Fintan Burke confident Leinster final letdown is in rearview mirror
Galway full-back Fintan Burke laments that they went away from their preferred style in the Leinster final but is confident they've learned from their mistakes ahead of the quarter-final.
The hurling side of the county was enveloped by gloom after their latest misfire against Kilkenny in a provincial decider, the fourth such defeat in the last six years and possibly the most demoralising.
In his post-match press conference, Micheál Donoghue said that Galway failed to "implement their own style" and had spent the first half "lorrying it from too far out and Huw Lawlor was dominant".
Thirteen points down in the second half and with the contest apparently petering out to a dismal conclusion, Galway did rally, bringing it back to a four-point game before Mossy Keoghan capitalised on a goalkeeping error to put a stop to the comeback.
Burke is frustrated that Galway played so much of the game on Kilkenny's terms but says the late burst was an indication of what they were trying to achieve.
"We have a lot to work on, given our performances," Burke told RTÉ Sport.
"But I think there are a lot of positives. Inside the group, we see the way we're trying to play. It's coming to fruition.
"We just need to bring that for 75 minutes, more than for 10 or 15 minute spells.
"That was kind of us hurling how we want to hurl. It's disappointing how we went away from what we were trying to do. We probably were OK for the first 20 minutes.
"They obviously got the goal just before half-time which was a bit of a killer. We probably went back into our shells and didn't express ourselves as much as we'd like to.
"We probably played the game on their terms."
At the beginning of the season, it was signalled that Galway were entering a transitional period. All-Ireland winning manager Donoghue returned to the hotseat on a four-year term and a remit to refresh the side. Stalwarts from the 2010s like Joseph Cooney, Gearóid McInerney and Adrian Touhey all departed the panel before the league.
However, the team is still notably reliant on veterans from the 2017 All-Ireland success, with Cathal Mannion carrying an inordinate amount of the scoring load, David Burke still roving around midfield and Daithí Burke a reassuring presence in the full-back line.
There have been some new-ish faces, with the likes of John Fleming nailing down a regular spot at wing-forward. Burke insists the perceived transition period will take some time.
"Management have been before and they're bringing a nice new group of young players who are bedding into the time.
"It takes time. It's not going to happen overnight. We know that. But we also don't want to use that as an excuse.
"We want success now. But it probably will take a bit of time - but hopefully not too much time."
On the flipside, Galway's quarter-final record has been considerably better than their Leinster final run over the past decade or so.
The Tribesmen are on a run of five straight wins at this stage of the competition, stretching back to their Johnny Glynn-inspired demolition of Cork in the 2015 quarter-final.
Two of their last three wins in this round came against Tipperary, Aidan Harte's late goal turning the 2020 encounter in Galway's direction.
In 2023, Galway were far superior to Liam Cahill's side, with only wasteful shooting preventing a lop-sided scoreline.
While they are deemed heavy outsiders against a Tipp team who appear rejuventated in 2025, Burke is confident they have put their Leinster final disappointment behind them.
"The sooner we can get over the last game, the better. You spend a day or two looking back and trying to figure out what went wrong and what you can improve on.
"Then, the games are coming so fast, you don't have time to ponder. You're back in training and looking forward to the next day."
