Gaelic Games

  1. Kilcoo manager Karl Lacey

  2. Gareth McKinless in action for Derry earlier this year

  3. Oisin O'Doherty's vital first-half save helped him secure his first Ulster Club Hurling medal as Slaughtneil earned a dramatic comeback win over Portaferry

  4. Slaughtneil celebrate winning their title

  5. Slaughtneil players celebrate at full time

  6. Shea Cassidy celebrates

  7. Niamh Henderson dejected at full-time

  8. GAA president Jarlath Burns

  9. GAA president Jarlath Burns pictured at Saturday's GAA Special Congress at Croke Park

  10. Football Review Committee chairman Jim Gavin (left) talks to GAA president Jarlath Burns at Saturday's GAA Special Congress at Croke Park as another FRC member Eamonn Fitzmaurice is in the background

  11. Paul McCormack after Slaughtneil's victory over holders Cushendall in the Ulster Club Hurling semi-final two weeks ago

  12. Armagh's Rory Grugan and Rian O'Neill challenge Galway's Cein Darcy in the All-Ireland Final in July

  13. Niall Milligan celebrates after scoring one of his two goals against Cushendall last year

  14. All-Ireland winning S&C coach O Caireallain joins Derry

    Cairbre O Caireallain and the Liam MacCarthy cupInpho

    O Caireallain helped Limerick win two All-Ireland titles during his spell with the Treaty County

    New Derry senior football manager Paddy Tally has added All-Ireland winning strength and conditioning coach Cairbre O Caireallain to his backroom team.

    O Caireallain joins the Oak Leafers with an impressive CV having previously helped Tipperary and Limerick to All-Ireland hurling titles.

    Belfast native O Caireallain, a former Antrim underage hurler, also had a spell at Arsenal, where he worked with the youth academy and helped the women's team - which included Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe - win the FA Cup in 2016.

    After returning to Ireland, O Caireallain joined the Tipperary hurlers and helped the county win the 2019 All-Ireland title under Liam Sheedy.

    Having joined Limerick in 2022, two more Liam MacCarthy Cups followed, in 2022 and 2023.

    O Caireallain is the brother of Naoise O Caireallain, who is better known as Moglai Bap from rap group Kneecap.

    Derry ended a four-month search for Mickey Harte's replacement earlier this month with Tally's appointment.

    In addition to O Caireallain, Tally's backroom team includes. former Derry captain Kevin McGuckin, Paul McFlynn and Paul McIver

  15. Donegal manager Jim McGuinness

  16. Action between Portaferry and Slaughtneil

  17. McGuinness looking forward to Murphy reunion

    Michael MurphyInpho

    Michael Murphy will make his Donegal return in 2025 after coming out of retirement

    Donegal manager Jim McGuinness says he is "delighted" to have the Ulster county's former captain Michael Murphy at his disposal after the five-time All Star recently ended his inter-county retirement.

    The 35-year-old Glenswilly man had called time on playing county football in November 2022 but has opted to make himself available again.

    "We're delighted to have him back. Great in terms of what he brings on the pitch but also off the pitch as well," explained McGuinness in an interview with Donegal TV at a Donegal Association event at the Hilton Wembley.

    "[He's] a person I know very well and understand very well, an incredibly high football IQ, so absolutely delighted Michael has made that decision and looking forward to working with him next year."

    "Hopefully it’s going to be a very important part of 2025."

    In his first season of his second spell as Donegal boss, McGuinness guided his charges to an Ulster SFC success, before bowing out to Galway at the semi-final stage of the All-Ireland Championship.

    "We’ll be welcoming other players [as well as Murphy] into the fold for 2025 as well, so we’re excited about that.

    "We want to try and build now and keep developing, keep growing as a group and see where it takes us."

    The 52-year-old is now well focused on preparations for 2025.

    "You want to try and bring in new ideas every year, looking at new things, being open to what can improve us.

    "For me this is the most enjoyable time of the year because you have a chance to reflect on where we are at, whereas when the season starts it’s chaotic and you’re chasing your tail most of the time."

