Gaelic Games

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This week on the GAA Social, Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville speak to former Derry goalkeeper Eoin McNicholl.

The 41-year-old, who works in statistics with Ulster GAA, has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.

McNicholl won an All-Ireland minor title in 2002 with the Oak Leaf County, plus MacRory and Hogan Cup medals with St Patrick's College, Maghera, before representing his county at senior level.

Tragedy hit his family 30 years ago when younger sister Clodagh, aged six, died of brain cancer and now Eoin is dealing with his own recent diagnosis for which he is now receiving chemotherapy.

Speaking about his condition to "raise awareness", the Glenullin man tells of finding a lump for which he sought medical advice.

"It was what I needed to hear," the married father of three told the podcast.

"He [doctor] didn't hold anything back, but it was broken down to me in a way I could digest.

"As soon as he said the word 'cancer', it was nearly a moment you see in those war films where someone throws a grenade, all you can hear is ringing but see people talking and you're not hearing what they're saying. He was talking at me for a period of time and I just wasn't taking it in.

"Sinead [his wife] was in a bad way, I probably shed a tear or two but quickly turned into process mode as to what I needed to do."

Eoin underwent surgery the following week and a subsequent CT scan leaving a period of waiting until the next set of results.

"They said after the original surgery, I am 80-85% better, but me being a statistics person, I always feel 85% could be better," he added.

"Chemo can bring that down to two or three percent, so it was a no-brainer."

He admits chemotherapy has been "tough going" but he is "feeling 95% normal now" and has high hopes of a full recovery.

"Fingers crossed that if the next CT scan comes in and the lymph modes are still low, I won't need to go for another round of chemo. I feel like I'm getting there."

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Armagh captain Aidan Forker said that his side "were due one" as they ended an 18-year wait for an Ulster Championship title with a thrilling 2-28 to 0-25 win over Monaghan after extra time.

Playing in their fourth successive Ulster final, having lost the previous three, Kieran McGeeney's side led by seven at one stage of the second half at Clones and looked on course for victory before Monaghan fought back to force extra time.

Oisin O'Neill's goal early in extra time proved crucial as the Orchard County picked up a 15th Ulster title and a first since 2008, with Forker keen to savour the occasion after their recent heartbreak in the competition.

"It's something I've seen in my head for a long time [lifting the Anglo Celt-Cup]. Obviously the last number of years have been tough, but just delighted for the group and the boys who just stuck at it," he told BBC Sport NI.

"So happy for the management team too, we've had some tough days in Ulster. The first six or seven years of my career in Armagh were defeats, four finals in a row, I think we were due one."

Forker believes that Armagh used their experience of previous final defeats to their advantage and that fitness work done in the lead up to the Clones decider helped them to last the course and pick Monaghan off in extra time.

"We've been here before. We were there with Tyrone in the first round [a one-point extra-time victory in April] and we know the work we've done in terms of training and it won out in terms of our legs at the end, we started well in extra time and took our simple scores," he added.

"Delighted it all came together. We were deserved winners in the end."

Watch highlights as Armagh overcome Monaghan 2-28 to 0-25 after extra time at St Tiernach's Park in Clones to win a first Ulster Championship title since 2008.

Read more: Armagh end their 18-year wait for Ulster honours

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Armagh's Oisin Conaty says that their three consecutive defeats in Ulster Senior Football finals are "a big driving factor" ahead of this year's decider against Monaghan.

During their semi-final, Armagh thrashed Down 3-33 to 0-14 to book their spot in their fourth successive final as they also broke the record for the highest single-team score in an Ulster SFC match.

The side will now aim to win their first Ulster title since 2008 after losing the last three finals, one in extra time and the other two after a penalty shootout.

"It would mean everything," Conaty replied when asked what it would mean to beat Monaghan on 17 May.

"You know, that's the medal we've all been chasing. Three Ulster finals, three losses, so it's a big driving factor.

"It's the medal that we don't have in there. So, focus goes towards Monaghan and getting that medal, hopefully, in our back pockets."

