Gaelic Games

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Tyrone boss Darren McCann praised his side's "heart and determination" in Sunday's All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate final victory over Laois.

The Red Hands captured their first title since 2018 with a 2-16 to 1-13 victory at Croke Park

Aoife Horisk and substitute Katie Rose Muldoon scored goals in either half to help the Red Hands avenge last year's agonising one-point decider defeat by Leitrim, much to McCann's delight.

"On the sideline, we felt totally in control," he said.

"We were creating chances but we just weren't taking them, which was frustrating for us.

"When we play relaxed football, we are a hard team to stop and we played relaxed football, especially in the second half.

"The whole group have serious heart and determination as a collective and that was a collective performance. I was really happy with their performance today and the key thing was getting on top and staying on top."

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But while Tyrone toasted an immensely satisfying triumph, Antrim were left disappointed after being edged out by Louth in the Junior decider.

The Saffrons started strongly, scoring an early goal, but Louth fought back to eventually win 0-13 to 1-8 and deny the Ulster county their fourth title at the grade - and first since 2022.

For joint manager Chris Scullion, it was a case of Antrim not taking their chances in the second half.

"It just didn't fall our way today. It seemed to be mistake after mistake sometimes and we were constantly trying to regroup the girls to go again, go again," said Scullion, who leads the team alongside Michael Devlin.

"It maybe took a toll on them, but I'm not taking anything away from Louth. Louth were brilliant today. They set up defensively, kept their same structure and they were able to break out and it caused us problems.

"They were able to work the ball around and get their scores. Fair play to them."

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A dominant first-half display paved the way for Dublin to regain the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football title with a 2-16 to 0-10 win over Meath in Sunday's final at Croke Park.

The Dubs, who were knocked out in last year's quarter-finals, started with intent and led 1-2 to 0-0 after seven minutes, with Nicole Owens finding the net after a couple of early Hannah Tyrrell scores.

Niamh Hetherton also plundered a three-pointer to give Dublin a commanding 2-9 to 0-4 lead at half-time.

Meath - who are managed by former Armagh boss Shane McCormack - started the second half strongly with a trio of scores, but were unable to get close enough to their Leinster rivals to set up a tense climax to the game.

It is more disappointment for the Royals, who were searching for their third title after breaking through with back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.

The result also completes a clean sweep of wins for Dublin over Meath in 2025 after victory in the league meeting and two Leinster Championship fixtures, including the final.

In front of a 48,089-strong crowd, former Ireland rugby international Tyrrell top-scored for Dublin with 0-5 in the final game of her inter-county career before hobbling off with an injury late on.

Captain Carla Rowe and corner-forward Kate Sullivan struck 0-4 each for Dublin, who gained a measure of revenge after falling to a surprise defeat by Meath in the 2021 decider.

Emma Duggan led the way for Meath with 0-7.

Dublin scorers: H Tyrrell 0-5 (3f), C Rowe 0-4 (2f), K Sullivan 0-4, N Hetherton 1-1, N Owens 1-0, N Crowley, O Nolan 0-1 each.

Meath scorers: E Duggan 0-7 (6f), A Cleary, C Smyth, V Wall 0-1 each.

Dublin: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey, N Donlon; S Goldrick, M Byrne, N Crowley; E O'Dowd, H McGinnis; N Owens, C Rowe, O Nolan; H Tyrrell, N Hetherton, K Sullivan.

Subs: S McIntyre for Owens (49), A Kane for McGinnis (51), H Leahy for Donlon (54), L Grendon for Tyrrell (55), C Darby for Sullivan (57).

Meath: R Murray; K Kealy, MK Lynch, A Sheridan; S Ennis, S Wall, A Cleary; O Sheehy, M Farrelly; M Thynne, N Gallogly, C Smyth; E Duggan, V Wall, K Cole.

Subs: K Bermingham for Farrelly (25), Farrelly for Ennis, E Moyles for Sheehy (both 42), N McEntee for Cole (49), C Lawlor for Kealy (51).

Referee: Gus Chapman (Sligo).

Image source, Inpho

Tyrone captured their first All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Football title since 2018 with a 2-16 to 1-13 victory over Laois in Sunday's final at Croke Park.

