Latest news with #All-IrelandSFC
Irish Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
GAA fans furious ahead of bumper weekend of All-Ireland action
As another bumper weekend of GAA action approaches, fans have been taking to social media to voice their anger over which games are being televised on free-to-air TV and which are being shown on GAA+. RTE will televise the two All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals of Dublin v Limerick and Galway v Tipperary on Saturday. The broadcaster will also show the Tailteann Cup semi-finals as Wicklow face Limerick and Kildare take on Fermanagh on Sunday. However, it is the decision to show the four All-Ireland Senior Football Championship preliminary quarter-finals on GAA+ that is angering supporters ahead of the weekend, with three of the top four in the outright Championship betting in action. Kerry host Cavan at Fitzgerald Stadium on Saturday afternoon before the evening meeting of Dublin and Cork at Croke Park. Then on Sunday, Down host Galway in Newry before the clash of Donegal and Louth in Ballybofey. "Dublin v Cork, football's biggest game of the weekend, is on a subscription channel online Sat. It's on at the same time as the biggest hurling game of the weekend on RTE. They couldn't get less people to watch the biggest football game of the weekend if they tried," stated one fan. Another asked: "Where are the important gaelic football matches ,also known as the Preliminary Quarter Finals been Televised, Not on free to Air?" Someone else said: "Taking all the big games this weekend, @rte and you wonder why numbers are declining . Absolute disgrace especially when your buffing the weekend schedule with re runs of west side story & all creatures great and small." "An absolute disgrace by the GAA to put the Dublin vs. Cork match on GAA+," read another comment. LIVE GAA ON TV AND STREAMING THIS WEEKEND Saturday June 21 All-Ireland SFC Preliminary Quarter-Finals Kerry v Cavan, Fitzgerald Stadium, 3.30pm, GAA+Dublin v Cork, Croke Park, 6.15pm, GAA+ All-Ireland SHC Quarter-Finals Limerick v Dublin, Croke Park, 4pm, RTEGalway v Tipperary, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 6.15pm, RTE Sunday June 22 All-Ireland SFC Preliminary Quarter-FinalsDonegal v Louth, Ballybofey, 4pm, GAA+Down v Galway, Pairc Esler, 1.45pm, GAA+ Tailteann Cup Semi-Finals Limerick v Wicklow, Croke Park, 2pm, RTEKildare v Fermanagh, Croke Park, 4pm, RTE
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
All Ireland quarter-final draw to be held live on RTÉ Radio 1
The GAA have confirmed that the draw for the quarter-finals of the All-Ireland SFC will take place live on Monday morning on RTÉ Radio 1. The draw will be held on the 8:30am sport bulletin on Morning Ireland, will a live feed also available on the RTÉ News channel and RTÉ Player. The four winners from this weekend's preliminary quarter-finals will be drawn against the winners of the four round-robin groups. As before in the competition, redraws will be held to prevent the avoidance of repeat provincial final pairings and, where possible, repeat pairings from round 1. Teams will be split into two pots with Armagh, Monaghan, Tyrone and Meath playing against the winners of the preliminaries; Dublin or Cork, Down or Galway, Donegal or Louth and Kerry or Cavan. The fixtures that will not be allowed to be repeated are Armagh v Dublin/Galway/Donegal, Monaghan v Down/Louth, Tyrone v Donegal/Cavan and Meath v Louth/Kerry/Cork. The draws will be presided over by Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns and Feargal McGill, GAA Director of Player, Club and Games Administration and the quarter-final will take place in Croke Park on the weekend of 28 and 29 June.