Armagh's opponents Monaghan secured their spot in the decider for the first time since 2021 after an impressive comeback from 10 points down to beat Derry 1-30 to 3-23.

Conaty added that Kieran McGeeney's side will be prepared for a tight match against a tough opposition.

"We've seen the players they have and the team they have," the All-Ireland champion from 2024 continued.

"It's going to be another battle, like Ulster always is, especially an Ulster final here. So, our focus goes towards them and the qualities they bring.

"Hopefully we get over the line this time."

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Antrim defeated Westmeath 2-29 to 2-20 at Corrigan Park in Saturday's Joe McDonagh Cup game but Down lost out 4-28 to 0-27 to Laois at O'Moore Park.

Laois's win over the Mournemen means that they edge closer to a third McDonagh Cup final in a row, with Carlow already assured of contesting the decider.

Aaron Dunphy starred with a points tally of 3-5, including a second-half hat-trick, while Stephen Maher grabbed eight points to become his county's all-time leading scorer in the championship.

Down trailed 0-18 to 0-11 at the interval and their deficit increased further in the second period.

Pearse Og McCrickard top-scored for them with 0-15 but their hopes of making the decider hang by a thread at best.

They need to beat Westmeath in the final round of fixtures, hope that Laois lose to London and Antrim defeat Carlow, and emerge with a huge swing in points difference also.

Antrim clinched a comfortable nine-point victory over Westmeath.

Darragh McCormack and Oisin Donnelly traded goals late in the first half, with Eoin Keyes finding the net for the visitors in the second period, and Joseph McLaughlin scoring Antrim's second goal.

McLaughlin and Seaan Elliott contributed 1-4 and 0-7 respectively for the Saffrons, while David Williams accumulated 10 points for Westmeath.

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Down opened their Tailteann Cup campaign with a comfortable 1-27 to 0-16 win against Leitrim at Pairc Esler.

The 2024 winners bounced back from their thumping Ulster semi-final defeat to Armagh 13 days ago and the agony of missing out on All-Ireland qualification to pick up a morale-boosting victory in Newry.

It was an even start to the game with the sides trading early scores before the Mourne men pulled away midway through the first half with four successive scores, including two two-pointers from Pat Havern and Ronan Burns.

Leitrim registered a two-pointer of their own from Killian Gaffey to reduce the deficit to four points as Down held a 0-12 to 0-8 half-time advantage.

The Division Three champions started the second half strongly and increased their lead courtesy of another two-pointer, this time from Daniel McGuinness and three more points in a row.

Conor Laverty's side continued to dominant and had another spell in the second period in which they killed any hopes of a Leitrim fightback as they rattled off four more successive points before Ruairi McCormack added a goal.

McCormack palmed home after Ceilum Doherty had teed him up as Down capitalised on a poor Leitrim restart.

The two sides then exchanged some late scores as Down recorded a 14-point victory.

They will now face Offaly in Tullamore in Round 2A on Saturday, 23 May, while Leitrim will take on Carlow in Round 2B.

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Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney has made no changes in personnel for Sunday's Ulster Senior Football Championship final against Monaghan in Clones [16:15 BST].

The Orchard men were 28-winners over Down in their semi-final and the same 15 has been named, albeit with some positional tweaks.

Greg McCabe is named in the half-back line with Joe McElroy into midfield alongside Jason Duffy and Andrew Murnin selected in the forwards, while semi-final top-scorer Conor Turbitt will wear the number 11 jersey.

Blaine Hughes retains his place in goal behind a settled full-back line, while McKay's move into the half-backs will see him start on the opposite wing from Jarlath Og Burns with Tiernan Kelly in the middle.

McGeeney has been boosted by the return to the match day squad of 2024 All-Ireland winning captain Aidan Forker who has been absent through injury, but takes his place on the bench, while Ross McQuillan is also named among the subs after missing the Down game due to a calf strain.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Paddy Burns; Greg McCabe, Tiernan Kelly, Jarlath Og Burns; Joe McElroy, Jason Duffy; Darragh McMullen, Conor Turbitt, Tomas McCormack; Cian McConvile, Andrew Murnin, Oisin Conaty.

Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Gareth Murphy, Oisin O'Neill, Ross McQuillan, Daniel Magee, Ciaran Mackin, Barry McCambridge, Ryan Duffy, Aidan Forker, Tomas Galvin, Rory Grugan, Aaron O'Neill, Callum O'Neill, Padraig O'Keefe, Callum O'Neill.

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Monaghan will be without Louis Kelly for Sunday's Ulster final against Armagh in Clones [16:15 BST] but manager Gabriel Bannigan is boosted by the return of Gary Mohan and Ryan Wylie to the mach day squad.

Kelly, who started in the victories over Cavan and Derry earlier in the competition, is ruled out with an Achilles injury and in his absence, Karl Gallagher will move into midfield and Aaron Carey named in the half-forward line.

With Kelly out, Darragh McElearney gets the nod to start in defence but this is the only change in personnel from the semi-final win over Derry.

That means Bannigan has resisted the temptation to start Bobby McCaul who made a huge impact when introduced against the Oak Leafs, as the 20-year-old forms part of a strong bench that also includes Mohan, Wylie, U20 star Max Maguire, semi-final hero Jack McCarron and Ryan McAnespie who is still returning to full fitness.

While Mohan and Wylie are ready to be called upon, Sunday's final has come just a little too early for Fionan Carolan who is still recovering from a hamstring problem.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Darragh McElearney, Ryan O'Toole, Dylan Byrne; Cameron Dowd, Killian Lavelle, Dessie Ward; Micheal McCarville, Karl Gallagher; Aaron Carey, Micheal Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon; Conor McCarthy, Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney.

Subs: Kian Mulligan, David Garland, Robbie Hanratty, Bobby McCaul, Gary Mohan, Max Maguire, Ryan McAnespie, Shane Hanratty, Oisin McGorman, Jack McCarron, Ryan Wylie.

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Tyrone remain on track for a third Under-20 All-Ireland title in a row after a 2-12 to 0-13 win over Kildare in a tense semi-final.

The Red Hands led by five points at the break as Kilare pushed the holders at Breffni Park.

Key forward Shea McDermott netted in the 29th minute as Tyrone led by 1-6 to 0-4 at half time.

Led by Jimmy Lynch, who ended the game with six points to his name, the Lilywhites cut into Tyrone's lead and the margin was down to one point as the game entered the final quarter.

But the Red Hands edged clear again when Conor O'Neill landed a two-pointer and Darragh Donaghy netted in the 49th minute, and that was enough to get over the line.

The Red Hands have won three of the last four deciders and are now one game away from a third title in a row.

They will face Kerry in the final after the Kingdom, who beat Roscommon by 3-17 to 0-17 after extra-time.

In a tense semi-final, Daniel Kirby, Paddy Lane, and Tomas Kennedy all netted in extra-time as Kerry pulled clear in the closing stages.

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Monaghan captain Micheal Bannigan feels Armagh are capable of repeating their impressive semi-final win over Down when they face the Farney men in Sunday's Ulster Senior Football Championship final in Clones [16:15 BST].

Less than 24 hours after Monaghan's thrilling semi-final victory over Derry, the Orchard men romped to a 28-point win which saw them through to a fourth-straight provincial decider.

While they have lost the past three in heartbreaking fashion, the manner of their victory over Down has Kieran McGeeney's side enter this final as favourites to end their 18-year wait for an Anglo Celt Cup triumph and Bannigan feels the challenge his team face is whether they can match that level of performance.

"I think they definitely can [repeat the Down performance]," Bannigan told BBC Sport NI.

"They performed very well the last two games and weren't bad against Tyrone either, but the question is if we can get up there and match them.

"It's another game of football. Win it and you get all the plaudits but you have to put in your head that you're playing Armagh in a game of football and can we be better over 70 minutes?"

It took a dramatic two-pointer from Jack McCarron after referee Noel Mooney initially thought the game was over before reversing the decision for Monaghan to force extra-time and then a two-pointer with the final kick by Rory Beggan to win it in the additional period.