Aoife Horisk and Katie Rose Muldoon scored goals in either half to help the Red Hands avenge last year's agonising one-point decider defeat by Leitrim.

Niamh O'Neill top scored for Tyrone with 0-7, while Horisk finished with 1-3.

In a tight first half, Laois struck the first goal after 22 minutes when Shifra Havill emphatically fired the ball into the roof of Amelia Coyle's net.

Tyrone were initially frustrated in their hunt for goals, being denied first by Laois corner-back Faye McEvoy's goal-line clearance before Sorcha Gormley was denied from the penalty spot after Horisk was fouled.

But after Laois carelessly gifted possession back to the Ulster side, player of the match Gormley teed up Horisk, who drilled a low shot past Eimear Barry to help give Tyrone a 1-7 to 1-5 half-time lead.

Laois kept in touch after the restart with a couple of Mo Nerney points and Fiona Dooley's score, O'Neill and Horisk ensured Tyrone kept a slender advantage.

The Leinster side's hopes of overturning the deficit in the closing stages were dented when Ciara Crowley's yellow card was followed by an O'Neill free.

Tyrone were a point up when Muldoon delivered the decisive blow, finishing low to the net from close range with six minutes remaining.

Having established a more comfortable cushion, O'Neill, Gormley and captain Aoibhinn McHugh sealed a six-point win and a place in the 2026 senior championship for Tyrone.

Tyrone scorers: N O'Neill 0-7 (3f), A Horisk 1-3 (0-1f), S Gormley 0-3, K Muldoon 1-0, A McHugh, S McCarroll, C McCrossan 0-1 each.

Laois scorers: E Lawlor (3f), M Nerney (3f) 0-5 each, S Havill 1-0, F Dooley, J Moore, E Lacey 0-1 each.

Tyrone: A Coyle; J Lyons, G McKenna, E Quinn; C Campbell, M Mallon, C Canavan; A McHugh, S McCarroll; E McNamee, S Gormley, A Horisk; N O'Neill, C McCrossan, M Corrigan.

Subs: E McCanny for McCrossan (36), K Muldoon for McNamee (45), A McGahan for Campbell (53), C McCaffrey for O'Neill (58), J Barrett for Horisk (59).

Laois: E Barry; S Farrelly, C Dunne, F McEvoy; A Gorman, A Moore, A Moran; F Dooley, J Moore; S Havill, E Galvin, C Crowley; E Lacey, E Lawlor, M Nerney.

Subs: L Kearney for Gorman (39), M Cotter for McEvoy (45), K Donoghue for Lacey (47), A Fitzpatrick for Havill (56).

Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Antrim were denied a first All-Ireland Junior Football Championship since 2022 after losing to Louth by 0-13 to 1-8 at Croke Park.

Bronagh Devlin netted a third-minute penalty for the Saffrons after Theresa Mellon was fouled within the square.

Aoife Russell cancelled out another swift point by Mellon, but Antrim extended their advantage through Omolara Dahunsi.

Dahunsi responded to back-to-back points from Louth forwards Russell and Ceire Nolan, and the Saffrons' advantage was cut further after Kate Flood and Shannen McLaughlin capitalised on Devlin's yellow card.

Louth held a 0-8 to 1-4 advantage at the break after a score by captain Aine Breen and two points from Flood.

Maria O'Neill got Antrim back on level terms early in the second half, but Eimear Byrne soon restored Louth's advantage.

Louth, who lost the 2024 decider to Fermanagh, put one hand on the title when Flood, Breen, Mia Duffy and Lucy White put them five points clear in the closing stages.

Antrim rallied late on through Ana Mulholland, Mellon and a late O'Neill point, but Louth had enough in hand to get over the line.

Louth: R Lambe Fagan; R Beirth, E Hand, E Murray; H Lambe Sally, S McLaughlin, L Byrne; A Breen, A Halligan; L White, E Byrne, S Matthews; A Russell, K Flood, C Nolan.

Subs: M Duffy for Matthews (42), L Collins for Russell (56), G McCrave for Lambe Sally, Z Sweeney for White (both 59).

Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M Mulholland; S O'Neill, C Brown, C McKenna; A Mulholland, A Tubridy; T Mellon, M O'Neill, Aoife Kelly; B Devlin, O Dahunsi, L Agnew.

Subs: A Turley for Tubridy, A Monaghan for Kelly (both 39), B Nic Cathail for Agnew (47), N Jones for B Devlin, Aine Kelly for McKenna (both 56).

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Kerry manager Jack O'Connor says Sunday's All-Ireland final victory over Donegal could be his "last hurrah" in charge of the Kingdom.

O'Connor guided Kerry to a 1-26 to 0-19 victory at Croke Park and Sam Maguire will head back home with the Munster champions for the first time since 2022.

It is a fifth All-Ireland for O'Connor, who has led the Kingdom across three spells since 2001.

The 64-year-old's current term is set to expire this year and he said his future would be sorted in "due course", adding there was "no hurry" on a decision.

"I think I went on record earlier in the year that it would probably be my last hurrah," he said in his post-match press conference at Croke Park.

"I don't want to be telling you lads [the media] before I tell anyone else, there are more important people down the corridor."

He added that his wife, Bridie, had captured a special moment before he headed to Dublin with his team in case it was his last time with Kerry.

"I was going out the door on Thursday evening with my bag and my wife took a picture of me going out the gate," he said.

"I've a fair idea that will be up on the wall as my last. She'll be framing that one."

Star forward David Clifford, who said comparisons to Lionel Messi motivated him in his 0-9 performance in the final, said O'Connor also had additional fuel due to praise given to opposite number Jim McGuinness.

"He's a winner," Clifford said on his manager.

"I don't think Jack was happy with the commentary around the Donegal manager and all he could do.

"I think there was a lot of disrespect around that for Jack so that was for him today."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

David Clifford says comparisons to being the Lionel Messi of Gaelic football motivated him in Kerry's All-Ireland final win over Donegal.

Clifford scored 0-9 at Croke Park to cement his place as one of the greatest players of his generation.

It is a first Sam Maguire since 2022 for the Kingdom as they blew Donegal away in the 1-26 to 0-19 win.

Clifford says he feels comparisons to Messi, considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, don't always come from the "right place" and that fuelled is final performance.

"To be honest, I nearly take it as a hit because I think there are people who say it but it isn't coming from the right place," Clifford told BBC Sport NI.

"I think they are trying to build you up and hope that you will fail. That was a massive motivation for me today."

Clifford said he was struggling for words after the win, which came after a blistering start from the Kingdom and Jack O'Connor's side had enough to hand to hold off any potential Donegal fightback.

Joe O'Connor's late goal was the icing on the cake for Kerry, and there were wild celebrations when the hooter went at Croke Park.

"You think about doing it all week and over the last two weeks you are nearly waking up in the middle of the night thinking about it.

"When you are here and it goes well it's such a good feeling. We couldn't be happier."

Clifford added that Kerry studied Meath's approach in the semi-finals and were able to score crucial two-pointers that Donegal's last-four opponents could not take.

He said it was not a specific tactic by the Kingdom, but the management "trust the forwards".

"You could see Meath in the semi-final probably over do it.

"The beauty of our set-up, our management team and how we approach things is we let the forwards do what they want. We trust the forwards to make good decisions and it's great when they go over."

Image source, Derry GAA

Derry GAA legend Colm Mulholland, a member of the county side that reached the All-Ireland final in 1958, has died at the age of 96.

Mulholland won an Ulster title with the Oak Leafers in the same year.

He represented Derry at senior level for 13 years, taking in the 1950s and early 1960s.

A statement released by Derry GAA described him as "a Rolls-Royce centre-half-back and a proud Lavey man".

"Colm was recognised throughout Ireland as one of the leading footballers of his generation," the statement said.

"His passing is a reminder of the great legacy that has been passed on to our current players - one we are deeply proud of.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Colm's family circle and the Gaels of Erin's Own, Lavey, where he served as honorary club president."

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Donegal captain Patrick McBrearty said it would be a "dream" to lift Sam Maguire, but insists he is not looking past the challenge of Kerry in Sunday's final.