Watch the All-Ireland Hurling Championship quarter-finals, Limerick v Dublin and Galway v Tipperary, on Saturday from 3.30pm. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.15pm.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Sarah Healy produces lifetime best to take second in 1,500m at Diamond League in Paris
Another terrific sprint finish by Sarah Healy saw her nail second place in the 1,500 metres at the Meeting de Paris on Friday night, improving her lifetime best to 3:57.15 in the process. On a perfect evening for running inside the Stade Charlety, the eighth stop on the Diamond League circuit, Healy might well have scored another victory too, as Kenya's Nelly Chepchirchir just held on for the win in 3:57.02. Just like she did in winning the European Indoor title over 3,000m last March, Healy bided her time over the last 150 metres, after holding sixth place at the bell. Entering the homestretch in third, she kicked past the top Ethiopian Birke Haylom, but just ran out of track when trying to run down Chepchirchir Healy's time improved her lifetime best of 3:57.46, clocked at the same meeting last year. Only Ciara Mageean's Irish record of 3:55.87 from 2023 is faster, and that may well come under threat before the summer is out. READ MORE It was only Healy's second outdoor 1,500m race this season, after she also produced a magnificent finishing kick to win the 1,500m at the Rome Diamond League a fortnight ago. The 24-year-old had already improved her 3,000m best to 8:27.02 in finishing third in the Rabat Diamond League last month. Haylom held on for third in 3:57.50, with Healy's training partner Georgia Hunter Bell sixth in 3:58.06. Mark English was also back on track just over a week after racing the 800m at the Oslo Diamond League, and the 32-year-old continued his rich vein of form over the distance with a sixth-place finish in 1:43.98 – breaking the 1:44-barrier for only the second time. English did get slightly boxed at the back after the first lap, in another stacked field of 13 runners, moving up five places in the last 200m. Victory on the night went to Mohamed Attaoui from Spain in 1:42.73, just ahead of Josh Hoey from the US, who clocked 1:43.00 – and like English is also coached by Justin Rinaldi. English broke the 1:44 barrier for the first time with his Irish record of 1:43.92 to take the win in Hengelo earlier this month, which smashed his previous Irish record of 1:44.34 which he set in Bydgoszcz, Poland last month. Although Rhasidat Adeleke wasn't racing in Paris, after back-to-back 400m races in Oslo and Stockholm where she finished fourth and sixth respectively, she'll no doubt have watched the Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino make her Diamond League season debut. Paulino produced a stunning victory and meeting record time of 48.81 seconds, improving the mark of 49.12 she set here two years ago. The Olympic champion finished strongest of all, getting past her old rival Salwa Eid Naser from Bahrain, second in the Olympics last summer, who clocked 48.85, with newcome Martina Weil from Chile also breaking 50 seconds to nail third in 49.83, a national record. Azeddine Habz also delighted the Paris crowd when winning the 1,500m in a French record of 3:27.49, the top-six all running sub-3:30. Jimmy Gressier followed that with a French record in the 5,000m, running 12:51.59 to finish fourth behind Yomif Kejelcha from Ethiopia, who won in 12:47.84. The World Championships in Tokyo may still be just under three months away, but times are fast heating up.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Derry jump to fourth with win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park
League of Ireland: Shelbourne 0 Derry City 1 (Duffy 55) A piece of Michael Duffy magic undid Shelbourne at Tolka Park as Derry City won for the first time in five outings to Dublin this season. Winger Duffy's glorious second half finish was no more than Tiernan Lynch's side deserved as they avenged their opening-night defeat to the champions in Drumcondra. Shelbourne can have few complaints as Derry leapfrog them up to fourth place in the table having controlled the pattern of the game for an hour, Damien Duff's Reds only really coming alive after they had fallen behind. In stiflingly warm conditions, with the temperature registering 24 degrees at kick-off, Shelbourne began brightly as they initially took the game to their visitors. READ MORE But it was Derry who were first to threaten, and on the double at that. The first chance on eight minutes stemmed from sloppy Shels play as JJ Lunney's pass was easily intercepted by Duffy. That set up Liam Boyce whose attempted chip over Conor Kearns had just too much on it. A minute later Shels were stretched at the back as Gavin Whyte put Boyce in behind down the right. Kearns did enough to narrow the angle with the striker's dink bobbling wide across goal. Shels responded with a promising opening of their own from the game's first corner on 11 minutes. Sam Bone in action for Shelbourne. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Harry Wood's delivery was on the money for Sean Boyd who rose above everyone to plant his firm header inches over Brian Maher's crossbar. Passing the ball well, with Sadou Diallo and Carl Winchester influential in the middle of the park, Derry began to control the game as Shels were struggling to get on the ball. Despite their possession though, Derry weren't really hurting Shelbourne, who seemed content to sit off and play on the counter. A break for Kearns needing attention allowed Duff the opportunity to give his players a talking to on the sideline. And the reset almost brought a reward on 36 minutes as Shels carved Derry open for the only time in a frustrating first half for the home side. Wood's cross was met by a Boyd header with Maher making a fine save in touching the ball out for a goal kick off the lurking John Martin. Duff withdrew Martin and Kerr McInroy at half-time with Mipo Odubeko and Ellis Chapman introduced in the hope of enlivening his side. It was more of the same though as Derry promptly regained the initiative with Kearns force into a parry save from a Whyte drive after Shels gave the ball away cheaply. A sliding doors moment then almost brought a Shelbourne goal at one head before Derry struck for a deserved lead at the other on 54 minutes. Shelbourne manager Damien Duff during the game at Tolka Park. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho First Evan Caffrey saw his chip headed away by Sam Todd with Maher stranded after colliding with Boyd. Derry immediately broke with Winchester's sweeping pass, finding Duffy on the right. A clever step-over wronged footed Kameron Ledwidge to allow Duffy get the ball onto his left foot and find the far top corner with a sublime curling shot for his seventh goal of the season. Though Shelbourne owned much of the ball for the remainder of the game, Maher scarcely had a save to make as Derry had done more than enough to take home the points. Elsewhere, Michael Noonan scored twice as bang in-form Shamrock Rovers beat Cork City 4-1 in a top-versus-bottom clash at Tallaght Stadium to register their eighth win in nine games to stretch their lead to 11 points. A Douglas James-Taylor goal gave Drogheda Untied a 1-0 home win against Sligo Rovers as they regained second place in the table. St Patrick's Athletic's worries continued as they were beaten 3-1 at Galway United while Bohemians' good run ended with a 2-1 defeat to Waterford at the RSC. SHELBOURNE: Kearns; Bone, Barrett, Ledwidge; Caffrey, Lunney, McInroy (Chapman, h-t), Norris (Coote, 63); Wood (O'Sullivan, 77), Martin (Odubeko, h-t), Boyd (Kelly, 63). DERRY CITY: Maher; Cann, Connolly, Holt; R Boyce, Diallo (McMullan, 62), Winchester (Hoban, 89), Todd; White (Benson, 62), Duffy; L Boyce (Mullen, 62).
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Lions left to rue missed chances as Argentina win in Dublin
British & Irish Lions 24 Argentina 28 History was made on a historic night, although not the kind which the Lions desired. Instead of a winning send-off to Australia, it was Los Pumas who marked the 60th anniversary of the year they effectively came into being with a first ever win over the famed Lions. On a balmy evening in Dublin, under blue skies and in temperatures at kick-off of 23 degrees, both sides were adventurous from the off. But the rusty Lions left a hat load of half-chances behind them, and the amount of interceptions by Los Pumas was also testimony to how the forced passes and offloads didn't always stick. Playing their first game in seven months, Felipe Contepomi's irreverent and skilful team were the more clinical, hung on likes dogs with a bone, had some smart plays and conjured two brilliant long-range tries. Bringing together a side from four countries is always a challenge and perhaps this will do the Lions good in the long run but at the full-time whistle it just didn't feel like it. READ MORE An opening passage of three-and-a-half minutes set the tone, as did former 7s star Rodrigo Isgró who brought his aerial skills to bear when reclaiming a perfectly weighted up-and-under by the game's outstanding performer, Tomás Albornoz, which was gathered by Lucio Cinti. Bundee Aki scores the Lions first try despite Argentina's Gonzalo García, Justo Piccardo and Lucio Cinti Rodrigo Isgró. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inpho The Pumas worked the ball to Ignacio Mendy in space on the left and the Lions were indebted to a strong tackle by Tom Curry to prevent a try by Justo Piccardo, making his first start for Argentina. Compensation for the Pumas and relief for the Lions came by way of an Albornoz penalty. Still, the Lions were quickly into a smooth attacking rhythm, the Fin Smith-Aki-Marcus Smith axis were putting plenty of pace on the ball with an array of subtle passes. But Luke Cowan-Dickie had a try rightly ruled out when losing control of the ball before grounding, and Duhan van der Merwe also demonstrated his danger on the ball before Fin Smith drew the sides level. Whereupon the Pumas struck stealthily with a two-phase attack from a lineout 