Gaelic Games

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Former Down defender Kevin McKernan says the county must expect to be drawn into a "dogfight" in Saturday's All-Ireland round-robin opener against Clare in Ennis (14:00 BST).

The Mournemen won the 2024 Tailteann Cup to earn a spot in this year's Sam Maguire series.

Conor Laverty's side are coming off an Ulster semi-final loss to Donegal after suffering relegation from Division Two earlier this year, while Clare lost the Munster final to Kerry after missing out on promotion from the third-tier of the National League.

"It's a home game for Clare and they'll look at that as a serious strength but it's a huge challenge for Down," said McKernan, who started Down's 2010 All-Ireland final loss to Cork.

"It's a long way to travel but when they go down there they will find a team very similar to themselves; finding themselves between Division Two and Division Three.

"They had a huge performance against Kerry [in the Munster final] for large periods and against a team they weren't expected to beat.

"Down going to Clare - would they be expecting a win? Absolutely, but it's going to be a dogfight as well. If they can get big Pat [Havern] and Odhran [Murdock] moving with players like Pierce Laverty and Paddy McCarthy full of running from defence, the big spaces of Cusack Park will suit Down."

McKernan also said his Burren club-mate Murdock has the mentality to shoulder the burden of expectation after establishing himself at senior inter-county level.

"Odhran was blooded at senior level in midfield as a 19, 20-year-old and he's starting to get into his rhythm in games.

"It's a big ask for someone so young but he has the right mentality. Conor and his management team have built a structure of play for the whole team, but Odhran's a huge part of that.

"If Down launch themselves into this [All-Ireland series], they'll be excited to see Daniel Guinness and Odhran Murdock carry this team forward."

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All-Star forward Shane Walsh has returned to the Galway starting line-up for Saturday's All-Ireland round-robin opener against Dublin in Salthill.

Walsh has not played since injuring his back in the Division One loss to the Dubs on 15 March, but is named at centre-forward with Sean Fitzgerald dropping out in the only change from the Connacht final win over Mayo a fortnight ago.

Damien Comer remains ruled out for the Tribesmen after missing the Mayo game.

Dublin, in action for the first time since their stunning Leinster semi-final defeat by Meath, name 43-year-old Stephen Cluxton in goal, but Sean Bugler and Eoin Murchan are still missing.

Galway beat Dublin 0-17 to 0-16 in a nail-biting quarter-final in last year's All-Ireland series.

Galway: Connor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Sean Mulkerrin, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Sean Kelly, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, John Maher; Cein Darcy, Shane Walsh, Cillian McDaid; Matthew Tierney, Rob Finnerty, Matthew Thompson.

Subs: Conor Flaherty, Daniel O'Flaherty, Cian Hernon, Kieran Molloy, Sean Fitzgerald, John Daly, Sam O'Neill, Cathal Sweeney, Liam O Conghaile, Tomo Culhane, Peter Cooke.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; David Byrne, Theo Clancy; Conor Tyrrell; Cian Murphy, John Small, Brian Howard; Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne, Tom Lahiff; Niall Scully, Lorcan O'Dell, Ciaran Kilkenny; Paddy Small, Con O'Callaghan, Colm Basquel.

Subs: Evan Comerford, Luke Breathnach, Cormac Costello, Nathan Doran, Alex Gavin, Davy Keogh, Sean McMahon, Greg McEneaney, Killian McGinnis, Brian O'Leary, Dan O'Leary.

Down unchanged for Ennis trip

Down are unchanged from their Ulster semi-final loss to Donegal.

Clare boss Peter Keane, meanwhile, recalls Conor Meaney to midfield to replace Daniel Walsh in the only change from the Munster final defeat by Kerry.

Clare: Eamon Tubridy; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Ronan Lanigan; Ikem Ugwueru, Cillian Rouine, Alan Sweeney; Brian McNamara, Conor Meaney; Keelan Sexton, Emmet McMahon, Aaron Griffin; Mark McInerney, Eoin Cleary, Dermot Coughlan.

Subs: Tristan O'Callaghan, Fionn Kelleher, Daniel Walsh, Shane Griffin, Gavan Murray, Darragh Burns, Rory McMahon, Evan Cahill, Diarmuid O'Donnell, Jamie Stack, Brendan Rouine.

Down: Ronan Burns; Patrick McCarthy, Peter Fegan, Ceilum Doherty; Ryan Magill, Pierce Laverty, Miceal Rooney; Daniel Guinness, Ryan McEvoy; Danny Magill, Odhran Murdock, Eugene Branagan; James Guinness, Pat Havern, John McGeough.

