THE SUNDAY GAME was back on our screens and it was the first major Sunday of the 2015 GAA championship.
We were following all the action from Ballybofey, Carrick-on-Shannon and Drogheda.
Get in touch in the usual ways. Tweet us @The42GAA, find us on Facebook, send your emails to fintan@the42.ie or leave a comment below.
‘We’re back’ is the roar of The Sunday Game. It’s the first big Sunday of the 2015 GAA season and we’re following the action all the way.
Here’s what’s in store today:
- Connacht SFC quarter-final: Galway v Leitrim, Páirc Sean MacDiarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, 3.30pm
- Leinster SFC first round: Louth v Westmeath, Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda, 3.30pm
- Ulster SFC preliminary round: Donegal v Tyrone, Ballybofey, 4pm
The lads are out in force on a wet and miserable day in Ballybofey. Everyone happy to see them back debating?
Here’s how they’ll line out in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
The Louth team that starts in Drogheda.
And here’s the Westmeath side they will face.
The first flicker of a row between Joe Brolly and Pat Spillane over last year’s All-Ireland final but it’s quickly quelled by Michael Lyster as he moves swiftly on.
You can take the boy out of Louth but not Louth out of the boy. Carlton’s Ciaran Byrne interested in seeing how his former teammates fare today.
Early season Connacht silverware for Mayo football. They’ve won the provincial junior final against Galway, the curtain-raiser today in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Result: Connacht JFC final – Mayo 1-12 Galway 0-13
Louth 0-2 Westmeath 0-1
Lively start in the scoring stakes. Derek Maguire and Colm Judge on target for Louth.
Leitrim 0-2 Galway 0-1
Sean McWeeney and Ronan Kennedy grab points for Leitrim after Paul Conroy had got Galway off the mark.
All over in the Ulster minor football championship opener with Donegal seeing off Tyrone by 1-11 to 0-8.
Couple of interesting late changes to the Tyrone team. Both Brennan and McShane are graduates from the recent triumphant U21 team.
Galway 0-3 Leitrim 0-2
Paul Conroy edges Galway in front.
Westmeath 0-5 Louth 0-3
Two point advantage for Tom Cribben’s side.
Westmeath 0-6 Louth 0-3
John Heslin wins a free, converts the free and Westmeath go three clear.
Interesting sign in Drogheda.
Donegal 0-1 Tyrone 0-0
Lightning start by Donegal as Frank McGlynn tears forward and pops over a neat point.
Donegal 0-2 Tyrone 0-0
Really good play from Donegal. Patient play around the middle before Michael Murphy’s delivery finds Patrick McBrearty. He skins his man and come in off the right flank to take his point.
Galway 0-6 Leitrim 0-3
Paul Conroy knocks over a free to stretch Galway’s lead to three.
Donegal 0-3 Tyrone 0-0
Tyrone are getting unlocked here at the back. Odhran MacNiallais does great approach work, plays it across to Neil Gallagher who finds Christy Toye in plenty space and he picks off his point.
Galway 1-7 Leitrim 0-4
Damien Comer was the start of Galway’s win over New York and he’s making a big impact again today as he fires in a the game’s opening goal.
Donegal 0-4 Tyrone 0-0
Martin McElhinney with another point, Donegal are absolutely flying.
Donegal 0-4 Tyrone 1-0
Where did that come from?! Tyrone have looked very tentative early on with Donegal dictating the terms but Mickey Harte’s have just rattled the back of the net. It’s a cracking finish by Darren McCurry but Donegal’s defence was surprisingly prised apart with Peter Harte finding McCurry in aces of room.
Half-Time: Westmeath 0-7 Louth 0-6
Delicately balanced in Drogheda.
Half-Time: Galway 1-7 Leitrim 0-6
Four point advantage for the Tribesmen.
Donegal 0-5 Tyrone 1-0
Colm McFadden settles Donegal after the concession of that goal as he hooks over a point off his right.
Donegal 0-6 Tyrone 1-1
Justin McMahon hits a point but Tyrone could have got a greater reward with the score coming from a rebound after Peter Harte came closing to hitting the net only for Paul Durcan to block his shot.
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Two scoring chances for Tyrone from frees but Darren McCurry off target with both. Those could be costly.
Donegal 0-6 Tyrone 1-2
Tyrone hanging in there as Sean Cavanagh knocks over a close-range free.
