Gaelic Games

Niall Keenan
BBC Sport NI contributor

Image source, Getty Images

Donegal midfielder Hugh McFadden feels recent kick-out tendencies under the new rules have contributed to greater aggression around the middle of the field.

In the first half of Sunday's Division One league final, McFadden's team-mate Michael Murphy was shown a yellow card after coming together with Kerry's Dylan Casey with referee David Gough seeming to indicate a striking motion.

Replays showed Murphy making contact with Casey, with many post-game opinions suggesting the Donegal attacker was lucky to avoid red.

Long kick-outs have become a feature of the game since the inception of the new rules and McFadden feels that is leading to an increse of heavy challenges as players scrap for possession.

"I was asked a question there about how the box kick-out has affected the game -around the middle of the field now is so attritional," he said at Monday's Ulster Championship launch.

"The increase in breaking ball compared to the old game has gone through the roof too.

"There's so many aggressive, fit, strong, athletic, fast players running around breaking ball - the collisions now are just rising all the time."

Murphy came out of retirement last season after two years and excelled in Sunday's showdown, putting up 1-5.

Despite being 36, the Glenswilly native is showing no signs of slowing down, and McFadden was glowing in his praise of the 2009 Young Footballer of Year hailing Murphy's ability, longevity and mentality.

"He always makes the right decisions, he's a great team player.

"His passes sets up players that go in a certain direction - the way he plays encourages the team to make the right decisions as well in terms of his delivery and how he plays the game.

"That might sound very simple - he just plays football very well. He just makes the right decision so many times and is just an excellent footballer.

"I can't put a short summary together now to eulogise his strengths and his dedication to the Donegal jersey but just the top form and the credit he deserves for being in the physical capabilities, giving his time out of the game, and he's playing fantastic football and it's exciting for all of us so fingers crossed that it lasts for the summer."

Image source, BBC Sport

This week, the GAA Social sits down with former Wexford footballer Matty Forde.

The towering Ballyfad man is regarded as one of the greats of the game, winning an All-Star in 2008 as the Slaneysiders confounded expectations to reach that year's All-Ireland semi-final.

However, they were far from a flash in the pan, having reached the 2005 league final, beaten by an Armagh side that included none other than Oisin McConville.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Forde talks football and family, discussing the modern game, the glory days in the purple and gold, while opening up on the recent loss of his father, Paddy.

Listen to The GAA Social's interview with Matty Forde on BBC Sounds

Image source, Inpho

Meath rescued a 0-11 to 1-8 draw against Armagh which saved their top flight status and relegated Dublin from Division One.

Armagh were not assured of their own survival prior to the final round of games, but were in a relatively healthy position with a number of results required to go against them if they were to face the exit door.

As it was, the point was more than enough for them as they remain in Division One and led for most of Sunday's game in Summerhill before Marion Farrelly score a vital equaliser for the Royals.

The hosts opened with scores from Rachel Casserly and Marion Farrelly, but wind-assisted Armagh took charge with two from Kelly Mallon followed by points from Aimee and Blaithin Mackin.

Meath's Ciara Smyth went close to a goal, but Armagh's Mallon made no mistake at the other end and while the hosts hit back with two scores, Armagh were five up at the break with the Mackin sisters on target.

With their Division One future in real trouble, Meath reponded well in the second half as Casserly pointed either side of one from Farrelly.

Meadhbh Byrne made it a one-point game, but Armagh rallied through Mallon and Aimee Mackin as it seemed the Orchard were on course for victory, yet a late Meath rally saw them pick off scores through Smyth and Duggan before Farrelly found the vital equaliser.

Donegal sealed their promotion from Division Two with a 0-11 to 0-3 win over Wexford and will join Cavan in the top flight next year.

The Breffni side had already sealed their place in Division One entering the weekend, so their 1-15 to 2-9 defeat by Westmeath was not fatal to the prospects of a place in the division's final.

Tyrone missed out on promotion despite a 5-10 to 5-5 win over Tipperary, but Antrim are on the up as they sealed their place in Division Two thanks to a 2-8 to 1-9 victory over Down in a winner-takes-all clash in Newry.