RTÉ News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Enda McGinley Down exude confidence but Galway have a higher ceiling
On paper, it's the tie that stands out across the All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals, as Down play host to Galway at Páirc Esler on Sunday. The Tribesmen, fancied by many to go one step further and bring home Sam this year, have stuttered during their run in the group phase, taking one of the third-placed berths following last weekend's narrow win against Armagh. Some observers will say that they got a kind draw in now facing Conor Laverty's side. It could have been a trip to Killarney or Ballybofey. But the Mournemen are no mugs, are scoring freely and gave Monaghan their fill of it, before losing narrowly. Assessing where Down are following that defeat at the Athletic Grounds, Enda McGinley believes they will now relish the opportunity in taking on the Connacht men. "Down are confident and will have not lost any of that confidence from their performance against Monaghan," McGinley said on the latest edition of the RTÉ GAA Podcast. "They emerged with huge credit and it was right at the very death that it tailed away - with that silly three-man breach that they gave away. They got punished hard right at the end but other than that they produced a good performance. Down will be confident in getting Galway to the Marshes and will not be one bit afraid of them." Nigel Dunne, also a contributor on this week's Podcast, alluded to Down's lack of fear, when saying: "It's power v pace here and Galway have all the advantages in size but Down are fearless and are completely bought in to what they are doing." The former Offaly star added: "I think Down have a really good chance but they would need Galway to be five or 10% off and that is a huge possibility with the way they've been going this year. In fairness to Down I think they are the one team that capitalise on Galway being a bit off." In assessing the championship so far, McGinley brought up the possibility of another unlikely winner, while also referencing how difficult it has been for the big guns to deliver consistent performances. "It is all about momentum, the top teams are struggling but it is still there to be got," opined the three-time All-Ireland winner. "This time last year, was anybody looking at Armagh as All-Ireland champions? Not a mention. The quarter-finals in Croke Park will be amazing games. The provincial champions this year have really struggled to sustain the push. The number of games, the ups and downs of the season, and the new rules means that it is tough to bring that energy every week. "If you are a wee bit off it with the new rules and the value of the breaking ball out around the middle, teams that have that wee edge, that bit of freshness, that's where it really does count. Teams that are off it have been caught." As to what might unfold in Newry, McGinley is accentuating the importance of just getting a win for one of the All-Ireland contenders and sees more of a threat from what Galway have up the field. "Down are unbelievably settled, so consistent in terms of their team. Pat Havern, who was unbelievable last week, probably doesn't suit Galway's best snubber-outer of men in Jack Glynn. "Galway have Havern to shut down but you feel there are more scoring threats in Galway. There is definitely a higher ceiling in Galway than Down and you're waiting for them to click - and now would be the perfect time for them to click. It just has to be a win; it does not have to be a statement performance." Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship on Saturday and Sunday on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.15pm and The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Home comforts have Donegal's Shane O'Donnell in flying form
Sitting on the bench for the final moments of Donegal's clash with Mayo at Dr Hyde Park on Sunday, Shane O'Donnell was cognisant of the permutations as the game entered its final moments. Fergal Boland's sweet outside of the boot strike had just brought Mayo level. Their championship was alive and Cavan's over. A win would change nothing for Donegal. The draw would have been sufficient for them to claim second in the group and a home preliminary quarter-final spot. Still, Shaun Patton sent a kickout towards halfway, finding Ciarán Moore. The hooter blared, but the half-back hared forward and his winner stuck a dagger in Mayo's championship heart. Mayo's year had stopped beating but Cavan's still had a pulse. 'I was fully aware because I was just after coming off at that stage,' explained O'Donnell at the All-Ireland SFC knockout stages launch. 'Now the boys on the pitch was probably a different story. When you are caught up in those type of games and those type of moments, you are not thinking about other things. 'There was a few boys probably shouting at him to kick it out. There was probably a few boys shouting at Shaun to drain the clock and wait for the hooter to go. 'It was just so hard to get messages on board even when I was on the pitch. You were unable to hear things from the sideline just because of the way the stand was. The stand was on top of the bench nearly.' O'Donnell has nailed down a half-forward spot for himself in this Donegal team. The St Eunan's man made his inter-county debut in 2022 during Declan Bonner's final year in charge. He stepped away for the 2023 season before returning last year when Jim McGuinness made his comeback. The biggest factor in his consistent form has been returning to live in Donegal. 