Goal for Westmeath’s Callum McCormack!
Donegal 0-7 Tyrone 1-2
Christy Toye relieves the pressure on Donegal with a point.
Donegal 0-7 Tyrone 1-3
Sean Cavanagh points a free for Tyrone after Peter Harte is fouled by Neil Gallagher. Tyrone have to be happy with this state of affairs given Donegal’s powerful start to the game.
Donegal 0-7 Tyrone 1-4
Great individual score by Matthew Donnelly, he shrugs off the challenge of Ryan McHugh and clips over a foot off his left.
Goal for Westmeath from Shane Dempsey.
Tyrone 1-5 Donegal 0-7
And now Tyrone go in front! Fine point from Sean Cavanagh after a mistake from Karl Lacey.
Tyrone 1-6 Donegal 0-7
Tyrone playing really good stuff now. Ronan McNamee adds a point to stretch their lead. Cavanagh, Harte and Donnelly really driving them on.
Goal for Donegal by Martin McElhinney!
Donegal 1-8 Tyrone 1-6
MacNiallais with the initial chance for Donegal but Michael O’Neill produces a brilliant block to deny him. The rebound falls to McElhinney and he strikes first time superbly to the net. McFadden has just knocked over a fine point to put Donegal two ahead.
Half-Time: Donegal 1-8 Tyrone 1-6
Some shenanigans at half-time as both sides come off the pitch in Ballybofey. A schemozzle being the correct term.
A third goal for Westmeath from Ray Connellan.
Westmeath 3-11 Louth 0-14
Thirteen minutes left and the advantage is with Westemath.
Can’t argue with this.
Galway 1-10 Leitrim 0-6
Kevin Walsh’s side are seven points clear with ten minutes left in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Schemozzle alert.
Galway 1-12 Leitrim 0-8
Time running out and Galway in control at Carrick-on-Shannon.
Donegal 1-8 Tyrone 1-7
Sean Cavanagh knocks over a free after his brother Colm is fouled.
Full-Time: Westmeath 3-14 Louth 0-16
Donegal 1-8 Tyrone 1-8
Now we’re all square thanks to a lovely point by Conor McAliskey.
Full-Time: Galway 1-13 Leitrim 0-8
Donegal 1-10 Tyrone 1-8
Karl Lacey stretches Donegal’s lead further with a neat score.
Donegal 1-10 Tyrone 1-9
Couple of good bits of news for Tyrone. Conor McAliskey points at one end and then at the other, Michael O’Neill produces a fabulous save to deny Patrick McBrearty.
Tyrone 1-11 Donegal 1-10
Good kick by Michael Murphy from a free and that puts Donegal back in front.
Another top-drawer save by Michael O’Neill in the Tyrone goal to deny Colm McFadden this time.
Donegal 1-12 Tyrone 1-10
But Michael Murphy taps over a free as McFadden had been fouled moments before.
Yellow card for Tyrone’s Justin McMahon. Donegal fans very happy to hear that.
Sub: Mark Bradley, another U21 graduate in for Tyrone, for McCurry.
Red card for Donegal’s Neil Gallagher.
Second yellow for Gallagher and that’s 14 men Donegal have to play with for the closing stages.
Sean Cavanagh is sent-off!
High challenge from Cavanagh and he receives a black card, which is followed by a red as he was already on yellow.
We should mention that Paul Durcan produced a brilliant late save to deny Peter Harte a few moments ago, clawing the ball away as Tyrone nearly grabbed a second goal.
Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 1-10
Is that the insurance score? Michael Murphy brilliantly strikes over a ’45.
Colm Cavanagh nearly rescues Tyrone with a goal but he palms the ball against the crossbar.
And Tyrone nearly hit the net again! Mattie Donnelly fires in a rocket of a shot but the balls flies wide.
Full-Time: Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 1-10
Three-point win for Donegal, they macrh on in the Ulster championship to face Armagh in the quarter-final. The qualifiers beckons for Tyrone but they gave it everything today and really pushed Donegal hard. Really interesting, good game to kickstart the 2015 football championship.
Forcing the other half to watch it here. Face on her like a bulldog chewing a wasp. This is soap revenge!
Face on her like a slapedarse
What, you are going out with Colin Montgomery?
Get her to watch a real game like rugby where men are men, and not wrapped up in swaddling and padding and a time out every 10 seconds and an ad break every 30 seconds and it goes on forever.