The Kilcar man was an integral part of Donegal's 2012 triumph and was also involved when they fell short in the 2014 final against Kerry.

Donegal have failed to get back to the big day since, but the return of Jim McGuinness for his second stint as manager has injected new life into the county.

During McGuinness' first tenure, Donegal reached an All-Ireland semi-final in his first year and went all the way in his second. While all in Donegal are hoping lightning is about to strike twice following last year's semi-final loss, McBrearty is ignoring the outside noise and focussing only on the 70 minutes ahead.

"It's every young lad's dream but there's a game to be won yet," the 31-year-old said about the prospect of climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand.

"It's a game of football at the end of the day. There's a big circus around the whole thing but we just put our heads down and get ready to go.

"There was a barren period there. We got Jim back there and last year, we lost in the second last hurdle and then last Sunday, we got over that hurdle and are in the big one now."

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One of the young guns in 2012 and '14, McBrearty is now one of the experienced figures in the Donegal dressing room alongside Michael Murphy who was captain when they lifted Sam in the first of those finals.

"I'm very lucky with the time I came into the panel with the management involved and some of the team-mates I got to play with," said the current captain.

"You're only as good as the lads around you, so I'm very fortunate to be the young lad coming in and at 31, still at it."

As the years pass, so too does the window for success and while the 2014 loss to Kerry still stings in Tir Chonaill, this weekend they have the opportunity to make up for it.

However, toppling the Kingdom is no easy task and with a star-studded cast in the Cliffords - David and Paudie - and Sean O'Shea to name a few.

McBrearty knows it will take Donegal's best performance of the season to secure a third title in their history.

"These boys have contested lots of finals and they will have a hunger.

"They have a couple of exceptional players in their ranks there. They got a bit of criticism down in their own county, but they are there on merit and a top team, so we're going to have our work cut out."

Watch the All-Ireland final on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website from 15:00 BST on Sunday

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Donegal boss Jim McGuinness has named an unchanged team for Sunday's All-Ireland Football final against Kerry (15:30 BST).

The Ulster champions are chasing their third Sam Maguire Cup, 13 years after last winning Gaelic football's most coveted prize.

The decider against Kerry, which is a repeat of the 2014 final won by the Kingdom, is live on BBC Two NI, the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website from 15:00 BST.

Unsurprisingly, McGuinness has stuck with the same line-up which started the emphatic semi-final win over Meath a fortnight ago.

Ryan McHugh and Michael Murphy, who both started the 2014 final, are named at right wing-back and full-forward respectively.

Team captain Patrick McBrearty, who came off the bench in the 2014 final, is expected to start the game among the substitutes again, having been used a second-half impact player in each of Donegal's past four games.

On Thursday, Kerry are also named an unchanged team from their semi-final win over Tyrone.

Neither team have listed their substitutes. Kerry's 28-man squad will be trimmed to 26 in time for the game, while McGuinness will cut nine players from his 35-man panel.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Morgan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Caolan McColgan; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Shane O'Donnell, Ciaran Thompson, Ciaran Moore; Conor O'Donnell, Micheal Murphy, Oisin Gallen.

Extended panel: Caolan Ward, Jamie Brennan, Eoin McHugh, Jason McGee, Patrick McBrearty (capt), Aaron Doherty, Niall O'Donnell, Odhran Doherty, Stephen McMenamin, Daire O Baoill, Charles McGuinness, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui, Jonny Carlin, Gavin Mulreany, Kevin McGettigan, Caolan McGonagle, Mark Curran, Eoghan McGettigan, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride, Odhran McFadden Ferry.

Kerry team: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Brian O Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White, Sean O'Brien, Mark O'Shea; Joe O'Connor, Sean O'Shea , Graham O'Sullivan; David Clifford, Paudie Clifford, Dylan Geaney.

Extended panel: Shane Murphy, Killian Spillane, Evan Looney, Tom Leo O'Sullivan, Tadhg Morley, Paul Geaney, Micheal Burns, Tony Brosnan, Armin Heinrich, Tomas Kennedy, Diarmuid O'Connor, Conor Geaney, Dara Moynihan.

