Mickey Harte steps down as Derry manager
Mickey Harte has stepped down as Derry manager after one year in charge. He released the following statement through the Derry county board.
“I have decided to step down as manager of the Derry Senior Football team. I would like to thank the players for the huge commitment they gave to the Derry jersey during the 2024 season.
“I would also like to thank Gavin and the entire backroom team for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
“Thanks too for the support of the County Board and all those generous sponsors of the GAA in Derry. Finally, I wish the players every success in the years ahead.”
Joe Brolly, who this year described Harte as the ‘rot at the heart’ of Derry’s decay reacted to the news by tweeting ‘Was it something I said?’
Donal Óg Cusack unhappy with how hand-pass rule was refereed
A number of players were pulled for throwing the ball on All-Ireland semi-final weekend. The call against Alan Connolly was the most critical one by referee Thomas Walsh as it cancelled a goal scored by Brian Hayes.
The Sunday Game also showed examples where Martin Keoghan (Kilkenny) and Ethan Twomey were wrongly penalised by referees for throwing the ball.
Hand-passing has become a huge talking point in hurling. Many feel that throwing the ball has become too common in the game.
“There’s a lot of people talking about it,” says Donal Óg.
“You look at this Aaron Gillane one, you can see that Gillane clear separation there with his hand.
“This was a crucial moment. That’s a brilliant skill from Alan Connolly. What do you expect him to do there? Stop and kick it? Do we want more kicking in the game?
We saw a lot of those over the weekend, and it would make you wonder what noise is going into the referee’s ears when they make decisions like this.
“We saw a number of those over the weekend.”
“Before any decision or any thought of a decision around the hand-pass, you need to get the top top players involved. You need to acknowledge their skill set and the positive impact of the hand-passes evolution on our game.”
“I have a very simple slogan: if you can’t see it, don’t blow it, and what annoys me about referees is their guessing is as simple as that.”
John Kiely says Limerick will bounce back
Speaking to RTÉ after Cork’s 1-28 to 0-29 victory over Limerick, John Kiely says he has no doubt the team will bounce back. He says Cork’s greater efficiency won the day but adds that he is very proud of his team.
“Hats off to Cork. Congratulations to them, we wish them well. They fought to the bitter end,” he said.
“They were that bit more efficient than us. But I have to say I am incredibly proud of the efforts of our team.
“It’s not easy to come back time after time after time and show the levels of hunger and desire that our lads have shown for so many years.”
“It’s time for us to step aside in this year’s championship and wish the best of luck to Clare and Cork in the final.”
Kiely admitted that some of the Limerick team ‘may not be there for next year’ but says the team will none-the-less bounce back.
“There will be some people in that room who may not be there next year but that is for another day,” he said. “We’ll let them all go away and reflect and absorb what happened today.
“It was a difficult one and it hurts. It hurts immeasurably. But we will process it. I have no doubt that Limerick hurling and those boys in that dressingroom will bounce back come 2025.”
Crazy traffic delays ahead of Limerick-Cork
You’d certainly know it was a sell-out! As early as 9.30 this morning, there’s said to have been 5km of traffic at a standstill on the M7 toll at Portlaoise.
Double All-Ireland winning manager John O’Mahony passes away.
Galway’s All-Ireland winning manager of 1998 and 2001 John O’Mahony has passed away at the age of 71.
A Mayo native, O’Mahony also managed his native county and Leitrim to Connacht titles. He was also a TD for Fine Gael and was the manager of Salthill Knocknacarra club team for two years between 2021 and 2023.
May he Rest In Peace.
Brilliant moment between Eoin Cody and Adam Hogan
Eoin Cody ultimately came out on the losing side but his goal against Clare will live long in the memory.
Cody and Hogan had a battle for the ages in the All-Ireland semi-final with both players having their moments.
The Ballyhale forward is renowned for his goalscoring touch and he showed that once again on the biggest stage on Saturday.
He broke free from Hogan in the 23rd minute of the game but Hogan recovered and the chance looked to have gone. But with that killer instinct of his, that was when Cody lobbed the ball up into the sky and swung on it one handed into the net.
It was a moment of utter genius that stunned the Croke Park crowd. A disbelieving Hogan could only smile at the brilliance of it all. Cody put his hands around his head and smiled back. Clare went onto win the game by 0-24 to 2-16, bringing them to a fist All-Ireland final since 2013.
Watch the brilliant moment between the pair below.
Sunday’s fixtures
Sunday 7 July
All-Ireland SHC semi-final
Limerick v Cork, Croke Park, 4.00 – RTE/BBC
All-Ireland Senior Camogie quarter-final
Galway v Waterford, Croke Park, 1.30 – RTE
Ladies All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals
Armagh v Mayo, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 5.45 – TG4
All-Ireland MFC final
Derry v Armagh, O’Neills Healy Park, 2.00 – TG4
