as a player in 2000. I see many similarities in Darragh O Se circa 93/94 and Barry O Sullivan now. I think Barry can be a big player for Kerry yet. It might take another 3 or 4 seasons (maybe like it took David Moran) but I think he will get there.
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Post by taggert on Feb 21, 2017 16:52:29 GMT
You may be correct there buck, and I hope you are, but I do believe his lack of overall mobility would be cruelly exposed at county senior level at this juncture in his career. Maybe in time, the other facets of his game will develop to such an extent that he can readily disguise this defeciency. I have been disappointed with Miran since 14 - has been trailing in Fentons shadow.
In the here and now, I will be intrigued to see how Barry fares at u21 - this is his "good year" so to speak and he will be without his midfield ally of 3 years back, Marc OConnor.
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 21, 2017 20:36:56 GMT
I know people lament the departure of Mark o Connor, and so do I, but I think it's a bit invidious to be comparing Barry o Sullivan to him at this stage. I see Barry more along the lines of darragh while Mark is more along the lines of Jacko. A more salient question is how would darragh in his prime cope with the modern running game. Not well I think.
Anyway, mayo are not blessed with the most mobile midfield but their well thought out defensive structure makes up for that and it curbs the running game by the opposition
So rather than lamenting a lack of speed by Barry (not apparent to me by the way), maybe the point is that Kerry should be looking at how a defensive set up can counter the running game in the future. For me Barry was the best minor in 2014 and I hold out big hopes for him.
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Post by kerrygold on Feb 21, 2017 20:45:02 GMT
Barry O'Sullivan will certainly make a Kerry senior championship player. No doubt about that. Interesting comment re Darragh in the modern game, Jacko at his peak would run Darragh into the ground. I'd be more inclined to think of Mark O'Connor as more Micko Connell like than Jacko like.
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kerryexile
Fanatical Member
Whether you believe that you can, or that you can't, you are right anyway.
Posts: 1,117
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Post by kerryexile on Feb 22, 2017 13:54:30 GMT
Barry O'Sullivan will certainly make a Kerry senior championship player. No doubt about that. Interesting comment re Darragh in the modern game, Jacko at his peak would run Darragh into the ground. I'd be more inclined to think of Mark O'Connor as more Micko Connell like than Jacko like. I agree with everything you say there Kerrygold - I always looked on Mark as a young Mick O'. I think it is very unfair to be pigeon holing players who have not yet matured. I think Barry O'Sullivan could develop into fine footballer with a robustness about his game that could be a huge asset.
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 24, 2017 18:49:27 GMT
IT Carlow eliminate UCC in extra-time to reach first Fitzgibbon final 25 Friday, February 24, 2017Declan Rooney
IT Carlow 2-20 UCC 1-20 (AET):
UCC did well to force extra-time in Galway after John Power’s goal and two Michael Breen points, but DJ Carey’s outfit powered on in extra-time and Colin Dunford’s goal nine minutes from time helped them on their way.
It was a super performance from the midland students, who looked the hungrier side for the most part, and with Maher in fine form from placed balls they never trailed to the Cork university.
A goal form Kevin Kelly four minutes from the end of normal time looked to have sealed the win for IT Carlow, but UCC showed great spirit to send the game to extra-time. But they had no answer to Maher’s free taking and Dunford’s goal, as they reached tomorrow’s decider at Pearse Stadium. A Rob O’Shea point got UCC off the mark a minute later, but IT Carlow hit three points in row from Maher, Martin Kavanagh and Chris Bolger to lead 0-4 to 0-1 after 11 minutes.
O’Shea halted IT Carlow’s run with a point, but DJ Carey’s side had an impressive response and Maher and Bolger hit two points in a minute to stretch their lead to four.
Playing into a strong wind UCC were forced to rely on long range shots, mainly because the quality of IT Carlow’s tackling in numbers was so effective.
But the Cork students hit three frees – two from O’Shea and one from Anthony Spillane – to pull within one of their rival by the midway point. But Maher was on form from placed balls, while points from Kavanagh and the impressive Fagan meant they lead by 0-10 to 0-8 at the interval.