40 metres out, trucking the ball up the middle before Albornoz's skip pass took out Tommy Freeman – who bit in slightly – and Santiago Carreras linked with Mendy for him to step van der Merwe. Sione Tuipulotu also had a try ruled out after a clear exchange of knock-ons and he was then only denied from the Lions' ensuing scrum by Albornoz's brilliant tackle. However, Cowan-Dickie, Marcus Smith, Tuipulotu and Fin Smith worked the ball to Aki, who had to swivel in gathering before beating Gonzalo García and Cinti to score. Fin Smith's conversion nudged the Lions in front, before Albornoz did likewise with a penalty. The Lions again didn't convert a third scrum penalty to the corner, there were a couple of lineout mishaps and their passing close to the line led to Isgró intercepting and Carreras threading a 50-22 up the touchline. Argentina's Santiago Cordero celebrates scoring the Puma's third try. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA This in turn led to another lovely strike move and Isgró forcing Marcus Smith to concede a five-metre scrum off an Albornoz grubber into space, the latter adding another penalty after another try-saving tackle by Curry, this time on Pablo Matera. The Pumas then struck at the end of the half when the ball spun loose after van der Merwe carried into contact. Juan Martin Gonzalez latched on to the ball and when his offload went to ground Isgró picked up, make ground and released Carreras with a no-look inside pass for the full-back to again draw the last man, Albornoz finishing off the 80-metre turnover try and converting for a stunning 21-10 interval lead. Lions players and fans alike look stunned but the home side regrouped at half-time and were certainly not of a mind to start playing cautiously. Another prolonged passage of play featured a daring counter run deep initiated by Marcus Smith and Freeman, as well as the latter's break up the touchline before another penalty to the corner had the double effect of a penalty try and a Mayco Vivas yellow card for pulling the maul down. The impact of the benches seemed likelier to favour the Lions, and they were further energised by the introduction of Rónan Kelleher, Henry Pollock and Tomos Williams. But it was a huge rumble up the middle by Ellis Genge that did the damage, and two recycles later Tadhg Beirne held his depth and called for a skip pass from Williams which the Welsh scrumhalf delivered for the try, Fin Smith converting. The Pumas then struck from deep again. Albornoz saw Curry's charge and dummied him delightfully inside his own 22, then beat another player before passing to Joaquin Oviedo and Matias Moroni grubbered perfectly for fellow replacement, the recently released Connacht man Santiago Cordero to beat Marcus Smith to the touchdown for a try. 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour To Australia, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 20/6/2025 British & Irish Lions vs Argentina Lions' Tadhg Beirne scores a try Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher Albornoz, have a dream night, converted and another lineout malfunction having gone to the corner was compounded by Freeman dropping the clearance. Cue the night's second rendition of The Fields of Athenry and roars of encouragement from a completely engaged crowd. But as the din increased, a neck roll by Beirne, having taken over the captaincy from the withdrawn Itoje, led to an attacking penalty being reversed. Los Pumas kept one more attack at arm's length and they and their pockets celebrated accordingly. Fully deserved. Fair play to them. SCORING SEQUENCE – 4 mins: Albornoz pen 0-3; 9: Smith pen 3-3; 11: Mendy try 3-8; 18: Aki try, Smith con 10-8; 25: Albornoz pen 10-11; 39: Albornoz pen 10-14 40: Albornoz try, con 10-21; Half-time 10-21 ; 45: pen try 17-21; 52: Beirne try, Smith con 24-21; 58: Cordero try, Albornoz con 24-28. BRITISH & IRISH LIONS: M Smith (England); T Freeman (England), S Tuipulotu (Scotland), B Aki (Ireland), D van der Merwe (Scotland); F Smith (England), A Mitchell (England); E Genge (England), L Cowan-Dickie (England), F Bealham (Ireland); M Itoje (England, capt), T Beirne (Ireland), T Curry (England), J Morgan (Wales), B Earl (England). Replacements: R Kelleher (Ireland) for Cowan-Dickie, T Williams (Wales) for Mitchell, H Pollock (England) for Morgan (all 49 mins), M Hansen (Ireland) for van der Merwe, E Daly (England) for Aki, T Furlong (Ireland) for Bealham, P Schoeman (Scotland) for Genge (all 59), S Cummings (Scotland) for Itoje (71), Bealham for Furlong (81, HIA). ARGENTINA: S Carreras; R Isgró, L Cinti, J Piccardo, I Mendy; T Albornoz, G Garcíal M Vivas, J Montoya (capt), J Sclavi; F Molina, P Rubiolo; P Matera, J M Gonzalez, J Oviedo. Replacements: S Cordero for Mendy (44 mins), F Coria Marchetti for Sclavi (47), B Wenger for Oviedo (47-56), M Moroni for Cinti (55), S Grondona for Molina (59), J Moro for Moroni (60), Cinti for Oviedo (65), Wenger for Vivas (66), S Benitez Cruz for Garcia (70), B Bernasconi for Montoya (80). Yellow card: Vivas (45-55). Referee: J Doleman (NZR).