Fermanagh closed out their Division Three campaign with a six-point win over Limerick.

LGFA National League results

Division One

Dublin 2-8 Cork 1-6

Kerry 2-10 Kildare 2-9

Meath 0-11 Armagh 1-8

Waterford 2-12 Galway 0-10

Division Two

Westmeath 1-15 Cavan 2-9

Donegal 0-11 Wexford 0-3

Mayo 2-14 Monaghan 0-9

Tyrone 5-10 Tipperary 5-5

Division Three

Antrim 2-8 Down 1-9

Clare 2-9 Roscommon 2-9

Laois 0-9 Louth 0-8

Fermanagh 2-10 Limerick 1-7

Division Four semi-finals

Carlow 4-11 Offaly 2-8

Leitrim 2-10 Sligo 1-11 (aet)

John McGovern
BBC Sport NI contributor

Image source, Inpho

Down secured the Division Three title as they saw off Wexford 0-21 to 0-18 after extra time at Croke Park in a final that carried significant All-Ireland implications.

The Mournemen started brightly, with Odhran Murdock claiming the throw-in and helping to set up Miceal Rooney for the opening score inside a minute.

Wexford responded immediately through Niall Hughes and the sides traded early points, with Division Three top scorer Pat Havern and Sean Nolan prominent.

The first half was finely balanced, with neither side able to pull clear. Pairic Hughes edged Wexford ahead with the game's first two-pointer, but Down responded through Havern and Ceilum Doherty.

A key moment then arrived when Eoin Porter was black-carded for hauling down John McGeough, but Murdock's resulting penalty was saved by Darragh Brooks.

Despite that setback, Down finished the half strongly. A two-pointer from Murdock and further scores from Havern and Doherty helped them into a 0-13 to 0-10 interval lead.

Daniel Guinness extended the advantage after the restart, but Wexford seized control of the second half. Mark Rossiter proved influential, landing consecutive two-pointers as the Model County outscored Down for a prolonged period and moved three points clear.

Down endured a 20-minute scoring drought before Doherty ended it, and late points from Liam Kerr and Ryan McEvoy hauled them level at 0-17 apiece.

Tom Close had a chance to win it at the death, but his effort drifted wide, sending the game to extra time.

Down regained control in the additional period. Guinness opened the scoring before substitute Ruairi McCormack and Adam Crimmins pushed them three clear, with Wexford failing to register in the first half of extra time.

Murdock extended the lead further in the closing stages, and although Robbie Brooks pulled one back and Wexford threatened with a series of late goal chances, they could not breach a resolute Down defence.

The victory keeps Conor Laverty's side's hopes of competing in the All-Ireland series as opposed to the Tailteann Cup alive.

The Mournemen must now hope that no county below them in the league rankings qualifies for their provincial final to ensure their place in the Sam Maguire.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Meath and Cork will meet in the Division Two National Football League final on Sunday (13:45 GMT) while Longford and Carlow lock horns in Saturday's Division Four decider (17:00 GMT).

After all four counties achieved their initial aim of promotion from the respective divisions, there is now silverware to compete for at Croke Park over the weekend.

There was emotional scenes at Healy Park last weekend as Cork booked their return to the top tier for the first time in a decade while Meath are back in the big time for the first time since 2020, and have showed that last year's run to the All-Ireland semi-final was no fluke.

Both counties shared three All-Ireland's through the 1990s and can boast seven All-Ireland wins apiece, so the return of two traditional powers will only boost the top division next year.

Due to the renovation works at their Navan home of Pairc Tailteann, the Royals have hosted their 'home' league games at Croke - and have won all three of those fixtures (against Derry, Louth and Tyrone) so they'll be hoping that familiarity and success bears fruit.

But in the latest meeting between the sides in February, Cork came out on top in an entertaining 1-23 to 1-21 win.

In Division Four, Carlow and Longford both lost twice but recovered to take the top two spots in a fiercely competitive division.

