Make-or-break for Limerick
Just a short month ago, as Seán Moran writes, the notion that Limerick would be playing for the future of their summer by the third game of the Munster championship would have been met with amazement by most GAA people. Yet here we are.
John Kiely’s men must now go to Thurles on Sunday to face a revitalised Tipperary side, where only a win will guarantee their progress further than the Munster championship.
Clare’s victory over the defending All-Ireland champions puts them in a dominant position heading to the conclusion of the provincial championship. The Banner have a home game against Cork to contend with this weekend.
New-look championship
The provincial championships concluded, a new-look All-Ireland football championship format gets its first run out this weekend. The pick of the action will likely be found in Killarney or Salthill: Kerry face Mayo at 3pm on Saturday, while Galway welcome Tyrone to Pearse Stadium later the same day, with throw in at 5.15pm.
The latter meet for the first time in the championship since 2004, when the Ulstermen triumphed in a backdoor qualifier match in Croke Park 1-16 to 0-11. Galway, of course, come into this weekend’s tie as provincial champions after a paint-by-numbers win over Sligo two weeks ago. Tyrone have less momentum behind them, having been dumped out of the Ulster championship at the quarter-final stage by Monaghan.
Mayo, like Tyrone, are footballing heavyweights entering the All-Ireland series licking their wounds, following a provincial defeat to Roscommon in the quarter-finals. The task at hand in Killarney will be arguably more difficult than anything they might have faced in the Connacht championship this year. The Cliffords ran the show the last time the Kingdom were out, swatting Clare aside to claim yet another Munster crown.
Tailteann Cup watch
The Tailteann Cup continues this weekend. Early frontrunners such as Down and Cavan should have no problems again when they face Tipperary and London respectively, and Meath – also fancied by some after a restorative win over Tipp last weekend – have little to fear in heading to Dungarvan to face Waterford.
TV and Fixtures
SATURDAY MAY 20th
Leinster SHC Round 4: Kilkenny v Dublin, Nowlan Park, 6.0 (Streaming on GAAGO)
All-Ireland SFC Group 1: Kerry v Mayo, Fitzgerald Stadium, 3.0 (GAAGO)
All-Ireland SFC Group 2: Galway v Tyrone, Pearse Stadium, 5.15 (GAAGO)
All-Ireland SFC Group 4: Clare v Donegal, Cusack Park, 2.0
Tailteann Cup Group 1 London v Cavan, McGovern Park, 2.0; Laois v Offaly, O’Moore Park, 7.0
Tailteann Cup Group 2 Waterford v Meath, Fraher Field, 6.30
Tailteann Cup Group 3 Carlow v Limerick, Dr Cullen Park 3.0; Longford v Wicklow, Pearse Park, 5.0
Tailteann Cup Group 4 Wexford v Antrim, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 5.30; Leitrim v Fermanagh, Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, 6.0 (GAAGO).
All-Ireland MHC semi-finals: Clare v Kilkenny, FBD Semple Stadium, 1.0 (TG4); Cork v Galway, FBD Semple Stadium, 3.0 (TG4).
SUNDAY MAY 21st
Leinster SHC Round 4 Galway v Antrim, Pearse Stadium, 2.0; Wexford v Westmeath, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 3.0
Munster SHC Round 4 Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, 2.0 (Live on RTÉ2); Tipperary v Limerick, Semple Stadium, 4.0 (Live on RTÉ 2)
All-Ireland SFC Group 3 Sligo v Kildare, Markievicz Park, 2.30
Tailteann Cup Group 2 Tipperary v Down, Semple Stadium, 1.45
Team news
All-Ireland SFC teams
CLARE: Stephen Ryan, Ronan Lanigan, Cillian Brennan, Cillian Rouine, Ciaran Russell, Jamie Malone, Cian O’Dea, Cathal O’Connor, Darren O’Neill, Daniel Walsh, Emmet McMahon, Pearse Lillis, Eoin Cleary, Keelan Sexton, Pádraic Collins. Subs: David Sexton, Darragh Bohannon, Gavin Cooney, Manus Doherty, Micheal Garry, Aaron Griffin, Shane Griffin, Mark McInerney, Brian McNamara, Alan Sweeney, Ikem Ugweru.
DONEGAL: Shaun Patton, Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, John Ross Molloy, Caolan Ward, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Odhran Doherty, Caolan McGonagle, Rory O Donnell, Daire Ó Baoill, Jamie Brennan, Ciaran Thompson, Luke McGlynn, Hugh McFadden, Conor O Donnell. Subs: Gavin Mulreaney, Jason McGee, Caolan McColgan, Brian O Donnell, Oisin Gallen, Marty O’Reilly, Johnny McGroddy, Kane Barrett, Kieran Tobin, Jack McSharry, Jamie Grant.