Despite trailing by double digits in the second period, Bannigan always had faith they could keep their bid for a first Ulster title since 2015 on track.

"At half-time we said we'd given ourselves a mountain to climb, but we've put ourselves in that position before and came close to climbing it," he added.

"We know we can reel them back in with two-pointers so we never thought it was gone."

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Tyrone secured top spot in the Ulster Senior Championship round-robin with a 1-10 to 0-8 win over Armagh at Healy Park.

The home side led 1-7 to 0-5 after a lively first half before thwarting a late comeback from Armagh to secure the victory.

The result will boost Tyrone's confidence before the two counties meet again in the Ulster LGFA Senior Championship final on Sunday, 24 May.

Kelly Mallon may have registered the first point of the afternoon for Armagh, but Maeve Maxwell's goal put Tyrone ahead early on.

Niamh O'Neill and Niamh Reel traded points before Aoife Quinn fisted over as the busy half progressed.

Emma Conroy and Sarah Quigley then split the posts for the Orchard County, while Elle McNamee, Maxwell and Aoife Horisk slotted over for the hosts.

It was a much slower start to the second half with Red Hand midfielder Meabh Mallon scoring the opening point after 12 minutes before Tyrone responded through Maxwell once again.

Armagh pushed for a late comeback with points from Maeve Lennon and Eimear McConaghy closing the gap, but it was not enough and Tyrone sealed the win with a late point from Horisk.

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Antrim are off the mark in the Joe McDonagh Cup with a 1-22 to 4-9 victory over London in Ruislip.

Following a turbulent couple of weeks which followed their defeat by Laois, the Saffrons held on in the face of a late London rally to significantly ease any relegation fears, with the Exiles now rooted to the bottom of the table.

It was something of a stress test for Davy Fitzgerald's side that looked to be powering home when leading by nine with 10 minutes to play, but the hosts made it an uncomfortable finish with three goals down the stretch before losing Padraig Muldoon to a second booking and James McNaughton's pointed free finally put the issue to bed.

There was little to choose between the teams for much of the opening half with Seaan Elliott landing half of Antrim's 10 points, while Ronan McGrady notched four for the hosts, yet Antrim held a 0-10 to 0-7 advantage with Conal Cunning (two), Keelan Molloy, Conor Johnston and Conall Bohill also on target.

Paul Boyle stretched the gap early in the second period before London hit the first of their goals through Paul Kennedy and a McGrady free levelled it.

Antrim replied with the next three points and after London's Sean Glynn hit back, Cunning found the net for Antrim who tagged on another four points to move nine ahead.

Glynn replied with London's second goal, but points from Jack McCloskey, Molloy and McNaughton initially eased Antrim nerves.

However, goals from Jack Morrissey and Conor Byrne reduced the gap to three in added time as London threatened a great escape, but Muldoon's second caution was further punished by McNaughton from the free as Antrim claimed a badly-needed win.

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Down suffered their first defeat in the Joe McDonagh Cup as they fell to a 3-17 to 2-17 loss against Carlow at McKenna Park.

After two wins from their first two games, the Mourne men were beaten in Ballycran, despite a spirited second-half display in which they fought back to wipe out a 10-point deficit at one stage.

The two teams traded early scores before Carlow rattled off six successive points to pull ahead.

They added a goal on the stroke of half-time as Martin Kavanagh fired home beyond Pearse Smyth to give the Barrowsiders a 1-9 to 0-5 lead at the break.

Down were playing with the wind in the second half, but were dealt an early blow when James Doyle netted a second goal for Carlow soon after the restart to further stretch their advantage.

The hosts responded well to the setback and reduced the gap with a goal of their own as Donal Hughes found the net.

They would then score the next eight points to move into within touching distance, before a second goal from Pearse Óg McCrickard drilled them into the lead for the first time since the early stages of the game.

Momentum then swung back in the favour of Carlow, with Kavanagh, who notched 1-10 in the game, key to them getting back on level terms, before a third goal saw them retake the lead.

Paddy Boland rattled home with Kavanagh adding three late frees to give Carlow a narrow three-point victory.