Monaghan celebrate winning the Anglo-Celt Cup. INPHO/Presseye/William Cherry
EXHIBIT A IN your case to keep the provincial championships, the next time you start that debate in the pub? This weekend.
Monaghan are celebrating an historic Ulster title — their first since 1988 — thanks to a performance in Clones in which they out-Donegaled Donegal. The Farney are into the All-Ireland quarter-finals, while the All-Ireland champions must take the scenic route, if they’re to get back to HQ.
Despite a mauling in Castlebar meanwhile, London made a little bit of history of their own as they lined out in their first-ever Connacht SFC final. Here’s how the weekend played out:
Talking points
Cillian O’Connor came on at half-time after recent injury problems for Mayo. Within 21 minutes, he had scored a hat-trick
Monaghan broke plenty barren spells. A first Ulster senior title since 1988 and first Ulster minor title since 1945. What odds the provincial double earlier this year?
London’s best player on Sunday was Lorcan Mulvey. The native of Bultersbridge, he now faces his home county Cavan in the qualifiers next Saturday.
It’s a long way from penny apples
Those heading to Monaghan for the provincial decider might have been best advised to check for old coins down the side of the sofa and in underwear drawers before setting out. Clones welcomes old punts, GAA fans learned.
Mark McHugh was helped from the pitch after this awkward clash during the Ulster decider. Jim McGuinness admitted the incident had a ‘big impact’ on the result.
It remains to be seen if the All-Ireland medal winner will be fighting fit for the game with Laois next week. He’d be a big miss then too of course.
Time warp
Things have changed since Monaghan last won an Ulster title.
Ireland appeared in their first World Cup.
We’ve won four Eurovisions.
Charlie Haughey was Taoiseach. We’ve had five since.
It’s easy to be the big man when you’ve won but this picture of Donegal’s Karl Lacey with Monaghan’s Paul Finlay shows that you can be an even bigger man when you lose.
It may not have been a Connacht final scripted with much tension but Mayo did beat London to take a third provincial title on the trot. That’s no mean feat, despite the anti-climactic atmosphere yesterday.
Last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists won while looking lethargic and clocking up plenty of wides however. James Horan admitted afterwards he was far from happy with the performance, if not the result, and he’ll have plenty to work on with his charges when they regroup.
There’s no room on a scorecard for footnotes however and the history books will record another Connacht crown for Mayo. Cillian O’Connor scored this goal — his first of three — when he was introduced:
So the romantic London tale takes an unhappy twist. The Exiles now face into the qualifiers and realistically, that’ll be that. They arrived into Knock in style though, though they depart with no extra baggage:
Eastern promise
These Gaelic football fans from Korea enjoyed the fare on show at McHale Park and played in an exhibition game:
INPHO/James Crombie
Best dressed
They may have lost the game but this Exiles fans took the best-dressed plaudits. Chapeau to this young lad, seven-year-old Shane Lynott from London.
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Although this umpire dressed to impress in Kildare the evening before. That tie is a health-and-safety concern however.
He may be on hunger strike at the moment, but controversial Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle spent his Sunday watching and betting on the GAA action.
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Pitching up
In the wake of their defeat to Laois on Saturday evening, the Wexford footballers’ schedule was pretty much clear. Plenty of time on Sunday to see how many yellowbellies you can get in a tent then.
Sean Boylan was asked on to talk blanket defences and short puck-out strategies with Miriam O’Callaghan on Saturday night. And the Meath icon was asked for his predictions for All-Ireland titles. Presumably this reference to a Dublin double can be filed under reverse-jinx.
YouTube: RTE
The Funday Game
The RTÉ Director General needs to cut down on the amount of red lemonade the GAA lads are having in Montrose of a Sunday.
They. Are. Hyper.
First Ciarán Whelan seemingly started tweeting from the toilet during half-time in the Connacht final, promising he’d stay there for the second period, before it emerged it was the new messer in the mix this season, Eamon O’Hara.
Pic: The Sunday Game
Then, the former Sligo talisman made this offer to his followers: ”If I can get 5000 RT’s me & @whelo35 will find reasons @JoeBrolly1993 will need the defib.. Actually 5 will do.”
Pic: Eamon O’Hara
TV3 took some criticism from TV viewers when they threw to an ad break as the pitch filled with Monaghan fans at Clones.
