1. 4 experienced teams on show in Croke Park
TO GIVE AN indication of the sort of experience on offer in today’s club finals, three of the four teams involved have been crowned champions since 2015.
The other, Nemo Rangers, are the most decorated football team of all-time and lifted the last of their seven as recently as 2003.
For the first time since Ballyhale Shamrocks v Portumna in 2010, the last two champions are involved in a hurling decider. The last time two previous winners of the Andy Merrigan Cup met in a final was when Kilmacud Crokes defeated Crossmaglen in 2009.
Three of the four finalists are city clubs, with Corofin the sole village team making the journey up to Croke Park.
2. How will the suspensions affect Na Piarsaigh?
In a game that’s extremely difficult to call, the suspensions to Na Piarisaigh wing-back Tommy Grimes and wing-forward Conor Boylan might tip the balance in Cuala’s favour.
Both were sent off early in the second-half of their semi-final win over Slaughtneil and the loss of Grimes, in particular, will hurt the Limerick champions as they face a formidable Cuala attack.
Boylan came on as a 48th-minute substitute in the county final, before forcing his way into the team as right-half forward for the Munster campaign and he scored Na Piarsaigh’s opening goal against Slaughtneil.
Grimes will most likely be replaced by Kieran Kennedy on the half-back line, while Limerick star Shane Dowling only came off the bench the last day and will come in for Boylan in the attack.
Na Piarsaigh need to keep a close eye on Con O’Callaghan, while Mark Schutte and David Treacy are also prolific scorers in the Cuala attack.
3. Cuala aiming to retain the All-Ireland
A year ago, Cuala became the first Dublin club to lift the Tommy Moore Cup, now they’re bidding to defend their crown.
All-Ireland club hurling and football titles are notoriously difficult competitions to retain, although it’s been done four times in both hurling and football since the competitions began in 1970.
All-Ireland club two-in-a-row winning teams
Hurling
Portumna, Galway (2007-08)
Birr, Offaly (2001-02)
Athenry, Galway (1999-2000)
Sarsfields, Galway (1993-94)
Football
Crossmaglen Rangers, Armagh (2011-12 & 1999-2000)
St Finbarr’s, Cork (1980-81)
UCD, Dublin (1974-75)
Given it’s only been done eight times in history, putting together back-to-back titles would be an incredible achievement for the Dalkey outfit.
4. Corofin and Nemo knowhow
Corofin and Nemo Rangers are two clubs where winning is embedded into their culture. Corofin have 19 Galway SFC titles to their name, including the last five in succession.
No club in Connacht have won more provincial crowns than their eight, while they’ve twice lifted the All-Ireland title – in 1998 and 2015.
Nemo Rangers have those seven All-Irelands, plus an incredible 16 Munster titles and 20 Cork county final victories.
Nemo’s Tomás Ó Sé (five times) and Paul Kerrigan (once) have won Celtic Crosses with Kerry and Cork respectively at Croke Park, while Corofin’s Daithi Burke landed the All-Ireland hurling title on his previous visit to Croke Park last September.
Corofin full-back Kieran Fitzgerald is into his 21st year playing senior football with the Galway kingpins, while Nemo’s Cavan native Paddy Gumley is aiming to round-off his remarkable career with the biggest prize in the club game.
5. Croke Park to suit attacking talents of Corofin and Nemo
The wide expanses of Croke Park should suit Corofin’s attractive kicking game, with their entire forward division capable of inflicting damage up front.
When Corofin beat Slaughtneil in the 2015 final, Micheal Lundy, Ian Burke, Martin Farragher and Gary Sice accounted for 1-9 of the 1-15 tally.
Three years later and they’ve added Jason Leonard and Colin Brady to an already deadly attack.
The front six have been in good scoring form throughout the All-Ireland campaign:
Michael Lundy (1-0) – Gary Sice (0-8) – Jason Leonard (0-12)
Colin Brady (2-3) – Martin Farragher (0-1) – Ian Burke (2-3)
Nemo are no slouches going forward either and posted 4-52 over their last three games – an average of 21.3 points per game.
Full-forward Luke Connolly bagged 2-5 in the semi-final and will need serious watching by the Corofin rearguard, while the hard running Paul Kerrigan and Barry O’Driscoll provide a real scoring threat from the half-forward line.
Verdict: Corofin & Cuala
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Greatest day ever in Irish team sports on the world stage!
@Marcodub: massive achievement, arguably our greatest ever ‘field sports’ team result…. A silver medal in rowing in the Olympics by an Irish Double counts as a team medal!!
@BMJF: I don’t know, I think you’d need 3 plus for a team otherwise it’s a duo or a pair.
@SilexFlint: Keep up the great work ireland. fantastic result.