KERRY: Shane Ryan, Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan, Graham O’Sullivan, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White, Diarmuid O’Connor, Jack Barry, Dara Moynihan, Sean O’Shea, Paudie Clifford, Tony Brosnan, David Clifford, Paul Geaney. Subs: Shane Murphy, Brian Ó Beaglaíoch, Adrian Spillane, Barry Dan O’Sullivan, Ruairi Murphy, Paul Murphy, Micheál Burns, Mike Breen, Stephen O’Brien, Donal O’Sullivan, Ronan Buckley.
MAYO: Colm Reape, Jack Coyne, David McBrien, Sam Callinan, Paddy Durcan, Conor Loftus, Stephen Coen, Matthew Ruane, Diarmuid O’Connor, Fionn McDonagh, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn, Aidan O’Shea, James Carr, Ryan O’Donoghue. Subs: Rory Byrne, Tommy Conroy, Jason Doherty, Enda Hession, Darren McHale, Donnacha McHugh, Eoghan McLaughlin, Kevin McLoughlin, Pádraig O’Hora, Paul Towey, Bob Tuohy.
GALWAY: Connor Gleeson, John McGrath, Seán Kelly, Jack Glynn, Dylan McHugh, John Daly, Cillian McDaid, Paul Conroy, John Maher, Matthew Tierney, Johnny Heaney, Peter Cooke, Ian Burke, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh. Subs: Bernard Power, Seán Fitzgerald, Daniel O’Flaherty, Cian Hernon, Paul Kelly, Gerard Davoran, Niall Daly, Robert Finnerty, Cathal Sweeney, Dessie Conneely, Tomo Culhane.
TYRONE: Niall Morgan, Michael Mc Kernan, Ronan McNamee, Pádraig Hampsey, Conor Meyler, Cormac Quinn, Peter Harte, Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick, Frank Burns, Michael O’Neill, Joe Oguz, Darren McCurry, Matthew Donnelly, Darragh Canavan. Subs: Benny Gallen, Ruari Canavan, Aidan Clarke, Niall Devlin, Niall Kelly, Kieran McGeary, Michael McGleenan, Cormac Monroe, David Mulgrew, SeanO’Donnell, Niall Sludden.
SLIGO: Aidan Devaney, Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Nathan Mullen, Paul McNamara, Brian Cox, Luke Towey, Cian Lally, Paul Kilcoyne, Finnian Cawley, Sean Carrabine, Keelan Cawley, Pat Spillane, Patrick O Connor, Niall Murphy. Subs: Daniel Lyons, Alan Reilly, Darragh Cummins, David Quinn, Gerard O’Kelly Lynch, Jack Lavin, Joe Keaney, Kenny Gavigan, Luke Nicholson, Mark Walsh, Mikey Gordon.
KILDARE: Mark Donnellan, Mick O’Grady, Shea Ryan, Eoin Doyle, David Hyland, Kevin Flynn, Jack Sargent, Kevin O’Callaghan, Aaron Masterson, Paddy McDermott, Ben McCormack, Alex Beirne, Paul Cribbin, Darragh Kirwan, Paddy Woodgate, Aaron O’Neill, Darragh Malone, Ryan Houlihan, Brendan Gibbons, Kevin Feely, Barry Coffey, Tony Archbold, Neil Flynn, Daniel Flynn, Mike Joyce, Jack Robinson.
Leinster SHC teams
KILKENNY: Eoin Murphy, Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Tommy Walsh, David Blanchfield, Richie Reid, Darragh Corcoran, Adrian Mullen, Paddy Deegan, Tom Phelan, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan, Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody. Subs: Aidan Tallis, Conor Delaney, Cillian Buckley, Pádraig Walsh, Conor Fogarty, Alan Murphy, Timmy Clifford, Walter Walsh, Cian Kenny, Shane Walsh, Billy Drennan.
DUBLIN: Seán Brennan, Paddy Doyle, Eoghan O’Donnell, Paddy Smyth, Conor Donohoe, Conor Burke, Daire Gray, Mark Grogan, Chris O’Leary, Danny Sutcliffe, Donal Burke, Cian Boland, Sean Currie, Cian O’Sullivan, Paul Crummey. Subs: Eddie Gibbons, John Bellew, James Madden, Andy Dunphy, Darragh Power, Aidan Mellett, Alex Considine, Fergal Whitely, Dara Purcell, Joe Flanagan, Cian O’Boyle.