The respective number 15 hit points of their teams to start the second-half, but a couple of Maher frees gave IT Carlow a significant 0-13 to 0-9 lead by the 36th minute.
But UCC again came back strongly with four in a row to level the game 0-13 each by the 51st minute – three of those points came from O’Shea.
At the other end Maher and Bolger pushed IT Carlow two points ahead with six minutes remaining, but things got even better for the midlanders when Kevin Kelly hit the net with four minutes to go.
UCC looked a beaten side with that goal, but three minutes later John Power hit back with a goal for the Cork side, while two Breen points levelled the game and sent it to extra-time.
You might have expected that UCC would then power on to the win, but IT Carlow showed huge spirit, fought for every ball and two more Maher points and one from Kelly meant they led by one, 1-18 to 1-17 at the midway point.
But they key score of the game came in the first-minute of the second period. Martin Kavanagh was brilliant in the build up, and his long handpass sent Dunford in on goal, and he made no error from close range. UCC did reply with a couple of points, but each time they did Maher and Bolger hit back to clinch victory.
Scorers for IT Carlow: S Maher 0-11 (6f, 2’65), C Bolger 0-4, K Kelly 1-1, C Dunford 1-0, M Kavanagh 0-2, J Fagan 0-1, E Rowland 0-1 (1f).
Scorers for UCC: R O’Shea 0-7 (5f), M Breen 0-5, J Power 1-1, A Spillane 0-2, J Barron 0-2, A Cadagon 0-1, M O’Connor 0-1, T Devine 0-1.
IT Carlow: E Rowland (Laois); D Palmer (Laois), K Hannaffin (Kerry), R Brown (Waterford); J Doyle (Carlow), D Healy (Meath), D O’Hanlon (Tipeprary); K Kelly (Kilkenny), C Dunford (Waterford); C Dwyer (Laois), M Russell (Tipperary), M Kavanagh (Carlow); J Fagan (Waterford), S Maher (Laois), C Bolger (Kilkenny).
Subs: T Nolan (Tipperary) for Dunford (58), C Dunford for Nolan (60), T Nolan for Fagan (66), J Fagan for Kelly (75), M Redmond (Wexford) for Maher (75).
UCC: J Berry (Cork); I Kenny (Waterford), C Spillane (Cork), S Roche (Waterford); S Kennedy (Tipperary), C Gleeson (Waterford), R Cahalane (Cork); J Barron (Waterford), M Breen (Tipperary); M O’Brien (Waterford), T Devine (Waterford), G O’Brien (Waterford); A Cadagon (Cork), A Spillane (Cork), R O’Shea (Cork).
Subs: J Power (Kilkenny) for G O’Brien (h-t), C O’Leary (Cork) for M O’Brien (39), M O’Halloran (Cork) for S Roche (39), C Roche (Waterford) for Spillane (57), M O’Connor (Cork) for Cahalane (67), S Hegarty (Cork) for Power (78).
Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath).
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 24, 2017 18:50:49 GMT
Kevin Hannafin from Ardfert is the fullback for IT Carlow.
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abù
Full Member
Posts: 134
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Post by abù on Feb 24, 2017 23:56:14 GMT
What is the reason beind the Fitzgibbion final being played tomorrow? Is this normal procedure have semis and final on same weekend? Both teams played their semis today so it's of no great advantage to either team but it is very unfair on the players.
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Post by Annascaultilidie on Feb 25, 2017 8:36:13 GMT
What is the reason beind the Fitzgibbion final being played tomorrow? Is this normal procedure have semis and final on same weekend? Both teams played their semis today so it's of no great advantage to either team but it is very unfair on the players. This has been going on for donkey's years and I have no idea why.
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Post by givehimaball on Feb 25, 2017 11:30:43 GMT
Back in the day both the Fitzgibbon and Sigerson were played off entirely over the course of one weekend. This was when there was a lot less 3rd levels. IIRC it was only recently enough they reduced "finals weekend" to semi-finals and finals, and even then there was a fair few opposed to reducing it down to just 2 games in the weekend.
