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Sarsfields' missed opportunity, O'Callaghan's frightening talent and other club hurling talking points

Glen Rovers also added to the magic of this year’s championship by reaching their first Munster decider in 40 years.

1. Missed opportunity for Thurles Sarsfields

THURLES SARSFIELDS’ PLAYERS likely still woke up this morning wondering how they let it slip…again.

Leading Clare’s Ballyea — who won their first county title a week previously — by seven points with 10 minutes to play, it looked almost certain that the Tipp champions would advance to this year’s Munster decider.

When you consider their dominance in Tipperary in recent years — winning six of the last eight county titles — the latest slip-up must be hard to stomach.

In the grander scheme of things, with the likes of Portumna, Ballyhale Shamrocks and reigning champions Na Piarsaigh already out of the race for honours on St Patrick’s Day, many had tipped Sarsfields to go all the way and claim All-Ireland glory for the first time.

But thanks to a last-minute equalising goal from football All-Star nominee Gary Brennan, and an inspirational display from former Hurler of the Year Tony Kelly, in normal and extra-time, Sarsfields somehow came out on the losing side yesterday.

Cusack Park is fast becoming a destination of Sarsfields misery; it was just two years ago that they fell to Cratloe at the same venue after losing Denis Maher to a red card at the throw-in.

Tony Kelly and Padraic Maher Padraic Maher in action for Thurles Sarsfields yesterday. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

The plans of Maher brothers Padraic and Ronan, and Michael Cahill, to back up their All-Ireland success with the Premier County with a club All-Ireland medal fell apart much sooner than many had expected.

2. Con O’Callaghan’s frightening talent

Con O’Callaghan shot to prominence as a footballer this year, starring for Dublin’s U21s before making substitute appearances for Jim Gavin’s All-Ireland-winning seniors in their three Leinster outings.

O’Callaghan was a late inclusion for Cuala — following full-forward Nicky Kenny’s withdrawal through injury — against maiden Laois champions Borris-Kilcotton yesterday and he grabbed his chance with both hands.

The talented dual star ran riot, bagging 4-3 from play, as the Dublin champions eased to a comfortable victory.

He has form for accumulating big tallies in both codes, amassing 3-24 in four matches for Dublin’s U21 footballers this year and scoring 3-6 from play in last year’s Dublin Junior ‘A’ club final against Scoil Uí Chonaill.

Con O'Callaghan finds the net for Cuala. Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO

You would think he has played his way into a well-balanced Cuala team on the back of his display at Parnell Park, particularly as the Dalkey club had netted just twice in their previous three matches in the Dublin championship.

O’Callaghan, whose brother Cian is a permanent fixture at full-back for Dublin and the Dalkey club, might have caught Borris-Kilcotton off guard yesterday but you can be sure Carlow champions St Mullins will have their homework done ahead of the semi-final on 20 November.

Fans of the small-ball code in the capital could be waiting quite a while to see the younger O’Callaghan line out in blue however, as he has already stressed his desire to concentrate on inter-county football for the foreseeable future.

3. Glen Rovers’ progress against the odds

The hurling club championships have already offered up plenty of storylines this year — Ballyea’s aforementioned achievement, Slaughtneil becoming the first Derry club to win in Ulster, and Brian Hogan captaining O’Loughlin Gaels to a surprise Kilkenny final win against Ballyhale, to name but a few.

But the achievement of Cork champions Glen Rovers in reaching their first provincial decider in 40 years also deserves recognition, especially considering the financial struggles the club have overcome.

Once again led by the sharp shooting of Patrick Horgan, they saw off the challenge of Limerick’s Patrickswell on Sunday by the narrowest of margins.

Patrick Horgan Glen Rovers' Patrick Horgan. Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO

In doing so, Rovers set up a provincial decider against Ballyea, which means Munster’s champions won’t be coming from Limerick, Tipperary or Waterford for the first time since Cork’s Newtownshandrum prevailed in 2009.

Ballyea, meanwhile, are hoping to become the first Banner club to be crowned provincial champions since Sixmilebridge in 2000.

A word of warning for other contenders down the line should Rovers succeed in Munster — the previous two times they claimed provincial honours they went on to add All-Ireland honours.

4. Oulart-The Ballagh showing no signs of easing up

The reigning Leinster champions could face Cuala in the provincial decider should they both progress in two weeks’ time.

But before they start considering a title defence they must get over the significant challenge that will be posed by Kilkenny champions O’Loughlin Gaels.

Oulart are showing no signs of sluggishness after a number of long seasons on the road — winning 10 of the last 13 county titles — and still saw off Offaly’s St Rynagh’s comfortably despite playing nearly half of the game with 14 men and being without a number of key players.

The bookmakers can’t split O’Loughlin Gaels and Oulart at the moment, and as a result Dublin champions Cuala are priced as favourites for provincial honours.

But after Oulart got across the line in Leinster last year, winning their first provincial crown and ending a cruel run of defeats at the final hurdle, you’d be brave to back against them repeating the feat.