@Marcodub: eh..exaggerate much…Rugby Grand Slams..Soccer wins against Italy & England..
@BigNuts: He said World Stage. Grand Slams aren’t on the world stage. Soccer wins against Italy and England aren’t comparable to getting to the final of a world cup.
@Aideen Thornton: Soccer?
@Paul Furey: I’m responding to Big Nuts’ comment where he referred to it as ‘soccer’. How about you ask him/her? Care to nit pick anymore?
@Aideen Thornton: Well said Aideen. Two idiots put right in their place!
@Aideen Thornton: well put
@Paul Furey: yep. That’s what I call it too. Even though I play it. Where I’m from the most popular football is Gaelic football.
@Aideen Thornton: how big of a world audience watch/support soccer and hockey..hmm winder which is the bigger world event…how many countries have soccer teams and how many have hockey?
@BigNuts:
3rd most participated sport in the world.. that enough for you!
https://www.realbuzz.com/articles-interests/sports-activities/article/top-10-most-popular-participation-sports-in-the-world/
@BigNuts: hmmmmm
@Marcodub: No it’s not!
@Aideen Thornton: how is the six nations not on the world stage? It’s one of the most popular and attended annual sporting events worldwide.
Well done to the ladies but it’s down right silly to suggest the achievement of reaching a world cup final in an amateur sport outstrips a grand slam in rugby union as an achievement.
@Riobeard
90 teams entered this World Cup initially, to get to the last two is easily a bigger achievement to winning a tournament with 6 teams in it.
@Roibeard O’ Beachain: It might be well attended and it’s a sport widely followed worldwide but this particular tournament is a tournament involving 6 teams, it’s not a tournament on the global stage. Gaelic football and Hurling (All Ireland stages) are some of the most attended games in the world. Are you telling me based on that that Gaelic games are on the ‘world stage’?
@Aideen Thornton: jesus roibeard sit down ….
@Roibeard O’ Beachain: amateur sport? God you’re clueless.. amateur in Ireland alright .. professional in so many countries.. stop moaning and be proud
@Marcodub: it’s on a list in 3rd place..but no numbers for people who paticipate…hmmm
Absolutely fantastic! Can’t say I’m a hockey fan but I was glued to the TV all game.. And the shootout was entertaining. Hockey is such a global sport and to have our country in a world Cup final is Phenomenal. Made us proud! Let’s make even more history now :)
@Acedeuce: did you not repeat the same line what the commentator said?!!
@Niall: yes! But I’m reiterating it because it makes the achievement all that more remarkable.
@Martin Quinn: hahaha probably alright !! Haha
Never thought we’d see an Irish side in a world cup final. Never thought we’d see hockey on RTE. Never thought we’d see hockey being spoken about across the nation. A team of amateurs that have had to pay their way there taking on and beating the world’s best fully professional sides. This shouldn’t happen – absolutely magic!
@Jakim Berndsen: Ireland have played 5 matches in the tournament so far and have only been behind for 7 (SEVEN) minutes in total. How amazing is that? Their passing was a bit suspect in this game but their belief, passion and attitude was never in doubt. Whatever happens tomorrow these women truly are winners. I’ve never been more proud of an Irish team. They deserve a huge homecoming celebration. Absolutely thrilled for each and every one of them and for Graham Shaw and his coaching team. COYGIG!!
Well done, my nerves were shot watching the penalties, brilliant playing!
@Brianán McBride: i have no skin or nails left!
Famous scenes!! Well done ladies! Those peno shootouts are some drama!
@Larry Whack: the fecking who wants to be a millionaire music had me shatwagged
Unbelievable, hope they get reimbursed for the 550 Euro they paid to go there !
@Daire Cullinane: shocking they should’ve to do that. I’d be more than happy for a few million of our taxes to go to rewarding these players and their entourage.
@Joey Navinski: I wouldn’t
@Daire Cullinane: and some!!
@Niall: agreed
@Daire Cullinane: they would arguably become carded athletes now having achieved at least a silver in a world championship… if it was athletics, rowing, sailing , Boxing that would be 30-45k per athlete , so can’t see why it wouldn’t apply here too in this Olympic sport
@Niall: Maybe they should use a few million tax money to get you a personality transplant you absolute buzzkill
@Mel Roberts: would take more then millions haha!
@Niall: Are you one of these GAA heads who doesn’t like ‘foreign’ games?
@Joey Navinski: it’s pretty shameful that they had to go into their own pockets for it
@BMJF: even money aside , I just hope it shines a light on the adversity and challenges this team have overcome in the last 3/4 years
@Niall: Pathetic miserable git
We’re a nation of bandwagoners but sure feck it, what nation isn’t. Well done to all the women and the coaching team. That took guts.