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Ryan McHugh says emulating his successful family members is not a primary motivation for this weekend's All-Ireland football final against Kerry.

McHugh's dad, Martin, and uncle, James, were key figures in Donegal's maiden All-Ireland win in 1992, while older brother Mark played when Sam Maguire returned to the hills in 2012.

Ryan joined Mark on the team that reached the 2014 final against Kerry but fell short and, although his older brother has progressed on to coaching, the younger of the Kilcar brothers is still a mainstay in the green and gold.

Although he would dearly love to get his own Celtic Cross this weekend, his desire to succeed is fuelled by a motivation to reach the top and banish the memories of the disappointing days since.

"I haven't got one yet, but it's nothing I think of," the 31-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

"Mark and dad had phenomenal careers for Donegal. Would I love an All-Ireland medal? Of course I would. It's over to me now to do that, but it's not something I think of that I have to get one because they did.

"I'm blessed to have been born at a time where Donegal have been in All-Ireland finals. As a supporter in 2012 and with Mark playing, it was unbelievable for the family.

"Then in '14 with myself involved, it was massive for the family and for Donegal. It was disappointing in '14, but hopefully we can put that right this time."

Image source, Getty Images

McHugh was just 20 when he lined out against The Kingdom in that 2014 defeat and with it being Donegal's second final in three years, he could have been forgiven they would be there or thereabouts in the years to come.

Sport doesn't work out that way and although there were Ulster title wins in 2018 and 2019, they just couldn't make the big breakthrough.

The return of Jim McGuinness as manager last year and Michael Murphy's decision to reverse his retirement have injected fresh impetus in Donegal football and with the county riding high again, McHugh is hopeful they can take the final step on Sunday.

"As a kid, you think you're going to maybe not make a final, but semi-finals and quarter-finals every couple of years," he said.

"It didn't work out that way for different reasons, but since Jim's back involved, we've been competing again, got to a semi-final last year and thankfully gone one better this year. It will mean nothing if we don't get over the line.

"There's no guarantee in life you're going to win anything, but when Jim's involved, there's a good chance you're going to compete for the top prizes."

Image source, Inpho

Kerry have named an unchanged starting team for Sunday's All-Ireland Football final against Donegal at Croke Park (15:30 BST).

A 28-player panel named by the Kingdom on Thursday evening will be cut to 26 for matchday.

Diarmuid O'Connor has been deemed fit enough to be included in the extended squad, having not featured since the quarter-final stage of the competition.

Tom O'Sullivan is absent because of injury.

Kerry team: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Brian O Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White, Sean O'Brien, Mark O'Shea; Joe O'Connor, Sean O'Shea , Graham O'Sullivan; David Clifford, Paudie Clifford, Dylan Geaney.

Additional players: Shane Murphy, Killian Spillane, Evan Looney, Tom Leo O'Sullivan, Tadhg Morley, Paul Geaney, Micheál Burns, Tony Brosnan, Armin Heinrich, Tomás Kennedy, Diarmuid O'Connor, Conor Geaney, Dara Moynihan.

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Ciaran Meenagh has been named the new Derry senior football manager.

The former Oak Leaf interim boss was confirmed on Thursday after his appointment was rubberstamped by clubs within the county.

His backroom team will contain former Derry defender Chrissy McKaigue as coach, while it is expected All-Ireland minor-winning manager Marty Boyle will form a significant part of the set-up, as will Martin McConnell on logistics.

Meenagh has vast knowledge of the scene in Derry, having served as coach under Damian McErlain in 2019 and then under Rory Gallagher from 2020 until 2023.

The Loughmacrory native took over as interim manager in 2023 when Gallagher stood back. Derry won the Ulster title under Meenagh with a penalty shootout victory over Armagh in the final, before losing to Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Following that defeat, Meenagh opted to move on despite having a strong case to be appointed on a full-time basis.

Instead, he took up a coaching role with Down and has played a big part in their recent resurgence, but his parting of ways with the Mournemen paved the way for his Derry return.

Meenagh is the third successive manager from Tyrone appointed as Derry boss, following one-year spells from Mickey Harte and Paddy Tally.