I told ye about Harvin during the week. Hope ye backed him for MVP. It’s looking likely at the moment.
I can verify this. I didn’t back it though.
I did however win my half-time show bets so I don’t mind too much.
What were they Steven?
That Bruno Mars wouldn’t wear a hat and one of the RHCP would be topless. Worked out around 18/1 for the pair
Did you really back that? Class bet if so. Some price considering two of the RHCP are always topless!
Yeah, fedora was odds on for Bruno which gave the value.
Nice one! You got some excitment out of this disappointing game, for neutrals anyway!
Bet in the morning Stephen
You were wrong pal. The easy money was marshawn lynch first td…. Money from America
Greetings from Seattle and a big shout out to everyone back home. Go Hawks
Cheers from the US–hope you’re not too bored watching American football and go Seahawks!
Watching from Ireland all one way traffic so far
What’s with all this super bowl nonsense these last few years? if the sport was Russian or Canadian or anywhere other than the USA, these fake fans wouldn’t bother their holes watching it, idiots buying into the hype is all
Sap.
Sorry you feel that way Dan but it’s not like this is anything new. There has been an American football league on the go in Ireland for decades so it’s not like it’s ‘recent’ or ‘idiots buying into hype’
You can read more here: http://thescore.thejournal.ie/american-football-in-ireland-1285463-Jan2014/
Yeah? Well..you know that’s just like….your opinion man….
Having a bad day Dan??? Cynical much??? #seahawksforsam
Go on the Steve put the puppet back in his box #needsawank
Dan, I think this is pretty much in every sport and not just NFL. You will always have people who follow a sport because its fashionable. I always find funny to see some guys on FB saying: Go Giants Go because they ve spent a summer in NY but probably have no idea whos their QB.
Can’t wait for the commercials every 30 seconds
More funking breaks than a kit kat factory
C4 didn’t have one ad break after half time. Not one.
About to emigrate to Colorado, and saw a few of their games already this season, so go Broncos!
Didn’t Colorado make weed legit lately?
Emigrated to Colorado last May. You’re gonna love it here. Good luck!
Hope to move there too in the future.. It’s so beautiful.
As did Seattle…
Moved here 4 years ago. Love it here. Great weather and great people. Look up GAA Club here Denver Gaels if you want to make some friends when you get here.
Come on the Broncos. For no other reason that during honeymoon in 2004 went to see Celtic v Chelsea in Seahawks stadium in Seattle. 10 years later despite god knows how many attempts, can’t get them to stop sending me bloody marketing emails!
How long before joe namath’s jacket has it’s own twitter account!
I’m watching it 1st time since ’86!!! With my 2 boys one who is getting up & going to college but night come home at lunch time and 1 who is having a ‘rest’ day from school tomoz – both worked today so I think they deserve it, I don’t work til 2 so I’m sorted
GO SEAHAWKS
Just watching for the first time……reminds me of a night out in Temple Bar before Christmas. Scraps and punch ups . Only thing missing , a couple of blades and some screaming slappers.
That’s the half time show
USA has a population 70 times the size of Ireland, and the capacity for tonights game is the same size as Croker. #golddusttickets
Yawn…..if it was such a great sport why isn’t it played all over the world?
Because it’s America footbal
It is.
You could say the same about hurling
Not in Wales….
Or New Zealand.
Or Russia, Eygpt or Iceland.
No American Football in Peru, Chile or Equador either.
whats with the body Armour and helmets? like rugby for pansies.
The “rugby for pansies” thing is soooo tired.
More than welcome to pop down to a training session try it out where you based. Teams all around Ireland. Played both myself and can certainly say hits in American football are a lot harder.
Far far harder. If they they take away the padding, then it would be just the same as rugby. What’s the point of that? We already have rugby.
What a crap sport rugby wins hands down
couldn’t agree more, total crap.
Its not crap. Its just different. Rugby is a better sport, but this is America’s thing. Enjoy it.
Peyton is going to light up this Superbowl. Go Broncos!!
My first time watching.
I loved Friday Night Lights so I want to watch and see if I actually like american football.
Hope I can stay awake.
You should really have watched a few regular season games first but welcome to the growing irish football family
The football family is the soccer one – the only sport played in every country on earth.
observations so far, no game should be this complicated. how can you enjoy it if there are SO many rules to keep track of. Seven refs, like. Well, we’ll see how it goes. Im gonna give it a fair chance.