Carlow won their opening four games and looked to be easing to promotion before a loss at Longford derailed their cause.

Longford took just three points from a possible six in their opening three games before a last-gasp win over Oisin McConville's Wicklow pushed them into the league final.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

There's likely to be more than a national title on the line as Down square up to Wexford in Saturday's National Football League Division Three final at Croke Park (19:15 GMT).

Kildare's relegation from Division Two complicates the picture in the race to secure Sam Maguire football later this year as the Lilywhites are guaranteed a place in the top tier after winning last year's Tailteann Cup.

That means that the Division Three league winner will secure their place amongst the 16 teams competing for the biggest prize in Gaelic football, as long as no county below them in the league rankings qualifies for their provincial final.

In that instance the winners of Saturday's final would compete for the second-tier Tailteann Cup this summer and not in the All-Ireland series.

The picture does look slightly clearer when you delve into who beneath Down and Wexford are likely to reach their provincial finals. The most likely candidate to reach their respective final is Clare (Munster) but that would mean they would have to beat reigning All-Ireland champions Kerry to reach that final.

Of course, Conor Laverty's side could offset all of these permutations by reaching the Ulster final themselves, but they have been placed on the tougher side of the draw and would have to beat both Donegal (away) and likely Armagh (or Tyrone) to get there.

The Mourne men got a taste for the top tier action last year, beating Louth and Clare to reach the preliminary quarter-final, before falling to Galway at Pairc Esler.

One thing that is guaranteed is Down's return to Division Two for 2027, immediately bouncing back from relegation in 2025, winning six of their seven league games this spring.

They'll face unlikely opponents in Saturday's decider in Wexford, a side that have secured back to back promotions and were tipped for an immediate return to the basement division before a ball was kicked.

The Model County secured promotion in the most dramatic fashion last week, they trailed favourites Westmeath by two points with three seconds left on the clock, before Sean Ryan fired to the net to steal the league final spot from their opponents.

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Our Lady and St Patrick's College [OLSPCK] claimed the All-Ireland Senior Post-Primary Schools title with a 4-11 to 2-7 win over St Joseph's, Spanish Point.

The east Belfast school became the 13th-straight new winner of the competition with a superb performance against the Clare school in Carlow's Dr Cullen Park.

Four goals in the space of 20 minutes proved decisive with Grace Guest netting twice, while player-of-the-match Evie McHugh and Holly Donnelly also raised green flags.

However, it was the Munster side which was first to hit the net in a wind-assisted opening half with Ellie Hanrahan getting on the end of Emily Shannon's delivery to finish.

The west Clare side would hold the advantage until the 23rd minute when they were rocked by two goals in the space of a minute as McHugh and Guest profited from interceptions to tip the balance in their side's favour.

There were further sightings of goal for the Ulster champions as Abigail Hanvey's effort cleared the bar, but Our Lady and St Patrick's took a 2-5 to 1-3 lead into the break.

St Joseph's rallied early in the second half with two of the opening three scores, but the Belfast side would enjoy a match-winning purple patch which began with Donnelly grabbing a goal following a pass by Rose Horisk.

They would tag on four points on the spin before Guest grabbed her second and their fourth to push the gap out to 14.

That was that despite the Knock college seeing two players sin-binned to St Joseph's one and while the Clare side found a second goal through Simone Considine, it was late consolation as OLSPCK took their title.

Image source, Thomas Niblock

This week, the GAA Social sits down with Anthony Daly, Clare's two-time All-Ireland winning captain.

The Clarecastle man skippered the Banner to a first Liam MacCarthy in 81 years when they overcame Offaly on an emotional day in 1995 before a return to the top in 1997.

Daly would go on to manage Dublin to a first National Hurling League title for 72 years in 2011 before guiding them to the 2013 Leinster title - the county's first in 52 years.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville, Daly recalls those halcyon days of the 1990s as Ger Loughnane's men burst onto the scene and became household names.

For all the highs, there were the disappointments of All-Ireland semi-final defeats as Clare manager in the 2000s before enjoying success with the Dubs.