GALWAY: Eanna Murphy, Jack Grealish, Gearóid McInerney, Darren Morrissey, Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Fintan Burke, Joseph Cooney, Cathal Mannion, Ronan Glennon, Evan Niland, Conor Cooney, Kevin Cooney, Conor Whelan, Declan McLoughlin. Subs: Darach Fahy, TJ Brennan, Adrian Tuohey, Jack Fitzpatrick, Seán Linnane, Cianan Fahy, Tom Monaghan, Donal O’Shea, Martin McManus, Liam Collins, Jamie Ryan.
ANTRIM: Tiernan Smyth, Paddy Burke, Ryan Mc Garry, Stephen Rooney, Gerard Walsh, Conor Boyd, Niall O Connor, Keelan Molloy, James Mc Naughton, Eoin O Neill, Conal Cunning, Domhnall Nugent, Rian Mc Mullan, Niall McKenna, Conor Johnston. Subs: Ryan Elliott, Scott Walsh, Caolan Mc Kernan, Enda Og Mc Garry, Paul Boyle, Seamie Mc Auley, Joe Maskey, Daniel McKernan, Michael Bradley, Eoin Trainor, Arron Bradley.
WEXFORD: James Lawlor, Shane Reck, Liam Ryan, Conor Devitt, Simon Donohoe, Matthew O’Hanlon, Ian Carty, Cathal Dunbar, Liam Óg McGovern, Jack O’Connor, Lee Chin, Oisin Foley, Rory O’Connor, Conor McDonald, Mikie Dwyer. Subs: Cian Byrne, Ross Banville, David Clarke, Kevin Foley, Conor Hearne, Rory Higgins, Richie Lawlor, Charlie McGuckin, Niall Murphy, Joe O’Connor, Diarmuid O’Keeffe.
WESTMEATH: Noel Conaty, Darragh Egerton, Conor Shaw, Johnny Bermingham, Tommy Doyle, Aaron Craig, Robbie Greville, Shane McGovern, Charlie McCormack, Davy Glennon, Ciaran Doyle, Eoin Keyes, Owen McCabe, Joseph Boyle, Niall O’Brien. Subs: Conor Bracken, Niall Mitchell, Derek McNicholas, Cormac Boyle, Darragh Clinton, Gary Greville, Peter Clarke, David Williams, Shane Clavin, Kevin Regan, Jack Gillen.
Munster SHC teams
CLARE: Eibhear Quilligan, Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Rory Hayes, Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, David McInerney, David Fitzgerald, Cathal Malone, Peter Duggan, Tony Kelly, Aidan McCarthy, Ryan Taylor, Shane O’Donnell, Mark Rodgers. Subs: Eamonn Foudy, Cian Nolan, Ian Galvin, Shane Meehan, Aron Shanagher, Aaron Fitzgerald, Robin Mounsey, Paul Flanagan, Cian Galvin, Jack Kirwan, Seadna Morey.
CORK: Patrick Collins, Niall O’ Leary, Damien Cahalane, Sean O Donoghue, Tommy O’Connell, Ciaran Joyce, Robert Downey, Brian Roche, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Declan Dalton, Seamus Harnedy, Luke Meade, Conor Cahalane, Patrick Horgan, Conor Lehane. Subs: Ger Collins, Ger Mellerick, Eoin Downey, Tim O’Mahony, Ethan Twomey, Padraig Power, Alan Cadogan, Shane Kingston, Sean Twomey, Shane Barrett, Brian Hayes.
TIPPERARY: Rhys Shelly, Cathal Barrett, Michael Breen, Ronan Maher, Eoghan Connolly, Bryan O Mara, Seamus Kennedy, Alan Tynan, Dan McCormack, Conor Stakelum, Patrick Maher, Noel McGrath, Jake Morris, Gearod O’Connor, Mark Kehoe. Subs: Barry Hogan, Conor Bowe, Seamus Callanan, John Campion, Pauric Campion, Joe Fogarty, Enda Heffernan, Brian McGrath, John McGrath, Johnny Ryan, Sean Ryan.
LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid, Michael Casey, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash, Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes, Darragh O Donovan, William O Donoghue, Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey. Subs: Jamie Power, Ciaran Barry, Conor Boylan, Colin Coughlan, Aaron Costello, Adam English, Richie English, Graeme Mulcahy, Shane O Brien, Cathal O Neill, David Reidy.