Aidan Treacy is tackled by Rory Jacob St Rynagh's Aidan Treacy is tackled by Rory Jacob of Oulart-The Ballagh. Ken Sutton / INPHO Ken Sutton / INPHO / INPHO

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Former captain and 2013 All-Star among big omissions in Dublin’s 2017 hurling squad

Richie Power plays a substitute-role as Carrickshock secure return to Kilkenny senior hurling ranks

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    Mute Graham Murphy
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    May 18th 2015, 3:51 PM

    Norman Whiteside wasn’t 17 in 1985, unless he played in the 82 world cup when he was 14!

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    May 18th 2015, 4:00 PM

    Cheers Graham,

    I obviously got Norman Whiteside and Freddy Adu mixed up!

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    Mute N O hUallaigh
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    May 18th 2015, 4:22 PM

    That 1970 match description is class.. “neutralised”

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    Mute Jon Walters
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    May 18th 2015, 4:29 PM

    Your a gas man, Will

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    Mute Manus Boyce
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    May 18th 2015, 3:46 PM

    Wouldn’t consider that tackle to be a straight red nowadays, probably borderline. Back then….not even close, yellow at worst

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    Mute Eamonn Maloney
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    May 18th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Miss timed is all it was.I remember watching that game and being shocked when he was sent off.Disagree that it was on any way cynical, there isn’t a cynical bone in Kevin Moran’s body.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    May 19th 2015, 2:10 PM

    Yeah, definitely mis-timed. I blame Reid for having legs!

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    May 18th 2015, 3:54 PM

    How times have changed…. You did not see Everton players swarm the ref demanding a red, Man U players were in shock….. Rightly so too, you saw these tackles every week and you got on with it…. Its a sending off and a media circus today, but back then it was, ummm football….. Tackles are expected, and was rarely ever cynical…….

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    May 18th 2015, 4:10 PM

    Spot on Graham, sure even Peter Reid protested to the ref on behalf on Moran…..very rare you will see that nowadays.

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    Mute John Fitzpatrick
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    May 18th 2015, 5:46 PM

    Peter Reid actually begged the referee not to send Moran off. Frank Stapleton reverted to emergency centre half and had a stormer. Peter Willis was the referee and it was his last ever match to officiate. He was looking to make a name for himself. Years later the F.A. Stopped referees officiating in their last ever match in the cup finals.

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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    May 18th 2015, 6:33 PM

    ‘With United down to 10, Everton took them to extra-time’, shouldn’t that be United took Everton to extra-time as the Toffees were just crowned league champions you know.

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    May 19th 2015, 6:04 AM

    Also had more league titles than United! And had just won the cup winners cup beforehand!

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    Mute David Higginbotham
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    May 18th 2015, 6:52 PM

    Moran’s wasn’t allowed receive a winners medal that day either .

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    Mute Graham Ross
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    May 18th 2015, 4:39 PM

    Forget the tackle. He’d get 6 months now for pulling & dragging out of the ref in protesting his innocence! Although he didn’t quite get to Di Canio levels…

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    Mute Colm Kelly
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    May 18th 2015, 4:32 PM

    Unusually it was an intercept of Paul McGraths pass that led to Kevin having to make the lunge.

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    Mute Andrew Logue
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    May 18th 2015, 5:34 PM

    Suberb tackle won the ball cleanly. Football is being destroyed these days by cheating, diving and every second tackle being either a yellow or red. Games these days are often decided by which team has a player sent off its a complete joke

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    May 18th 2015, 7:30 PM

    Lol, everyone had common sense comments today till that…. Thought we might have a good thread…..

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    Mute David Carino
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    May 18th 2015, 3:48 PM

    Badly timed don’t think tackles back then were cynical or malicious as they are today .

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    Mute dontletitslip
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    May 18th 2015, 5:34 PM

    A proper challenge that! :D

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    Mute Goldberg
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    May 18th 2015, 5:46 PM

    Big Ron would have referred to the tackle as a ‘reducer’

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    Mute Carlos Bandanas
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    May 18th 2015, 10:48 PM

    This may be an urban myth and I am well open to correction but is it true that the first person to be sent off in the FA Cup final (Kevin Moran) and the first player to be sent off in the Premier League (Niall Quinn) both went to the same school (Drimnagh castle)??

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    Mute mark
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    May 18th 2015, 9:53 PM

    If memory serves me, I was seven at the time, kevin Moran didnt get a winners medal on the day after his red card. He only received it after a campaign on his behalf.

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    Mute Mick Rooney (TIPM)
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    May 18th 2015, 11:53 PM

    Bit misleading. Why would you be considered the most cynical player in FA Cup Final history just because you were the first to be sent off in one? Moran was a tough ‘no prisoners’ player, but he was never cynical in his playing days.

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    Mute breandan
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    May 19th 2015, 3:35 AM

    If it was today Reid would be gone for simulation…

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    Mute Peter Clarke
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    May 19th 2015, 8:54 AM

    Most cynical ever? The writer obviously doesn’t remember Willie Young in 1980! Only a yellow too. I think that was the tackle that prompted the introduction of the straight red for a professional foul.

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    Mute Donal Ring
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    May 19th 2015, 6:09 PM

    Good article Will, still very few being sent off in big games- Lehmens in 06 CL final, Reyes in 05 FA cup final-can’t think of any others. A few in World cup finals- two Argentinians in 1990, Desailly, Heitinga

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