Subs: John O'Hare, Finn McElroy, Aaron McClements, Donal Scullion, Shay Millar, Adam Crimmins, Oisín Savage, Caolan Mooney, Finn Murdock, Patrick Brooks, Conor McCrickard.

Mayo boss Kevin McStay makes one change for Sunday's Group One game against Cavan.

Diarmuid O'Connor, who started the Connacht final defeat by Galway, is replaced by Sam Callina.

Cavan are without Gearoid McKiernan with Evan Crowe, Cormac O'Reilly and Ryan Donohoe all coming into Breffni boss Raymond Galligan's line-up.

Mayo: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Rory Brickenden; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Stephen Coen, Matthew Ruane; Davitt Neary, Jack Carney, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O'Shea, Darren McHale, Ryan O'Donoghue.

Subs: Adrian Phillips, Bob Tuohy, Conal Dawson, Conor Reid, Dylan Thortnon, Fenton Kelly, Fergal Boland, Frank Irwin, Kevin Quinn, Paddy Durcan, Paul Towey.

Cavan: Gary O'Rourke; Cian Reilly, Brian O'Connell, Niall Carolan; Jason McLoughlin, Ciaran Brady, Padraig Faulkner; Killian Clarke, Evan Crowe; Gerard Smith, Dara McVeety, Oisin Kiernan; Cormac O'Reilly, Ryan Donohoe, Cian Madden.

Subs: Liam Brady, Luke Fortune, Killian Brady, Barry Donnelly, Luke Molloy, Ruairi Curran, Thomas Edward Donohoe, Ryan O'Neill, Sean McEvoy, Oisin Brady, Paddy Lynch.

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Defending champions Tyrone reached another All-Ireland Under-20 Football final with a 2-14 to 0-14 victory over Kerry in Sunday's semi-final in Portlaoise.

In a repeat of last year's final, the Red Hands raced into a 1-5 to 0-2 lead after 17 minutes with the goal coming from senior panellist Eoin McElholm.

While Kerry reduced the arrears to two points, Noah Grimes' superb finish high into the Kingdom net in the final minute of the half left Tyrone 2-8 to 0-8 up at O'Moore Park.

From there, Tyrone were able to keep Kerry at arm's length as they marched into their third final in the past four seasons, having also won the title in 2022.

Ruairi McCullagh, who scored 0-8 in the Ulster U20 final win over Donegal on 30 April, hit 0-9 for Tyrone while McElholm ended the game with 1-4. Paddy Lane top-scored for Kerry with 0-7.

Having gotten the better of Tomas O Se's Kerry for the second year in a row, Paul Devlin's Tyrone can look forward to another All-Ireland decider against either Mayo our Louth, who contest their semi-final in Longford on Friday (19:00 BST).

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Fermanagh and Antrim fell to defeats in their opening Tailteann Cup round-robin matches on Sunday.

The Ernemen were beaten 3-18 to 2-18 by Carlow in their Group Four contest at Brewster Park, while in Group Three Antrim were thrashed 4-24 to 1-17 by 2022 winners Westmeath in Mullingar.

Antrim, who exited the Ulster Championship quarter-finals at the hands of Armagh last month, conceded two quickfire first-half goals at Cusack Park with Sam McCartan and Danny McCartan both on target for the home side.

While Kavan Keenan raised a green flag for the Saffrons, Luke Loughlin's penalty helped Westmeath lead 3-9 to 1-10 at the break.

Matthew Whittaker scored Westmeath's fourth goal while Loughlin ended the game with a remarkable 1-17 haul.

Like Antrim, Fermanagh were also left with work to do after conceding two early goals in quick succession in Enniskillen as Mikey Bambrick and John Murphy struck for Carlow inside the opening 11 minutes.

Fermanagh - playing for the first time since their agonising Ulster quarter-final loss to Down - responded through a Conor Love penalty, but trailed 2-9 to 1-7 at the interval.

Joe McDade's goal early in the second half gave Fermanagh renewed purpose but Bambrick's second major of the afternoon inside the final 10 minutes proved a hammer blow to the Ulster side's hopes.

While Fermanagh reeled off an unanswered 0-4 (including Sean McNally's two-pointed free) to cut the deficit to two, Conor Doyle's two-pointer put the result beyond doubt.

Fermanagh travel to Longford for their second group game on 18 May while Antrim host Limerick on Saturday.