Yes Bill. In all 209 countries……
Has The Vatican got a league, it is a country isn’t it?
The Vatican has a few teams. They play their home games there – in Rome leagues.
Correct – and the Vatican City also has an international side which has been managed by our old friend Trap!
Sarah it’s really not that complicated 2 honestly at the start of every season the commentary Is much more newbie friendly maybe try a few games in September , and as for the 7 refs it’s so they don’t miss anything and I think last night’s refs were very good they had no influence on the game which is the way it should be
I’m staying up, i do every year… loveeeee football!! Steelers fan, but have to go for the broncos for this one!
It should be called throwball, or runball for its certainly not football
You should write to the NFL with your suggestion, make sure to strongly word it. :0)
Just like gaelic football should be called handball.
Homer Simpson did a great job with the Denver Broncos considering he really wanted the Dallas Cowboys.
Sweet baby Jesus, please make this pre-game analysis END!!! #notgoinalast
That englisg lad om sky does my head in
Hate him!!
He’s better than that f***ing Cecil – I’m gonna say something really obvious then repeat it then repeat it again and finish with an earnest look so you think I’m intelligent. Worst on tv – even his co- commentators look like they’re saying “would you ever just shut up”
Just played it out on madden 25 broncos by 7 with champ bailey as mvp , hopefully that’s how it goes
Go Broncos
Nice name you have
Aww m a n. Really wish I was pqrt of the colm connolly club. Go bronco’s….
Cheers man
Well that was not what madden told me would happen sniff sniff
Even the Crane brothers must be loving the Seahawks right now.
By the time they return after half time, the game will be on around 2 hours, but they’ve only played a few minutes. Can we hope the game will finish before March?
No idea who I’m cheering for. Packers didn’t make it :( but hey at least the Patriots are out. I love Manning but I’m also a fan of the Seahawks aggression in defense… I think it’ll be close but I’m going to say Seahawks. Either way WOO HOO!!!
I know the feeling! An Eagles fan, so since the birds aren’t playing, nor are the Steelers (our mortal enemies – always root against the Steelers), ended up deciding on Seahawks as my sister lives in Washington. But fingers crossed it’s a good game either way!
Packers fan too.
So in keeping with the fellow NFC team, I’m rooting for the ‘Hawks.
How tp do think I feel as a 49ers fan? I think I out dissapoint both of ye
22-0
Good night.
It’ll be a tight game. Best offence v best defence. I hope it leads to an exciting game and they don’t cancel each other out.
I think Seahawks will edge it.
Can’t see it. Broncos by 10 id say
U have to explain why Leslie? Otherwise we call you a spoofer :)
Seahawks have a great defense but there is too many broncos w recievers. Then theres mannings arm
Ah here that’s exactly what commentators said 2 mins before you. Spoofer!! ;)
Leslie Ann Rock goes on every sports story and always gets it wrong. Every. Single. Time.
Not u again
Yep iamdebest is back again
Probably will tell me im the king of kildare and to get a job.
Broncos by ten, huh? How’d that work out for ya? Seahawks were awesome.
Perfect start for the Seahawks…
How valuable will those two points be in 3 hours
First scrap after only 30 seconds.
American football- kind of like rugby, but with body armor, helmets, and lots more and longer stoppages. Id love to see any American footballer tackle Paul o O’Connell, he’d ate them.
I’m a fan of neither sport, and therefore have no bias, but your ignorance is vast.
Yes, dude is quite thick.
Paul would eat them without the hype Jesus
The college graduates are doing bench-press drills of 102kg x 40 reps.
I don’t know if Pro rugby players do those stats, but I know our Paulie could not live with the explosive speed & strength of a line-man or linebacker.
Unless anyone knows POCs BP stats?
There are a number of former rugby players in the NFL, mostly from Australia and NZ. Interesting thing is that they’re mostly kickers or punters…or what we consider “the non-athletes” of the sport!
Don’t ya remember Miami trying to poach ROG?
Its because the skill of kicking the ball is so far removed as a skill from the rest of the game they have to import players that have the skillset
Go raiders oh wait
*shakes fist*
Any sightings of a “MAYO FOR SAM” sign yet?
Not yet but I promise you I won’t be posting it if there is. Kildare4Sam on the other hand….
