Gaelic Games

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  1. Donegal All-Ireland winner Kavanagh named new Glen bosspublished at 13:44 9 November

    Rory KavanghImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Kavanagh led St Eunan's to their first Donegal SFC title in seven years in his first season as manager

    Donegal All-Ireland winner Rory Kavanagh has been named the new Glen boss.

    He replaces Malachy O'Rourke who took over as Tyrone manager in September.

    O'Rourke led the club to three county titles, two Ulster Club triumphs and an All-Ireland success last January after being appointed in late 2020.

    Kavanagh lifted the Sam Maguire in 2012 and also won three Ulster titles with his county in his playing days.

    He took over as manager of his former club St Eunan's in November 2020, leading them to their first Donegal SFC title in seven years in his first season as manager.

    Kavanagh left the club at the end of the 2023 championship.

    Glen were stunned 1-12 to 2-8 by Newbridge in the Derry Senior Football final last month.

    The shock defeat brought to an end their three-year stranglehold on the competition as well as their bid to retain their Derry, Ulster and All-Ireland titles.

  2. Quarter-final postponed after death of Gaels captain's brotherpublished at 10:47 7 November

    A view of a Gaelic football in a netImage source, Inpho

    Sunday's Ulster Club Football quarter-final between Erne Gaels and Scotstown has been postponed following the death of former Gaels player Mark Lyons, brother of the Fermanagh club's captain Ryan Lyons.

    The match will now take place at Brewster Park on Saturday, 16 November at 17:00 GMT.

    In a statement on Wednesday evening, Erne Gaels said: "It's with great sadness that we learnt of the unexpected passing of one of our past players Mark Lyons.

    "A bittersweet few days for our club with Mark's younger brother Ryan lifting the New York Cup last Saturday evening for us now to be heartbroken for the Lyons family on the passing of Mark."

    There are three other Ulster Club quarter-finals taking place this weekend, with Kilcoo v Crosserlough on Saturday before Cargin v Errigal Ciaran and Newbridge v Clann Eireann on Sunday.

  3. Dublin great McCarthy calls time on inter-county careerpublished at 11:21 4 November

    James McCarthy captained Dublin to the All-Ireland title in 2023Image source, Inpho

    Dublin great James McCarthy has announced his inter-county retirement after a decorated 14-year career.

    McCarthy is one of three players - with team-mates Stephen Cluxton and Michael Fitzsimons - to have won nine All-Ireland titles.

    The Ballymun Kickhams club-man, 34, captained the Dubs to their most Sam Maguire triumph in 2023 and also won five All-Stars and 14 Leinster titles during his decorated career.

    "This decision hasn't been an easy one to make but I feel it's the right time," said McCarthy, who helped Dublin win their first All-Ireland title in 16 years in his first season in 2011.

    "I have been very fortunate to be involved in a golden period for Dublin GAA and I have played with the most incredible group of players.

    "It really has been some of the best days of my life and I have memories to last a lifetime."

    He added: "The loyalty and friendship we have built is something I will always be thankful for.

    "To the Dublin fans, thank you for the support of the team throughout the years. Walking around Croke Park and passing Hill 16 is a memory that I will never forget.

    "To my parents John and Marian, my family, close friends and my wife Clodagh, thank you for supporting me throughout my football career. Your unwavering belief in me has helped more than you will ever know.

  4. McGinley delighted after Errigal win 'cagey' gamepublished at 22:10 2 November

    Enda McGinley watches his Errigal team in action against St Eunan'sImage source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Enda McGinley watches his Errigal team in action against St Eunan's

    Errigal Ciaran manager Enda McGinley is happy to progress to the Ulster Club SFC quarter-finals after a 0-12 to 0-10 win over St Eunan's on Saturday night.

    Donegal side St Eunan's led the preliminary round match at Healy Park going into added time before a three-point burst won it for the Tyrone champions.

    Ben O'Donnell hit a double before Thomas Canavan sealed the victory and a meeting with Antrim team Cargin.

    "It was a very tense game - it was cagey and both teams didn't hit top gear," said McGinley.

    "I was wearing a watch that does your heart-rate. I've never had an alert on it in terms of high heart-rate but I got one this evening. That just about sums up the game.

    "But sometimes the Ulster club championship is like that. You don't know the opposition as well as you might"

    McGinley believes last weekend's victory over holders Trillick in the Tyrone decider impacted his team's performance.

    "It's difficult to get focus - it was coming off the high of getting over Trillick and what that meant to the boys so it was difficult to handle that in the week and try to get the energy right for today.

    "I'm just delighted. There were many excuses in that game to lose it - it felt like one of those games where it just wasn't going to happen for us.

    "It wasn't going to click but the boys didn't accept those excuses and managed to get over the line. I'm delighted with how they finished."

  5. Player of year nomination 'kind of surreal' - O'Donnellpublished at 08:11 1 November

    Clare forward Shane O'Donnell Image source, Inpho
    Image caption,

    Shane O'Donnell lifts the Liam McCarthy Cup after July's victory over Cork

    Clare forward Shane O'Donnell says "it's incredible" to be in the shortlist for the Hurler of the Year award.

    O'Donnell helped the Banner County to a thrilling All-Ireland triumph in July with a one-point victory over Cork in the Croke Park final.

    The 30-year-old is in the running for the player prize along with Limerick defender Kyle Hayes and Cork midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon.

    "It's incredible to be in the conversation," O'Donnell told The GAA Social podcast.

    "It's a surprise - I've always felt that I had the potential. However, potential is something you can feel but it doesn't make it a reality and it may never materialise in the way that it did.

    "I've had a good year but it's kind of surreal. I'm proud of it and delighted to be in the situation I'm in."

    It was a second Liam McCarthy Cup success for O'Donnell after starring in the 2013 title win, which also came against Cork in a replay.

    O'Donnell hit three goals against the Rebels as Clare earned a 5-16 to 3-16 victory.

    He had to wait another 11 years for another All-Ireland medal and fired over two points in this summer's decider.

    "Given where I was growing up, I was never in the front of the pack when I was playing when I was younger.

    "To be now actually reaching being named player of the year, it seemed like something I thought was possible but definitely not probable."