@Dave Barry: bandwagoning is a good thing, it will grow the sport. Amazing achievement. We have new Irish heroes. Roll on tomorrow’s game…
@Dave Barry: I don’t know what’s wrong with ‘bandwagoners’ Dave. Do you think the tens of thousands of people who lined the streets of Paris and Zagreb for the final last month all follow their national team intently?! Most came for the party. 31 million English people watched their semi final. Do you think even 1 million knew what club Harry Maguire plays for? Every country has casual support. There’s nothing wrong with it. Can’t wait for the final tomorrow.
@Dave Barry: Give over with the bandwagoners ya spanner. Most of us have our own sports but when one rises above the rest, we all get behind that green and roar them on. We all can’t all follow all sports. We’re excellent at pulling together when we have to.
Fair play. COYGIG.
Magic. Well done!
Cannot understand how we can afford 250000 civil servants but cannot afford to resource all sports properly. Sport is such a positive outlet for the participants and brings a national joy and interest when we have a chance of competing at a competitive level.
@Michael Ahern: fair point. But where you getting 250000 civil servants from…..
@Michael Ahern: we have 38,000 civil servants!
@Maurice Mulcahy: i would suggest there is confusion between what is a public servant and what is a civil servant, though ultimately both are paid by the state.
@Bernard Cantillon: across civil/public service there are about 300,000 employees
@Bernard Cantillon: but I don’t know what civil/public service numbers have to do with the funding of women’s hockey. They are completely different things
@Bernard Cantillon: agreed with all statements. It’s nothing to do with sport. I’m not a hockey fan at all but I’m delighted for them. But is it fair to say had Ireland been knocked out early would there be this much of an outcry (in regards to funding) methinks not. Anywho well done to the ladies team all the best in the final
@Maurice Mulcahy: i think Michael wants us to get rid of all the teachers, guards and nurses to fund the hockey!
@Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: hahahaha
@Michael Ahern: because the gaa hover up most of the funds for a homophonic sport useless in bringing success to our country
This is best news all year Congrats to all involved.COYGIG.
Class. Well done ladies.
Brilliant ladies!
Wow wow wow!! Ye have done yourselves and your nation proud.!
Congrat ladies in a world cup final!
A hugely talented and skilful group of players a credit everyone involved from the ground up. Well done and comhghairdeas, go out and enjoy and express yourselves in the final.
One of the great days for Irish sport. Feck all begrudgers. Nerves of steal from them at the end.
Ireland are in a World Cup Final. Hockey: Bloody Hell.
We’ll done the ladies.
Just hope socky doesn’t show up in London tomorrow to try grab the limelight. Well done girls brilliant performance.
@Derek Poutch: if they are renowned by the leader of the country, I will say ‘well done, you girls have made your mark’
Some balls on these girls. Two shootout wins. Unreal
@.: only some of them!
Fantastic, team of the year!
Also, need to find a way to refund them the money they had to pay in order to take part!
@Adrian Costigan: do they not become ‘carded athletes’ after this and be entitled to substantial sports council grants?? Silver medal at worst in world champs in an Olympic discipline …I think that could be worth up to €45k per athlete
So about Shane Ross and that hockey field..
@Brian Corbett: what about it.. wise up and be proud of your nation
@Brian Corbett: Money that could have been spent funding these girls.
@Brian Corbett: you’re right, what he did in the last 12 months has come to fruition now
@Aideen Thornton: are you going to lie and say you knew about these girls ?! I’m calling bull
@Niall: correct
@Niall: I work with 2 girls that are friends with and play in Loreto with a number of this team, so yes I have heard of them. Not sure what that has to do with me thinking money Shane Ross gave to a school that didn’t need it could have been used to help fund these girls instead though?
@Aideen Thornton: fair point Aideen
What a fantastic world cup journey its been for our fantastic ladies! Win or loose (hopefully win obviously!) immensely proud of how far they have come when they were wrote off by many! Well done ladies!! #GreenArmy
Brilliant… There won’t be a cow milked in Ballsbridge for a fortnight!
@Gavin Murphy: they’re from all over the country
@Gavin Murphy: when is the spring show?
@Toby Thedogk: spring usually.
We are all hockey fans now well done ladies
well done ireland!! imagine the international sports teams we would have in ireland north and south. if it were not for the GAA. the global sports blockers.
@Sean Conway: What? Elaborate please.
@Sean Conway: our rugby team are from the 32 counties and they’ve always failed miserably at the World Cup. Probably the Gaa’s fault too
@Sean Conway: Still waiting Sean.
@Ray Laffan: Clearly the GAA is to blame for Ireland not having more teams that combine players from the north and south?! Who knew.
@Aideen Thornton: poor Sean blames the GAA for all ailments I’ve noticed. Didn’t get much game time as a young fella I’d say.
