So, it has come to pass, Dublin and Kerry have circumvented the new Gaelic football Round Robin format introduced this year, and have qualified for the All-Ireland final, which will be played in Croke Park on Sunday next.
For the traditionalists playing All-Ireland finals in the month of July is strange, but there has always been talk of giving more time to the club scene and the opportunity arose when Covid arrived three years ago.
Gaelic football is becoming like a game of “back and forwards” where possession is crucial and it’s certainly not pretty. But hopefully Dublin and Kerry, who have given us some exciting games over the years, won’t have to resort on Sunday to what Pat Spillane famously has called “puke football.”
It’s often said that in life possession is nine points of the law and the same applies to Gaelic football. In the old days goalkeepers rarely kicked the ball out, that task fell to one of the full-back line; now the keeper is the main man – he decides whether to go short or long and not only that. Goalkeepers are now joining in the attack as we saw in the semi-finals with Monaghan’s Rory Beggan and Derry’s Odhran Lynch moving right up the field. Dublin’s Stephen Cluxton started a new trend with his perfect goal-kicks, but the veteran Dubliner rarely ventures outside his 21-yard line, even though he plays outfield for his club Parnells, as does Kerry’s No.1 Shane Ryan with his club Rathmore. So, we now have goalkeepers who can play anywhere.
Those of us who remember the great games between the counties in the 1970s might think Dublin and Kerry have played each other in 20 or 30 finals, but this will only be the 14th final between these great rivals in the 139-year history of the GAA. Their first final meeting was in Clonturk Park, Drumcondra, in 1892 and the second was Cork in 1904, but since then all the other finals were played at Croke Park. Not counting replays, Kerry has won seven and Dublin six, but significantly Kerry has not beaten Dublin in a final since 1985.
Who is going to win? A lot of neutrals would like to see Kerry star David Clifford lift the cup, but it’s going to be very close. The referee will be Meath’s David Gough, who also took charge of the drawn 2019 final between the counties.
AWAITING CROKE PARK
CLEARANCE ON GAME
Munster are hoping to play Crusaders from New Zealand at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Feb. 3. At present the Cork GAA County Board are waiting on clearance from Croke Park to stage what is being marketed as the “Clash of Champions.” Munster played South Africa “A” at the Pairc last November before a full house. Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan said: ‘‘Our current targets are based on securing at least three major events within each financial year. While we had five concerts last year, we had none this year.’’
EGAN IS OUT
Darragh Egan’s time as Wexford senior hurling manager has come to an end following a review of his two years in charge. Despite support from the Wexford panel, the 2019 All-Ireland winning coach with Tipperary will not remain in the Wexford manager’s job for 2024. A statement from the county board executive last week confirmed that the Tipperary native’s initial two-year term is not being extended in the sunny south east. Wexford just about maintained their Liam MacCarthy Cup and Leinster senior hurling status with a final round victory over Kilkenny having lost to Westmeath in spectacular fashion the previous weekend. Egan steps down with selectors Niall Corcoran, Willie Cleary and Neil O’Loughlin.
Meanwhile former Déise star Ken McGrath is expected to be ratified as Waterford under-20 manager this week. The Mount Sion star will have an impressive backroom team that includes Dan Shanahan (Lismore), Kevin Moran (De la Salle) and Andy Moloney (Ballygunner).
LIONS VS. AUS/NZ
The Lions will face a combined New Zealand and Australia team a week out from their first Test against the Wallabies on their 2025 tour. The schedule for that trip, which is likely to be led by Ireland coach Andy Farrell, will see the tourists take on all five of the Australian Super Rugby teams during the tour before they play Eddie Jones’s side in Brisbane on July 19, Melbourne on July 26 and Sydney on Aug. 2. The Lions. They open the tour in Perth where they will play Western Force, before making their way to Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra to take on the Queensland Reds, New South Wales Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies before meeting the Invitational team in Adelaide. The Lions will be looking for their first series win since their last visit to Australia in 2013, having drawn with New Zealand in 2017 and lost to South Africa in 2021.
T.D. BACK AS CHAIR
Peter Fitzpatrick, the Independent TD for Louth, stepped down last week from the role as Chairman of the Louth GAA County Board following discussions with fellow management committee members. But it looks like the T.D, who has previously managed the Wee County, then changed his mind and returned to the chair. Louth were set to commence work on their new €25 million, 14,000-capacity stadium outside Dundalk last week, but were ordered not to go ahead by the GAA’s Management Committee and Central Council pending a reassessment of the project. Apparently, there was disagreement between Croke Park and Louth GAA about the stadium in relation to proof of funding. Croke Park are also understood to be concerned about other aspects to the project. Louth, the smallest county in Ireland, doesn’t have a proper stadium to host big championship games.
WALL FOR SEVENS
IN PARIS: REPORT
Former Meath Ladies footballer Vikki Wall, who is currently playing Aussie Rules football for North Melbourne, is reported to be set to play for the Ireland Women’s sevens rugby team at next year’s Olympic Games. Apparently a deal is close to be finalised with the IRFU. Wall, whose Meath team exited the All-Ireland Championships at the quarter-final stage to Kerry 10 days ago, is set to leave her Australian club North Melbourne, having been convinced that her future lies with a different kind of oval ball. The IRFU’s interest in Wall was first reported after she who won All-Ireland medals with the Royals in 2021 and 2022. The deal is not yet finalised, but her path to Paris is not straightforward as Vicki would be coming into come into a settled squad who qualified for the Olympic Games earlier this year.
FRYDAY RETIREMENT
IS BLOW TO IRELAND
The rebuilding of the Irish women's rugby suffered a setback last week with confirmation that senior captain Nichola Fryday is retiring from Test rugby. The 28-year-old will continue to play with her club Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership. It's a blow for the Irish XV’s programme which has seen constant disruption in recent years, with head coach Greg McWilliams parting company with the IRFU in the wake of the Six Nations wooden spoon in 2023. The 34-cap second row was the key leader in an already inexperienced side which suffered defeat in all five games of their Six Nations campaign. The Offaly native scored a try in her final game for Ireland when they were beaten 36-10 by Scotland at the end of April.
SEMIS FOR SEMPLE
Semple Stadium is the venue for next Saturday’s All-Ireland Ladies senior football championship semi-finals. Kerry, who are chasing their first senior win since 1993 after dethroning Meath in the quarter-final, will play at Mayo with a 5 p.m. throw-in, while Cork face Dublin in the second semi-final at 7pm. The final will be played in Croke Park on Aug. 13.