  18. Clann Eireann's Dan McCarthy and Errigal Ciaran's Peter Harte fight for possession in Sunday's Ulster semi-final

  19. Ruairi Canavan hit 0-9 at Pairc Esler including five points from play

  20. Clann Eireann's Shea Heffron attempts to get to grips with Errigal Ciaran's man of the match Ruairi Canavan at Pairc Esler

  21. Lacey 'happy to get over line' as Kilcoo reach final

    Kilcoo forward Shealan Johnston is challenged by Scotstown's Darragh Murray at the Athletic GroundsInpho

    Kilcoo avenged last year's Ulster Club quarter-finals defeat by Scotstown

    Kilcoo manager Karl Lacey says his players were "in the right place at the right time" to score five goals in their Ulster Club SFC semi-final win over Scotstown.

    The Down champions hit four goals in eight minutes either side of half-time on their way to a 5-10 to 0-14 victory at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday night.

    "In the first half we had an opportunity [for a goal] but didn't take it and then we missed the free from it - it felt like it was going to be one of those nights where we weren't going to get the goal," said Lacey.

    "But things opened up, it was man-to-man football, there were gaps and we exploited them well. On days you get goals, on others you don't but tonight we were in the right place at the right time so happy days.

    "We played a good Crosserlough team two weeks ago and a good Scotstown team tonight so we're happy to get over the line."

    The 2022 All-Ireland champions will face the winners of Sunday's second semi-final between Clann Eireann and Errigal Ciaran in the 8 December decider.

    Kilcoo avenged last year's quarter-final defeat by Scotstown when the Monaghan men won thanks to a last-gasp point from Rory Beggan.

    "Scotstown are a good side and maybe they got a taste of our medicine from last year," added Lacey.

    "We've worked hard and I'm really happy to get individuals back at the right time.

    "We're just happy to be in the final and we now have a busy two weeks ahead of us."

  22. Kilcoo defender Ryan McEvoy celebrates the semi-final victory at the final whistle

  23. Intriguing Ulster Club semi-finals down for decision

    Rory Beggan will again be in action for Scotstown against Kilcoo in the Ulster Club Football Championship on Saturday eveningInpho

    Rory Beggan's last-gasp free earned Scotstown victory over Kilcoo in last year's provincial quarter-final at Newry

    We've really arrived at the business end of the Ulster Club Football Championship at this weekend's semi-finals stage with the remaining four hopefuls all looking genuine contenders to lift the title.

    Kilcoo's clash with Scotstown at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday evening (18:00 GMT) is a repeat of last year's quarter-final when Rory Beggan's last-gasp long-range free secured a dramatic one-point win for the Monaghan champions.

    Scotstown had 13 points to spare over Erne Gaels a week ago while 2022 All-Ireland champions Kilcoo needed Conor Laverty's late introduction to help them edge out Crosserlough seven days earlier.

    Kilcoo are not dramatically different to their All-Ireland winning side but Scotstown are laden with Monaghan players past and present including key forward Jack McCarron, Beggan, Ryan O'Toole, Conor McCarthy, Shane McCarey and the Hughes brothers Darren and Kieran.

    Clann Eireann's contest with Errigal Ciaran on Sunday in Newry (15:15 GMT) also has all the makings of a titanic tussle as the Armagh champions' three All-Ireland Final starters Conor Turbitt, Barry McCambridge and Tiernan Kelly go toe-to-toe with the Canavan brothers Darragh and Ruairi plus the likes of Peter Harte and Joe Oguz.

    Errigal Ciaran looked mightily impressing in easily overcoming a Cargin side that proved tough opponents for back-to-back Ulster Champions Glen over the previous two campaigns.

    In contrast, Clann Eireann had to come from beyond in the second half to defeat Glen's Derry Final conquerors Newbridge, with the Lurgan men progressing even though McCambridge and Kelly were relatively subdued by their recent high standards.

    Turbitt, McCambridge and Kelly will all be involved after returning on Thursday morning from Armagh's team holiday in Miami.

    Victory for Clann Eireann would keep the Lurgan outfit on course to become the first club ever to win both the men's and women's Ulster football titles in the same year.

    ULSTER CLUB FOOTBALL SEMI-FINALS

    Saturday

    Kilcoo v Scotstown, Athletic Grounds, 18:00 GMT

    Sunday

    Clann Eireann v Errigal Ciaran, Pairc Esler, 15:15

  24. Clodagh McCambridge celebrates after skippering Armagh to this year's Ulster Ladies Football title