Donegal legend Michael Murphy admitted he did not believe he would win another Ulster title with his county after returning to the panel this year.

Murphy played his part with a few scores as Donegal retained the Anglo-Celt Cup with a 2-23 to 0-28 victory against Armagh after extra time in Clones.

The 35-year-old has now won six provincial deciders with Donegal, but the thought of playing a part in a victory like this was a pipe dream a year ago after retiring in 2022.

He worked as a pundit for BBC Sport NI during last year's final which Donegal won on penalties, but was delighted to be able to contribute this year after returning to the fold.

"I didn't think it would happen again," he told BBC Sport NI.

"It happened last year; I was a Donegal man supporting these boys last year and I was happy to watch them here last year.

"Today was a really tough game, nothing but respect for Armagh they are the All-Ireland champions and they're a good side, but credit to these young lads and their character, it's an hour to share a pitch and a dressing room with them again, I'm very blessed that they asked me back."

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Murphy shared an emotional moment with his father on the pitch after the final whistle and said "bits of everything" were going through his mind as he fended off tears and exhaustion.

The forward also hopes that another Ulster victory can spur Donegal on for a big summer as they chase a first All-Ireland title since 2012.

They are in Group One for this year's round robin phase alongside Mayo, Tyrone and Cavan.

"It's a stepping stone, but we need to go again," added Murphy.

Meanwhile, Armagh keeper Ethan Rafferty described the county's third successive Ulster final defeat as "sickening".

"Even if you take the three in a row [defeats] out of it, we sort of kicked ourselves out of it for 10 minutes, both in the first half and second half," admitted Rafferty.

"Look we'll go back and look at it and be as critical as we can. That's all we can do."

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI Journalist at Clones

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Rian O'Neill has not been named in the Armagh squad for Saturday evening's Ulster Football Final against Donegal despite earlier speculation that he would be involved after arriving at Clones with the All-Ireland champions.

2024 All-Star O'Neill has not featured for the Orchard County this year and manager Kieran McGeeney said in mid March that he didn't expect the Crossmaglen man to play inter-county football in 2025.

A togged-out O'Neill was with the Armagh players when they walked on the Clones pitch during the half-time interval of the Ulster Ladies Final between Armagh and Donegal.

However, while two changes have been announced to the Armagh squad announced on Thursday night they did not involve the Crossmaglen star.

Skipper Aidan Forker has replaced Peter McGrane in defence with Tiernan Kelly taking over from Conor Turbitt in attack.

Donegal have also made two changes to the squad announced on Friday with Caolan McGonagle and Hugh McFadden replacing Stephen McMenamin and Conor O'Donnell.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Ciaran Moore; Ciaran Thompson, Michael Langan; Daire O Baoill, Hugh McFadden, Shane O'Donnell; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen.

Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Odhran Doherty, Aaron Doherty, Eoin McHugh, Jason McGee, Jamie Brennan, Conor O'Donnell, Niall O'Donnell, Stephen McMenamin.

Armagh: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Aidan Forker (capt); Ross McQuillan, Greg McCabe, Jarly Og Burns; Callum O'Neill, Ben Crealey; Darragh McMullan, Rory Grugan, Oisin Conaty; Tiernan Kelly, Andrew Murnin, Oisin O'Neill.

Subs: Blaine Hughes, Peter McGrane, Tomas McCormack, Connaire Mackin, Jason Duffy, Niall Grimley, Shane McPartlan, Cian McConville, Conor Turbitt, Stefan Campbell, Jemar Hall.

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Cork and Waterford's players have said they feel "completely let down" by Munster Camogie's decision to postpone Saturday's senior final amid an ongoing row over skorts.

The game, which was due to be staged in Tipperary, was postponed by Munster Camogie on Friday after both sets of players confirmed their intention to wear shorts in protest to the sport's rules dictating the players must wear skorts.

"As a united group of players, we want to express our bitter disappointment that today's Munster Senior Camogie Final has been postponed," Cork and Waterford said in a joint-statement released through the Gaelic Players Association.

"It shows scant regard for the preparation of players both physically and mentally to be ready for a provincial showpiece, to make this decision just 16 hours before the scheduled throw-in."

The statement added that "anyone with an understanding of what it takes to compete in elite sport knows that this could never be in the best interests of players".

"We feel completely let down.

"Both panels had meticulously planned to peak for today. Training schedules and workload will now have to be readjusted, while not even knowing when the game will take place.