'I was in Dublin there for four years so it was very taxing on the body, which kind of led to me taking the break as well there in between,' he said. 'I suppose after my first year in I thought maybe that I wasn't performing as much as I would have liked to be performing. I was maybe putting that down to fatigue and tiredness. Driving can be hard on the body as well with hamstrings. Last year, I was kind of nearly living out of the car at one stage. 'I stepped back a bit then and tried to focus on my career and my college. When I went back in last year with Jim coming back, it was hard to turn it down. 'It worked out well with how my timetable was in terms of placement and in terms of DCU. But it was a busy season last year with Sigerson as well. You were having two games a week nearly during the league. That was tough. It was nice to get on the other side of that and put all my focus into one thing. 'Comparing to other years, I feel a lot fresher and a lot healthier now this year.' Leaving the panel for the 2023 season was a tough decision, but also the right one. 'The first year I went in, we got to the Ulster final,' he said. 'We fell short in extra-time against Derry, who were flying at the time. 'I had to be selfish in a way and look after my body myself and other things as well. I got to go out to America in that summer which was a nice freshener, which I suppose drove the hunger back into me then to get back and play football.' Donegal face Louth in Ballybofey on Sunday. Ulster champions against Leinster champions. O'Donnell does think it curious that none of the provincial champions managed to win their groups and progress straight to the quarter-finals. 'We took our eye off the ball I think against Tyrone,' said O'Donnell, 'so we're probably in the place that we probably deserve to be.'
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Oisín O'Neill: Kieran McGeeney's issue not with rules but constant tweaks
Kieran McGeeney's regular criticism of the FRC rule changes relates not to the rules themselves but the fact that they're constantly changing, according to Oisín O'Neill. This week saw the contentious 50m penalty for impeding a kickout mark buried before the commencement of the All-Ireland SFC knockout phase. This, despite earlier assurances in the wake of the league that the rules were set in stone for the rest of 2025, at least. Central Council voted - by 39 votes to one - to remove the 50m mark and replace with an on-the-spot free. On Saturday, it was confirmed that the FRC had proposed the abolition of the 50m penalty with immediate effect. Following his side's narrow defeat to Galway in Kingspan Breffni that evening, McGeeney lashed out at the decision to enact changes at a relatively late stage in the championship. "Some teams tell them to do something, I'd love that direct line," McGeeney said after the game. "Whoever has that direct line into Jim (Gavin) and Eamonn (Fitzmaurice), I would love that." Following the Cork-Kerry game in Round 2 of the group stage, both managers had criticised the 50m mark, with Jack O'Connor labelling it "ridiculous" and saying it was "going to have to be tidied up." While McGeeney has a reputation for being hostile to the FRC changes, O'Neill insists it's just the constant tweaking which was proving a headache for managers and players. "I think Kieran's biggest issue with them is they constantly change. We played half the league and they changed them," O'Neill said, at the launch of the All-Ireland SFC knockout stage. "They're talking about another change this week. There's four rounds of the championship left! "I think Kieran has no issue with the rules. It's more just that they're continuously changing. "As players, that's frustrating because you're working on one thing one week and then it might change." After five rounds of the league, the FRC introduced a major tweak, with teams now obliged to keep four players in their own half at all times to prevent the roaming goalkeeper functioning as an extra man in attack. "We probably had to tweak a few things that we've been working on and change certain things that we were trying to work on," O'Neill said. "Such as the mark, you know, you had to hold your hands up after going up and now you're being told you've five steps or whatever." As to whether he agreed with the kickout mark, O'Neill said it was fine as long as referees allowed players to compete for the ball. "I think if it's refereed in the spirit that the rules intended, you have to allow a little bit of leeway like for players to compete for the ball, but I think it's a reflection of how well coached you are. "And we were punished severely by it at the weekend, and it's something that we wouldn't be happy with." Follow a live blog on the All-Ireland Football Championship on Saturday and Sunday on and the RTÉ News app. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport and Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1. Watch highlights on The Saturday Game at 9.15pm and The Sunday Game from 9.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