Tailteann Cup teams
LONDON: Andrew Walsh, Daire Rooney, Michael Clarke, Nathan McElwaine, Ronan Slone, Cahir Healy, Eoin Walsh, Joshua Obahor, Liam Gallagher, Conal Gallagher, Daniel Clarke, Aidan McLoughlin, Ryan Tohill, Liam Gavaghan, Fiontan Eastwood. Subs: Kevin Mullan, Eoin Flanagan, Conor O’Neill, James Hynes, Joseph McGill, Christopher Farley, Eunan Curran, Fionn Gallagher, Henry Walsh, Stephen Dornan, Enda Lynn.
CAVAN: Raymond Galligan, Killian Clarke, Padraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan, Ciarán Brady, Oisin Kiernan, Cian Madden, Conor Brady, James Smith, Gerard Smith, Gearóid McKiernan, Tiarnán Madden, Ryan O’ Neill, Paddy Lynch, Oisin Brady. Subs: Gary O’ Rourke, Brandon Boylan, Conor Rehill, Jonathan McCabe, Martin Reilly, Evan Finnegan, Cian Reilly, Oisin Kiernan, Ryan Donohoe, Tristan Noack Hofmann, Conor Smith.
LAOIS: Killian Roche, Sean Greene, Trevor Collins, Robert Pigott, Padraig Kirwan, Mark Timmons, Patrick O Sullivan, Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin, Cathal Doyle, Paul Kingston, James Finn, Mark Barry, Evan O’Carroll, Eoin Lowry. Subs: Scott Osborne, Seamus Lacey, Alex Mohan, Sean O’Flynn, Kevin Swayne, Ciaran Burke, Dylan Kavanagh, Darragh Carolan, Niall Corbet, Brian Daly, Colm Murphy.
OFFALY: Ian Duffy, Lee Pearson, Declan Hogan, David Dempsey, Jack O’Brien, Peter Cunningham, Ciaran Donnelly, Conor McNamee, Jack McEvoy, Joe Maher, Ruairi McNamee, Anton Sullivan, Cian Farrell, Nigel Dunne, Dylan Hyland. Subs: Corey White, Cian Donohoe, Jamie Evans, Aaron Leavy, Morgan Tynan, Cormac Delaney, Ed Cullen, Nigel Bracken, Shane Tierney, Ruairi O’Neil, Luke Egan.
WATERFORD: Ben Kirwan, Liam Fennell, Darragh Ó Cathasaigh, Eoghan McGrath-Butler, Dermot Ryan, Brian Looby, Jordan O’Sullivan, Michael Curry, Brian Lynch, Conor Murray, Darragh Corcoran, Jason Curry, Michael Kiely, Jason Gleeson, Sean Whelan-Barrett. Subs: Paudie Hunt, Conor Ó Cuirrín, Tom O’Connell, Mark Cummins, Ross Browne, Donal Fitzgerald, John Devine, Caoimhín Walsh, Billy Hynes, Dean Reidy, Caoimhín Maguire.
MEATH: Seán Brennan, Adam O’Neill, Ronan Ryan , Michael Flood, Donal Keogan , Padraic Harnan , Seán Coffey, Ronan Jones, Conor Gray, Cillian O’Sullivan, Daithí McGowan, Jack O’Connor, Jordan Morris, Mathew Costello, Aaron Lynch. Subs: Harry Hogan, Harry O’Higgins, James McEntee, John O’Regan, Diarmuid Moriarty, Cathal Hickey, Keith Curtis, Donal Lenihan, Ben Wyer, Cian Rogers, Eoghan Frayne.
TIPPERARY: Michael O’Reilly, Shane O’Connell, Jimmy Feehan, Willie Eviston, Kevin Fahey, Colm O’Shaughnessy, Colman Kennedy, Paudie Feehan, Conall Kennedy, Emmet Moloney, Jack Kennedy, Luke Boland, Mark Russell, Stephen Quirke, Sean O’Connor. Subs: Cian O’Mahony, Darragh Brennan, Dean Carew, Rory Collins, Teddy Doyle, Joseph Lawrence, Donough Leahy, James Morris, Mikey O’Shea, Eoghan Power, Keith Ryan.
DOWN: John O’Hare, Finn McElroy, Pierce Laverty, Anthony Doherty, Conor Francis, Gerard Collins, Patrick Branagan, Conor Poland, Pat Havern, Miceal Rooney, Jerome Johnston, Odhran Murdock, Donagh McAleenan, Ruairí O’Hare, Eamon Brown. Subs: Niall Kane, Ryan Johnston, Daniel Guinness, Ceilum Doherty, Shane Annett, Shealan Johnston, Danny Magill, Conor Fitzpatrick, Andrew Gilmore, Eugene Branagan, Ross Carr.