"There was an opportunity to take a step forward from the recent controversy. Instead, a provincial final has been postponed because we took control of what we would wear. To us, that feels like a massive step backwards."

Last weekend the Kilkenny and Dublin squads were forced to change into skorts before their Leinster Championship semi-final with both sides told the game would be abandoned after they originally took to the field wearing shorts.

Dublin captain Aisling Maher called it a "career low" and said she was "sick of being forced to wear a skort that is uncomfortable and unfit for purpose".

Following the incident, the Camogie Association called a Special Congress for 22 May to vote on the issue, which if passed would give players the option to wear shorts from 24 May.

Camogie Association president Brian Molloy said on Thursday: "Our goal is to deliver, as quickly as possible, a best-in-class playing uniform designed for female players and allowing for individual choice."

The sport is governed by the Camogie Association of Ireland which, along with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association is set to be formally integrated into the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2027.

The rule on skorts was previously debated at the Camogie Association's Annual Congress in 2024, although a proposed change did not pass a vote.

A new date for the Munster camogie final has yet to be confirmed.

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Armagh selector Conleith Gilligan believes winning last year's All-Ireland title does mean that the side go into Saturday's Ulster Final under less pressure than otherwise would have been the case.

The Orchard County have been beaten on spot-kicks in the last two provincial deciders, losing to Derry in 2023 before falling to Donegal last year.

But after that fourth penalty shootout loss at championship level in three seasons, Kieran McGeeney's squad regrouped to clinch the county's second Sam Maguire Cup triumph.

"That probably takes the pressure off a wee bit whereas if you'd maybe lost the All-Ireland final last year, this final would have been very different in that regard," said Gilligan.

"Look it would be lovely to win, but in two weeks' time, regardless of who wins it, there's another competition starting, and you're kind of mindful of that as well."

The Derryman admits that Armagh fans are impatient to end the county's 17-year wait for a provincial title.

"It's a massive long time. And again this time last year, I suppose it was a wee bit different in that it was a group trying to win something and break through.

"So I suppose last year's win changes it to a degree. But it's still an Ulster title, it's still very much sought after. And it's one, probably even more so for the supporters, that they would love that."

Gilligan's own coaching career has included being part of Mickey Moran's management team when Kilcoo won the All-Ireland Club title in 2022.

However, he says with Kieran McGeeney's Armagh management team has made him "realise I wasn't at this at all before this".

"It's a funny one where you don't know how little you knew until you go to places where it's really high-performing environment.

"I've had a great journey with them and the learning has just been incredible."

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Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney has made one change for Saturday's Ulster SFC final against Donegal at Clones (17:25 BST) as All-Star forward Conor Turbitt is reinstated to the line-up.

With Turbitt's return, Peter McGrane shifts to corner-back and Tomas McCormack drops to the bench.

Jim McGuinness has named an unchanged Donegal starting line-up for the provincial decider although centre half-back Caolan McGonagle and corner-back Mark Curran have been included in the substitutes after missing recent games because of injury.

Turbitt was named to start against Tyrone in the semi-final after returning from the injury that ruled him out of the quarter-final win over Antrim, but was replaced by Oisin O'Neill before throw-in.

Captain Aidan Forker also dropped out of the line-up prior to facing Tyrone. He is named on the bench for Saturday's final. Ben Crealey, a last-minute replacement for Connaire Mackin against the Red Hands, is retained in midfield.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Stephen McMenamin, Ciaran Moore; Ciaran Thompson, Michael Langan; Daire O Baoill, Conor O'Donnell, Shane O'Donnell; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen.

Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Odhran Doherty, Aaron Doherty, Eoin McHugh, Jason McGee, Jamie Brennan, Hugh McFadden, Niall O'Donnell, Caolan McGonagle.

Armagh: Ethan Rafferty; Paddy Burns, Barry McCambridge, Peter McGrane; Ross McQuillan, Greg McCabe, Jarly Og Burns; Callum O'Neill, Ben Crealey; Darragh McMullan, Rory Grugan, Oisin Conaty; Conor Turbitt, Andrew Murnin, Oisin O'Neill.

Subs: Blaine Hughes, Aidan Forker (capt), Tomas McCormack, Connaire Mackin, Jason Duffy, Niall Grimley, Shane McPartlan, Cian McConville, Tiernan Kelly, Stefan Campbell, Jemar Hall.

Watch the Ulster final on BBC Two NI & the BBC iPlayer from 16:55 BST on Saturday; live text commentary with in-game clips, report and highlights on the BBC Sport website