Listen to The GAA Social's interview with Anthony Daly on BBC Sounds

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Armagh and Kerry played out a thrilling 1-21 to 0-24 draw at the Athletic Grounds which was enough for both to reach their respective goal on the final day in Division One.

Kieran McGeeney's side knew that victory would retain their place in the top flight, but anything less could also do should Dublin fail to beat Galway and with the Dubs pipped late on in Salthill, Armagh beat the drop.

The draw was also enough for Kerry to reach the Division One final thanks to their head-to-head tie-breaker over Mayo and Jack O'Connor's side will now seek to retain their title when they face a repeat of last year's All-Ireland final against Donegal at Croke Park next Sunday.

It seemed Kerry were on their way to record a thumping win early on as they dominated the opening 20 minutes with nine points on the board before Armagh registered.

David Clifford, Dylan Geaney and Joe O'Connor were leading the charge before the hosts got off the mark in the 23rd minute through Cian McConville and this sparked them to life as momentum flipped.

Two-pointers from Darragh McMullen and substitute Conor Turbitt saw them whittle the gap down to one before O'Connor fisted over with the last act of the first half to give Kerry a 0-12 to 0-10 lead.

Armagh picked up where they left off despite a two-pointer from Tom O'Sullivan as two from Ross McQuillan in response preceded Tomas McCormack's equaliser.

Clifford hit back, but Oisin O'Neill found the net for Armagh, finishing on the rebound to give them their first lead, yet another two-pointer from O'Sullivan levelled again.

It was a frantic finish with Clifford and O'Connor nailing two-pointers, while Cian McConville, Oisin Conaty, McMullen and McConville found their range at the other end.

Conaty gave Armagh a late lead only for Sean O'Shea to reply and while the hosts pushed for a late winner, they had to settle for a draw which in the end suited both.

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Donegal booked their place in next week's Division One final with a 3-20 to 3-16 victory over Monaghan in Clones.

On a day of high dram in the top flight, Jim McGuinness' side found the answers to deny already-relegated Monaghan a first win of the campaign.

It wasn't straightforward despite Shea Malone netting his first goal early on to help his side get off to a good start.

The hosts hit back with Andrew Woods finding the net and while a Jason McGee score seemed to reassert Donegal's dominance, Monaghan hit two further goals thanks to a brilliant effort from Stephen O'Hanlon and another from Ryan O'Toole to see them ahead.

It looked like the Farneymen would take a lead into the break, but were rocked by a Jamie Brennan major just before the hooter to see Donegal 2-11 to 3-7 ahead.

It remained tight in the second period with the lead exchanged on a number of occasions as Conor O'Donnell, Peadar Mogan, Michael Langan and Malone found their range for Donegal, while Dessie Ward and Rory Beggan landed two-pointers for the hosts.

The decisive moment came in the 56th minute as a mistake gifted Malone his second goal and while Ryan Whylie, Jack McCarron and O'Toole gave Monaghan late hope, Donegal substitute Finnbarr Roarty sealed victory and top spot in Division One for Donegal.

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Down fell to defeat for the first time in Division Three as Laois emerged with a 2-22 to 0-24 win in Newry.

Conor Laverty's side entered the game with promotion and a place in Saturday's final sealed and that will be against Wexford who stunned Westmeath late on.

At Pairc Esler, Laois made the better start with a Pa Kirwin two-pointer helping them into a five-point lead with Pat Havern leading the Down charge, scoring 11 points on the day.

Still, Laois held a 0-11 to 0-7 lead at the break but Down took control upon the resumption with 12 points in as many minutes with Havern and Odhran Murdock landing two-pointers in this run as the hosts moved seven clear.

However, it would flip once again with Laois substitute Paul Kingston scoring two goals in 10 minutes which were the difference late on when Havern kicked a two-pointer, but Down could not get closer as they fell to defeat for the first time in the campaign.

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A stirring fightback saw Limerick pip already-relegated Fermanagh 2-15 to 0-20 in Rathkeale, but Sligo's dramatic win over Clare condemned the Treaty to the drop.