Taxi for Broncos
Wore the big 18 today with great pride. Waited 15 years for this moment again. Broncos all the way. Omaha!!!
Sweet Jesus Colin Murray is one plank. What were channel 4 thinking?
I know.
I’d even take Vernon over him.
What was wrong with Nat coombs? He was wasted on the touchline.
I am so f**king drunk right now.
Go hawwwkkkksssssss !!!
Jasus lads
Snooze fest, I did try ;)
Think I’ll stick with Rugby
Would hate to be Floyd Mayweather right now.
First two Superbowls I saw the Broncos lost to Niners and Redskins. This is my third time seeing them in Superbowl. Notice a trend?
I was actually looking forward to this all day but now that I’m watching it, this superb owl programme isn’t so interesting….plus there’s no Seahawks in it yet
Follow george takei on Facebook do we?
George Takei?no why is that?
He made the same superb owl joke
Everybody makes that bloody joke it was funny once about 17 years ago and takai seems to think it’s funny every year but please for 2015 no superb owl jokes
Kick off return after halftime 2013…Touchdown. Kick off return after halftime 2014… Touchdown.
Helicopters? Where are the stealth bombers
Afghanistan
WTF Bruno Mars half time show,a bit like having Jedward perform in Croker on All Ireland final day! Chilli Peppers not on long enough
Did just seriously just compare a 2 time Grammy award winner with 10 million album sales and 58 million single sales with Jedward, you’re a moron.
Go to bed you mong
Your language is just as pitiful as your music knowledge.
Go watch some Glee or something Im trying to watch the game
I never seen Glee you must tell me about it.
Your correct in saying the Chillis should have been on longer. ☮
Conditions looking good ! I said earlier in the week that broncos would win by 7 + ,FORGET ABOUT IT ! Manning and the broncos by 15 !!! Keep an eye out for demaryous tomas tonite !!!!
That doesn’t look like queen Latifah unless she has gone down the Micheal Jackson route
Yeah I get mixed up between the anthem and America the Brave. Luckily I’m not American so that’s grand!
Y’all I ain’t got a clue about it but it’s Good tv ..
My UPC box just had a sh!t fit and reset itself. I need an activation code and god knows where that is. Not exactly a nail biter of a game but still. Talk about rubbish timing!
Hawwwwwwwlkkkkssssss!!
Go the Hawlks.
National Anthem drives me mad!
Bed early so Dan! Sweet dreams! Bronco’s all the way!
Sherman is going to steal it from the broncos I reckon
Up till its over work in the morn no problem gotta tell the naysayers
Fintan, I think I’m in love with your FB profile pic.
Yowzers!
Well that was an odd song choice Seahawks. Bit of a wimpy entrance…
Stephen O’Rourke, people like Dan don’t understand the game so negativity masks his ignorance about American Football.
Are the spectators provided with sick bags?
What a shite sport
What a Shite comment
Anyone else having a problem with the channel 4 coverage? The screen keeps blinking where I am watching.
DEFENCE
Horrible game, can’t fathom why people over here put themselves through staying up all night when there are proper sports this side of the Atlantic
Its not cool. Not even a bit.
And to think there are people that think manning is better than Brady! Choked again last night when the pressure came on, same as has done his entire career.
What time is kick off?
11.30
Bruno for half time!!!! Not cool!
Some game by the Hawks so far, very nervy start by the Broncos and it got worse from there.
Broncos trying to force Wilson to throw and go to his weaker left, but he has been coping very well so far!
Handegg.
Percy Harvin touchdown #CLASS #GameOver #WhiteWash?
WORST Super Bowl ever ! amazing how everyones jumped on the Seattle bandwagon ! so so boring and one sided – heres to a better one next year.
Its all going to hell for the Broncos….
… Plus the sound on C4 & C4hd has gone crackly…
I think the commentator guy with the eye on sky is high
It’s called bells palsey you idiot
Kevin
That is nothing to be joking about you idiot
Who’s singing the anthem this year?since it’s on fox it’s probably Zooey what’s her name
It was Queen Latifah.
Queen Latifah. Looking good too.
The national anthem was that opera one… Beyonce did it WAYYYYYYY better.
Renee Fleming sang the American National Anthem
Is it just me r do they wear a lot less ‘armour’ than they used to? Their shoulders seem to have shrunk