The west’s awake
Those of you who read Ciaran Murphy’s Monday column might know that the Tribesmen haven’t yet lit up this championship just yet. But they’re still there.
Alan Mulholland’s side take on Cork next weekend in Croke Park.
The Rebels have been held back by being disorganised over the past five years, according to Brolly last night. Can bookmaker Mulholland mastermind an unlikely turn up for the books this week?
Galway’s Danny Cummins scores his side’s opening goal Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Geezer’s good?
Kildare’s summer is over for another year. The Lilywhites were beaten by Tyrone in Newbridge on Saturday evening. So what now manager Kieran McGeeney after an ultimately unsuccessful fifth season in charge?
“I wouldn’t say there’d be too many people making decisions now,” he said afterwards.
Do you think he should stay on?
Ref justice
You can guarantee, you haven’t heard the last of this one. Referee Joe McQuillan needed a Garda escort off the field in Newbridge on Saturday evening as Kildare fans showed their unhappiness with his performance. Tyrone emerged winners by 1-11 to 0-12 after a… tense second half.
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
YouTube: Irish Examiner
Four to the floor
If hurling fans are living through a Kilkenny era, camogie fans know Wexford run their world. But the Model County faced into their home game with Clare, knowing they had to win to keep their incredible four All-Ireland titles in a row bid on track. They did just that.
So what’s next?
Glad you asked. Next weekend looks like a great one once again. All-Ireland champions Donegal have to pick themselves up this week if Jimmy’s going to be winning matches in less than six days’ time. They face Laois next weekend.
Cork and Galway will meet, as we mentioned, in a 5pm throw-in at Croke Park, which is an intriguing curtain raiser for a double header featuring Meath and Tyrone at 7pm. The other tie to be fixed tomorrow is the novel pairing of London and Cavan.
Then there’s the hurling. Two of the game’s aristocrats face off in a ‘Slán Leat Final’ — as we heard it refereed to this weekend — at Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Patrick Horgan will be available for the Rebels after Saturday morning’s hearing at HQ in the wake of his controversial Munster final dismissal. But will it be enough against the Cats?
That Lee-Nore derby, to borrow an English football habit, is merely one half of a double header which climaxes with the loser-leaves-town showdown of Galway and Clare later in the afternoon.
Your GAA championship weekend review
Monaghan celebrate winning the Anglo-Celt Cup. INPHO/Presseye/William Cherry
EXHIBIT A IN your case to keep the provincial championships, the next time you start that debate in the pub? This weekend.
Monaghan are celebrating an historic Ulster title — their first since 1988 — thanks to a performance in Clones in which they out-Donegaled Donegal. The Farney are into the All-Ireland quarter-finals, while the All-Ireland champions must take the scenic route, if they’re to get back to HQ.
Despite a mauling in Castlebar meanwhile, London made a little bit of history of their own as they lined out in their first-ever Connacht SFC final. Here’s how the weekend played out:
Talking points
It’s a long way from penny apples
Those heading to Monaghan for the provincial decider might have been best advised to check for old coins down the side of the sofa and in underwear drawers before setting out. Clones welcomes old punts, GAA fans learned.
Pic: Malachy Clerkin
Turning point
Mark McHugh was helped from the pitch after this awkward clash during the Ulster decider. Jim McGuinness admitted the incident had a ‘big impact’ on the result.
It remains to be seen if the All-Ireland medal winner will be fighting fit for the game with Laois next week. He’d be a big miss then too of course.
Time warp
Things have changed since Monaghan last won an Ulster title.
It’s been a long wait.
Fair play
It’s easy to be the big man when you’ve won but this picture of Donegal’s Karl Lacey with Monaghan’s Paul Finlay shows that you can be an even bigger man when you lose.
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Three on the trot
It may not have been a Connacht final scripted with much tension but Mayo did beat London to take a third provincial title on the trot. That’s no mean feat, despite the anti-climactic atmosphere yesterday.
Last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists won while looking lethargic and clocking up plenty of wides however. James Horan admitted afterwards he was far from happy with the performance, if not the result, and he’ll have plenty to work on with his charges when they regroup.