CARLOW: Johnny Furey, Shane Buggy, Mikey Bambrick, Seanie Bambrick, Shane Clarke, Mark Furey, Jonah Dunne, Conor Doyle, Jordan Morrissey, Conor Crowley, Ciarán Moran, Ross Dunphy, Colm Hulton, Darragh Foley, Jamie Clarke. Subs: Ciaran Cunningham, Liam Roberts, Liam Brennan, Niall Hickey, Aaron Amond, Eric Molloy, Dara Curran, Finbarr Kavanagh, Paddy Regan, Cathal Kelly, Bryan McMahon.
LIMERICK: Donal O’Sullivan, Mike Donovan, Sean O’Dea, Brian Fanning, Barry Coleman, Jim Liston, Paul Maher, Cillian Fahy, Cathal Downes, Cian Sheehan, Brian Donovan, Adrian Enright, James Naughton, Colm McSweeney, Peter Nash. Subs: Aaron O Sullivan, Hugh Bourke, Robbie Bourke, Gordon Brown, David Connolly, Iain Corbett, Tommy Griffin, Davey Lyons, Tony McCarthy, Darragh Murray, Cormac Woulfe.
LONGFORD: Patrick Collum, Patrick Fox, Andrew Farrell, Bryan Masterson, Iarla O’Sullivan, Michael Quinn, Peter Lynn, Ryan Moffett, Darren Gallagher, Joe Hagan, Dessie Reynolds, Aaron Farrell, Liam Connerton, Dylan Farrell, Oran Kenny. Subs: Mícheál Hughes, Peter Foy, Keelin Mc Gann, Daire O Brien, Jack Macken, Daniel Reynolds, Barry O’Farrell, Ruairí Harkin, Matt Duffy, Tadhg McNevin, Darragh Doherty.
WICKLOW: Mark Jackson, Eoin Murtagh, Paul Mc Loughlin, Malachy Stone, Fintan O Shea, Patrick O Keane, Mark Kenny, Dean Healy, Pádraig O’Toole, Conor Fee, John Paul Hurley, Jack Kirwan, John Paul Nolan, Kevin Quinn, Eoin Darcy. Subs: Peter Byrne, Jaques Mc Call, Matt Nolan, Arun Daly Danne, John Keogh, Joe Prendergast, Cian O Sulivan, Craig Maguire, Karl Furlong, Tom Maher, Liam O Neill.
WEXFORD: Darragh Brooks, Brian Cushe, Páraic Hughes, Michael Furlong, Eoin Porter, Glen Malone, Cathal Walsh, Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes, Conor Carty, Eoghan Nolan, Kevin O’Grady, Robbie Brooks, Mark Rossiter, Ben Brosnan. Subs: Anto Larkin, Dylan Furlong, Cian Hughes, Conor Kinsella, Darragh Lyons, Brian Molloy, Sean Nolan, Liam O’Connor, Alan Tobin, John Tubritt, Richard Waters.
ANTRIM: Michael Byrne, Ronan Boyle, Peter Healy, Patrick McCormick, Patrick McBride, Joseph Finnegan, Dermot McAleese, Jack Dowling, Conor Stewart, Patrick Finnegan, Adam Loughran, Ruairí McCann, Marc Jordan, Ruairi McCann, Dominic McEnhill. Subs: Luke Mulholland, Barry McCormick, Calum Higgins, Cathal Hynds, Conall McGirr, Conhuir Johnston, Cormac McGettigan, Declan Lynch, Odhran Eastwood, Oisin Doherty, Ryan McQuillan.
LEITRIM: Nevin O Donnell, Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, Conor Farrell, James Rooney, Shane Quinn, Aidan Flynn, Pearce Dolan, Donal Wrynn, Darragh Rooney, Keith Beirne, Mark Plunkett, Jack Heslin, Barry McNulty, Domhnaill Flynn. Subs: Darren Maxwell, Ciallian McGloin, Paul Keaney, Tom Prior, Diarmuid Kelleher, Paul Moran, Radek Oberwan, Oisin McLoughlin, Stephen McLoughlin, Michael McKiernan, Tom Quinn.
FERMANAGH: Sean McNally, Jonathan Cassidy, Che Cullen, Luke Flanagan, Shane McGullion, Lee Cullen, Cian McManus, Ryan Jones, Brandon Horan, Conor McShea, Ryan Lyons, Ronan McCaffrey, Aidan Breen, Garvan Jones, Ultan Kelm. Subs: Jack Kelly, Declan McCusker, Conor McGee, Sean Quigley, Garrett Cavanagh, Josh Largo Ellis, Conal Jones, Stephen McGullion, Oisin Smyth, Tommy McCaffrey, Jack McCann.