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 25, 2017 21:14:21 GMT
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2017 Fitzgibbon Cup Final
Mary Immaculate College 3-24 IT Carlow 1-19
Aaron Gillane fired 1-5 as Mary Immaculate College claimed back-to-back Fitzgibbon Cup titles at Pearse Stadium, writes Cóilín Duffy.
Winners for the first time ever last year, the Limerick college failed to trail in this contest, against an IT Carlow side contesting their first ever decider.
Wind assisted, Jamie Wall’s side settled quickest and built up a 0-12 to 0-4 lead after 22 minutes, with two first quarter sideline cuts from Darragh O’Donovan providing two standout scores for the eventual winners.
The loss of Kilkenny’s Kevin Kelly through a hamstring injury, after IT Carlow’s semi-final win over UCC was a major blow, and with a tough extra-time last-four clash behind them, it was always going to be tough to deliver once again inside 24 hours.
Despite an early Mary I onslaught, IT Carlow responded well, with three scores in succession including some from scorer-in-chief Stephen Maher, as the Laoisman helped narrow the gap to five points with four minutes left in the half.
But Mary I responded well with former All-Star Colm Galvin and Man of the Match Cian Lynch ensuring a 0-16 to 0-8 double-scores interval lead, following his third score.
IT Carlow were more composed in the early stages after the restart, with two Maher pointed frees cutting the gap inside four minutes of the throw-in.
In between, Mary I registered three wides, but they would hold their opponents scoreless over the next five minutes, while registering an unanswered 1-2.
Michael O’Neill fired his side’s first score of the half, before O’Donovan fired to the net with a neat one-handed strike, after Luke Meade was the provider.
Conor Twomey extended the lead to 11 points two minutes later, but IT Carlow claimed four of the next five points, with Carlow’s Martin Kavanagh; Maher, and Waterford’s Colin Dunford on target.
Mary I continued to keep their distance, and moved 2-20 to 0-14 ahead with 11 minutes remaining, after Gillane bagged a penalty goal, having been fouled himself, following a long delivery by Conor Twomey.
Maher kept the scoreboard ticking over for IT Carlow and brought his tally to 1-13 by the 56th minute – the goal coming six minutes from time.
The gap stood at seven points with three and a half minutes of normal time left, but IT Carlow wouldn’t score again until injury time – a late point from Charles Dwyer, as a goal from substitute Pa Ryan, after an initial save from Enda Rowland on a Meade shot – ensured Mary I lifted silverware with 11 points to spare.
MARY IMMACULATE COLLEGE: Ciaran Barrett; David Sweeney, Richie English, Eoin Quirke; Conor Twomey (0-3), Ronan Maher (0-4, 3f), Alan Flynn; Colm Galvin (0-1), Stephen Cahill (0-1); Darragh O’Donovan (1-3, 0-2 s/l), Michael O’Neill (0-3), Aaron Gillane (1-5, 1-0pen, 4f); Tadhg Gallagher, Cian Lynch (0-3), Luke Meade (0-1). Subs: Thomas Monaghan for Gallagher (HT); Pa Ryan (1-0) for O’Neill (55); Sean Burke for Gillane (63).
IT CARLOW: Enda Rowland; Dwane Palmer, Kevin Hannafin, Ross Browne; Robert Moran, Damian Healy, Dale O’Hanlon; James Doyle, Colin Dunford (0-2); Martin Kavanagh (0-1), Charles Dwyer (0-2), Stephen Maher (1-13, 12f); Chris Bolger (0-1), Mark Russell, Jack Fagan. Sub: Tommy Nolan for Russell (50).
REFEREE: Brian Gavin (Offaly)
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Post by Mickmack on Feb 25, 2017 21:18:57 GMT
Yet another game dominated by the wind in Pearse Stadium Galway. The hurling standard was very high. Mary I were that bit better all through. Hurling is all about posting long range points nowadays and Mary I excelled at that. They took their 3 goals chances too while Carlow didnt take theirs. The cameras flashed on Jamie Wall the Mary I manager sitting in a wheelchair on the sidelines. There are no words. www.gaa.ie/news/jamie-wall-like-looking-back-former-life/
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