There’s no room on a scorecard for footnotes however and the history books will record another Connacht crown for Mayo. Cillian O’Connor scored this goal — his first of three — when he was introduced:
YouTube: WJP11
A true underdog story
So the romantic London tale takes an unhappy twist. The Exiles now face into the qualifiers and realistically, that’ll be that. They arrived into Knock in style though, though they depart with no extra baggage:
Eastern promise
These Gaelic football fans from Korea enjoyed the fare on show at McHale Park and played in an exhibition game:
INPHO/James Crombie
Best dressed
They may have lost the game but this Exiles fans took the best-dressed plaudits. Chapeau to this young lad, seven-year-old Shane Lynott from London.
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan
Although this umpire dressed to impress in Kildare the evening before. That tie is a health-and-safety concern however.
Pic: GAABanterPage
Tweet of the week
He may be on hunger strike at the moment, but controversial Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle spent his Sunday watching and betting on the GAA action.
Pitching up
In the wake of their defeat to Laois on Saturday evening, the Wexford footballers’ schedule was pretty much clear. Plenty of time on Sunday to see how many yellowbellies you can get in a tent then.
Pic: Adrian Flynn
Dublin on the double?
Sean Boylan was asked on to talk blanket defences and short puck-out strategies with Miriam O’Callaghan on Saturday night. And the Meath icon was asked for his predictions for All-Ireland titles. Presumably this reference to a Dublin double can be filed under reverse-jinx.
YouTube: RTE
The Funday Game
The RTÉ Director General needs to cut down on the amount of red lemonade the GAA lads are having in Montrose of a Sunday.
They. Are. Hyper.
First Ciarán Whelan seemingly started tweeting from the toilet during half-time in the Connacht final, promising he’d stay there for the second period, before it emerged it was the new messer in the mix this season, Eamon O’Hara.
Pic: The Sunday Game
Then, the former Sligo talisman made this offer to his followers: ”If I can get 5000 RT’s me & @whelo35 will find reasons @JoeBrolly1993 will need the defib.. Actually 5 will do.”
Pic: Eamon O’Hara
TV3 took some criticism from TV viewers when they threw to an ad break as the pitch filled with Monaghan fans at Clones.
The west’s awake
Those of you who read Ciaran Murphy’s Monday column might know that the Tribesmen haven’t yet lit up this championship just yet. But they’re still there.
Alan Mulholland’s side take on Cork next weekend in Croke Park.
The Rebels have been held back by being disorganised over the past five years, according to Brolly last night. Can bookmaker Mulholland mastermind an unlikely turn up for the books this week?
Galway’s Danny Cummins scores his side’s opening goal Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Geezer’s good?
Kildare’s summer is over for another year. The Lilywhites were beaten by Tyrone in Newbridge on Saturday evening. So what now manager Kieran McGeeney after an ultimately unsuccessful fifth season in charge?
Do you think he should stay on?
Ref justice
You can guarantee, you haven’t heard the last of this one. Referee Joe McQuillan needed a Garda escort off the field in Newbridge on Saturday evening as Kildare fans showed their unhappiness with his performance. Tyrone emerged winners by 1-11 to 0-12 after a… tense second half.
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
YouTube: Irish Examiner
Four to the floor
If hurling fans are living through a Kilkenny era, camogie fans know Wexford run their world. But the Model County faced into their home game with Clare, knowing they had to win to keep their incredible four All-Ireland titles in a row bid on track. They did just that.
So what’s next?
Glad you asked. Next weekend looks like a great one once again. All-Ireland champions Donegal have to pick themselves up this week if Jimmy’s going to be winning matches in less than six days’ time. They face Laois next weekend.
Cork and Galway will meet, as we mentioned, in a 5pm throw-in at Croke Park, which is an intriguing curtain raiser for a double header featuring Meath and Tyrone at 7pm. The other tie to be fixed tomorrow is the novel pairing of London and Cavan.
Then there’s the hurling. Two of the game’s aristocrats face off in a ‘Slán Leat Final’ — as we heard it refereed to this weekend — at Semple Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Patrick Horgan will be available for the Rebels after Saturday morning’s hearing at HQ in the wake of his controversial Munster final dismissal. But will it be enough against the Cats?
That Lee-Nore derby, to borrow an English football habit, is merely one half of a double header which climaxes with the loser-leaves-town showdown of Galway and Clare later in the afternoon.
Round 4 pairings known in All-Ireland senior football championship
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