It looked like Fermanagh would close out a disappointing campaign on a high for long spells, but the Munster side would fight back from nine down to ensure Declan Bonner's men finish bottom.

Oisín Kelm, Ronan McCafferty and Garvan Jones set the Ulster side on their way and they were six ahead after 20 minutes when Darragh McGurn was denied a goal by Limerick goalkeeper Jeffery Alfred.

Still, Fermanagh kicked on and were 11 up after 25 minutes but the hosts finally sprung to life with James Naughton finding the net to give his side hope, but the Ernesiders held a 0-14 to 1-3 lead at the interval.

Limerick began the second half on the positive as they ate into the lead and after Ciaran Corrigan ensured all six starting Fermanagh forwards were on the board, five points from Eliah Riordan had whittled the gap down to two.

The gap was out to three when Tony McCarthy grabbed a second Limerick goal and while Danny Neville edged them ahead, two from Sean Cassidy turned it back in Fermanagh's favour.

However, there was late drama when Rory O'Brien thumped over a two-pointer to snatch victory for Limerick, but news of the Sligo victory would leave them disappointed.

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Antrim made it four wins on the bounce in Division Four, but their 0-18 to 1-14 victory over London in Toome was not enough to secure promotion.

Going into the game, Mark Doran's side needed to win and hope other results fell their way and while they held up their end of the bargain, it didn't go their way elsewhere with Carlow and Longford finishing in the top two positions.

They had to hang on for their win against the Exiles who played the second half with 14 men after Ciaran Diver was shown a red card.

It was an even start to the game before Antrim opened a lead thanks mainly to Dominic McEnhill and Pat Shivers and they led 0-11 to 0-6 at the break with Diver shown that red on the stroke of half-time.

London made a good start to the second period with Conal Gallagher and Joe McGill firing over two-pointers, but Antrim weathered this early storm with Tiernan McCormick, Niall Burns, McEnhill and Shivers all on target as they led by six.

That was quickly whittled down to one with a Nathan Feeney goal followed by a McGill two-pointer and while Adam Loughran and Shivers steadied the hosts, another two-pointer from McGill left it a nervy finish.

Antrim hung on for the victory, but it was not enough to break into the top two as they remain in Division Four for another year.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Tyrone manager Malachy O'Rourke says their Division Two campaign was "difficult" but that progress has been made as they maintained their Division Two status despite a 0-22 to 0-19 defeat to Cork.

The Red Hands started the campaign as one of the favourites to seal promotion back to the top tier, but entered the final day with an outside chance of being relegated to Division Three and the prospect of playing Tailteann Cup football later this summer.

O'Rourke's side lost four of their seven fixtures, drawing once with their only victories coming at home to Cavan and Offaly.

"There's no doubt it has been challenging but we've made progress in some areas," O'Rourke told BBC Sport NI.

"There's a lot of young lads that have come in so we're trying to build a team.

"That involves a wee bit of pain and a wee bit of discomfort I suppose but it's a process you have to go through and you have to stick to your principles."

Tyrone trailed Cork by a point at half-time despite playing with the aid of the breeze, kicking ten first-half wides, and it's clear they will have to improve significantly ahead of their Ulster Championship opener against Armagh on 12 April.

"Overall our performances have been inconsistent. I thought today (defeat to Cork) it was probably the same. We started off poorly but as the game went on we got better.

"It's up to us now to try and build on that and push on over the next couple of weeks because we have a seriously tough battle ahead of ourselves in the Athletic Grounds, but that's it, we'll just have to get ready for it."

The Tyrone boss also confirmed that goalkeeper Niall Morgan will be available for selection for that Armagh clash. The Edendork stopper was not part of the match day panel for the last two league fixtures, with Oisin O'Kane taking the number one jersey.

"He is, of course he is. He missed last week (game against Meath) because of a wedding but he was back in training during the week as you saw he was there today," O'Rourke confirmed.

"It's great, there's three keepers there so the three of them will be fighting it out to get the two spots in the Championship and we're delighted to have them."