@Sean Conway: well said and true not to mention hovering up all the sports grants
Great nerve shown in the shootout once again!
#COYGIG. Brilliant achievement. A world cup final. Unbelievable!
Well done Girls. You are doing us proud.
Incredible achievement built on an amazing defence and goalkeeper. Two games in a row without conceding a penalty corner. Unbelievable!
Watch all the politicians get in on the act after this. The same ones who cut all their funding.
@Dave McAuliffe: Ross is already over there and Tweeting from the game
Ashamedly I haven’t watched them play a game yet but I’ll have to watch an Irish team play in the final. Marvellous.
I’m not crying, you’re crying
I hope whatever Gov Rep arrives for the photo op brings a cheque re- reimbursing them the € 550 they each had to pay for the honour of representing the country, plus a promise of a dedicated pitch and training centre.
Excellent….well done ladies
Lets call a spade a spade
Brilliant that the WOMEN’S hockey team won today. That must be why the MALE manager gets all the credit.
@Matt Mcauley: Well they didn’t get all the credit
@Matt Mcauley: where did that happen?
Criminally underfunded writes the excited author, ?? Lol, still a great result for the team , well done ladies congrats
@Declan Crowley: They are criminally under funded. They had to pay their own way there.
@Aideen Thornton: my son arrived back from the Gothia world youth Club recently having done very well cost near a grand , I diddnt winge about cost although I have little means , I was just delighted he got the chance to be there. Hockey has enough money tied to it as it is ,????
@Declan Crowley: Clearly not if they have to pay their own way
Well written Ryan
#itscominghome
Delighted
Fair play, amazing skill, goals are so small compared with camogie
Lord Churchtown! Step forward. What a return for your Grant to the hockey field in your constituency!
Great day for Irish sport, congrats girls and minister ross.
OK all we need is a miracle tomorrow.. This is the closest ever.. update from other semi final AUS 0-NLD1
If that narcissistic self-important moron Ross pitches up at the final I’ll explode!!!
Send Michael D!!!
@Deaglan Macgiollaphadraig: he better turn up with his cheque book
@BMJF: absolutely, a disgrace the lack of funding.
@Deaglan Macgiollaphadraig: the lack of band wagon until now ?!!!
@Niall: that’s true but to be fair. It’s great they made the final. Is it safe to assume they are massive underdogs for the final, or is that harsh??
@Maurice Mulcahy: if they are playing The Netherlands, they will be massive underdogs. Netherlands are ranked no 1 in the world and really very good
@Deaglan Macgiollaphadraig: was thinking that myself only 3 weeks ago!
@Olive Barnes: oh thanks for the information, yeah my friend in work (who is actually there) is a proper hockey fan, told me that this is the equivalent of Georgia getting to a men’s rugby world cup final. He said Netherlands should get to the final, according to him they are like New Zealand in rugby… So I think that seems a fair reflection of what’s happening tomorrow as in they are underdogs.
However it may be David Vs Goliath but every dog has their day, hope it goes well for the Irish Ladies. Maybe a go fund me page should be set up.. the Irish public can get behind them
@Maurice Mulcahy: i was watching the Dutch Aussie game, Maurice and I have got to say I was surprised at the Dutch. They didn’t seem as polished as they were earlier in the tournament. The Irish defence has been very good and their goalie, McFerran, is superb. Ireland should never have got this far so why not complete a total dream result????
Dare to dream!! FFS lads leave it out. We’re not English.
How’s about Irish sports failure to support the talent Ireland actually possesses instead of this ?
Shut up. I’m not crying, you’re crying
well done and bestwishes for tomorrow. To the minister and sports boss Tracy: get of the lid of the sports financial Support
and finance this sport and not only Tracy’s favourites!
Hope they call Leo out when he pushes ever
@David Clarke: ever one else out of the way to have his picture taken
By the By, Camogie sound like a sister sport of Lacross. Enid Blyton and Malory Towers always springs to mind. Any chance it can be re-named Women’s Hurley, which is what it is?
@Sharon O’Doherty: When the GAA was founded in 1884 the English-origin name “hurling” was given to the men’s game. When an organisation for women was set up in 1904, it was decided to anglicise the Irish name camógaíocht to camogie.
@Sharon O’Doherty: When the GAA was founded in 1884 the English-origin name “hurling” was given to the men’s game. When an organisation for women was set up in 1904, it was decided to anglicise the Irish name camógaíocht to camogie.
@Sharon O’Doherty: Sharon can I recommend you read the rules and look at the equipment in all 3 disciplines? Do you think squash and badminton should be renamed tennis perhaps…
And apart from all that, well done to the team and roll on tomorrow. Hockey has a great profile in pockets around the country, it would be good to see more kids take it beyond school level.
Well Done Girls Proud of you all xxxxx
Great great