Gaelic Games

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Legendary Monaghan footballer Eugene 'Nudie' Hughes says the mental fortitude he built during his GAA career is helping him with his ongoing health issues.

Hughes, widely considered Monaghan's greatest footballer, was diagnosed with cancer in 2018, shortly after attending the All-Stars ceremony where three of his countymen - Conor McManus, Rory Beggan and Karl O'Connell - picked up awards.

While the initial diagnosis stirred anger and confusion in Hughes, he has not let the illness prevent him from enjoying life.

"I remember when I was first asked away back, 'how are you managing it?' I said 'I treat it like a football game," the three-time Ulster Championship winner told The GAA Social.

"I've been part of a GAA family. You're not going to get the wind against you all the time, there is going to be a second half, you will get a break somewhere along the line. I'm playing against the wind a good while now so I'm waiting for a breather."

Hughes is part of a big Castleblayney family. His parents had 14 children (seven boys and seven girls). All 14 are still alive and well, providing Hughes with a strong support network.

"I have plenty of support from my family and friends, which makes a big difference," added Hughes, who won All-Stars in both attack and defence.

"People say 'you're always in good form'. Nine out of 10 I'd be in good form because you have to assess what you're able to do and how you influence people beside you, how you face people and they look up to you and you carry yourself well.

"The GAA has given me that attitude. Positivity is a massive help in all battles."

Listen to Eugene 'Nudie Hughes' full interview on The GAA Social

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Oisin McConville says the advent of the two-point score in the package of new Gaelic football rules is significantly changing the dynamic of the game.

Helped by two-point scores, Dublin fought back from 11 down at half-time to beat Kerry in Tralee for the first time since 1982 while Derry were also able to reel in a nine-point interval deficit to snatch a draw against Galway at Celtic Park.

"Less control is how I would describe or being able to manage a game out is very difficult now," the Armagh great told The GAA Social on BBC Sounds.

"Once the opposition get the press on the kickout and they win one or two balls, a couple of two-pointers brings you straight back into it.

"And when you get the two pointers, it brings the defence out. Once the defence has come out that little bit, you have a chance to get in behind and get the one pointers or the goals.

"Dublin kicked two cracking two pointers from Lorcan O'Dell and it made Kerry come out the field a little bit and Dublin then were able to get those easier one-pointers in behind. It was good. It was entertaining."

The Armagh GAA great, who is now manager of Wicklow, said Galway made the mistake of attempting "to manage the game out" at Celtic Park.

"There is no managing the game out any more. You need to be tagging on scores and Galway weren't able to do that and Derry just caught them."

While Derry remain bottom of Division One on a solitary point after three games, McConville believes the draw will have considerably boosted morale in the Oak Leaf squad.

"That turns the whole thinking around for them. Even for Derry to get a point out of that game.

"They go to Croke Park next Saturday night and their attitude has flipped now because of the way they played in the second half."

However, McConville wasn't impressed with Tyrone's display in their 0-12 to 0-10 defeat against a struggling Mayo - even though the Red Hands were again without the Errigal Ciaran contingent who include the Canavan brothers Darragh and Ruairi.

"Ten points is not a good enough return with the new rules. Tyrone need to be a little more direct and get the shooters on the ball."

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Oisin McConville says Aidan Forker's headbutt to Michael Murphy's chest during Armagh's defeat by Donegal on Sunday "didn't look good" and expects the Orchard County skipper to be handed a two-match ban.

Speaking on The GAA Social on BBC Sounds, the Armagh great and current Wicklow manager admitted that prior to Sunday's rather bizarre incident, he didn't know whether GAA rules drew a distinction between a headbutt to an opponent's head and other parts of the body.

However, a literal reading of the rulebook suggests there is no such distinction with a headbutt described as a "category four infraction" which incurs a minimum two-match suspension.

"I wonder could the referee have stepped in a bit quicker and put an end to the pushing and shoving," McConville told the BBC GAA podcast.

"He's probably going to get two games. It probably is a sending off yeah.

"The headbutt to the chest does not look good. It's not a nice situation. It's not something that should be part of the game and he will get suspended. He'll know how stupid it was."

A two-game ban would rule Forker out of the home contests against Mayo and Dublin over the next two weekends with only scoring difference currently keeping sixth-placed Armagh out of the relegation spots, although they are only two points behind third-placed Dublin.

The incident occurred as the Armagh captain immediately squared up to Murphy following the Donegal man's introduction as a substitute in the 44th minute.

The duo initially become embroiled in a shoving match before Forker committed the offence which led to him being red carded by referee Sean Hurson.

Murphy hit a glorious point from play seconds after action was restarted and his 0-3 tally was only part of his impressive contribution following his introduction.

"He looked like somebody who hadn't been away," added McConville.

"He's definitely trimmed down a wee bit since he was in the studio. He looked in great shape."

McConville expects the five-time All-Star to be part of the Donegal starting line-up by the end of the Division One campaign.

"Donegal look as though they're going to a league final and I think [by that stage] he will be starting."

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Jim McGuinness hailed Michael Murphy's "composure and leadership" after he faced down some immediate drama when making his return to the inter-county fray as Donegal won the battle of the Ulster and All-Ireland champions at Ballybofey.

After looking in total control as they led Armagh 0-12 to 1-3 at half-time - having scored nine points in a row following Darragh McMullen's early goal - Donegal's lead was quickly cut to only two points within nine minutes of the restart.

McGuinness judged that was the moment to end Murphy's 981 days away from inter-county football and it proved an inspired call.

But even McGuinness surely couldn't have envisaged what was going to unfold next as Armagh captain Aidan Forker immediately became embroiled in a pushing match with McGuinness before headbutting the 35-year-old in the chest, which led to the Maghery man being red carded by referee Sean Hurson.

"The way he [Murphy] carried himself when he came on to the field and the scores he popped up with as well, that composure and leadership is a massive addition for us," said the Donegal manager.

Seconds after Forker's departure, Murphy pointed with his left foot and quickly added Donegal's next score as the air went out of Armagh's attempted comeback.

A midfield fetch emphasised Murphy's fine current fettle and he added another point for good measure late on as Donegal completed a 0-21 to 1-10 victory to maintain their winning run through the opening three rounds of Allianz Football League Division One.

"He was probably just ready, I've been very careful with him, we're trying to do that with them all, the championship is seven weeks away so it's a quick flip and we do not want to take any chances with him," said McGuinness, who did not initially name Murphy in the squad on Sunday morning, before making the late change to his substitutes.

"I don't want to bring him back if he's going to come on and get injured. I didn't want to rush him and the same with number of other players.

"The six points now gives us a bit of a cushion in terms of relegation and staving that off and hopefully now we don't have to take any risks with any of the players over the coming weeks."

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Division Four leaders Antrim continued their fine start to the season with a comfortable 4-10 to 1-8 victory against struggling Longford.

The Saffrons led 1-4 to 0-3 at half-time, with Lara Dahunsi fisting home a goal at the end of the first half.

They then produced a dominant second half display to ease to victory with Theresa Mellon netting twice and Ana Mulholland also scoring.

Lauren McGuire found the net with a penalty for Longford, who have lost their all their games so far.

Elsewhere, Fermanagh made it four successive wins with a 3-10 to 2-9 triumph against Wicklow.

The sides went in level at 1-5 apiece at half-time as Aoife McCabe scored an early goal for Fermanagh before Ann Marie Keegan replied for Wicklow before the break.

Eimear Smyth netted twice in the second half, one of which was from the penalty spot, but Wicklow battled hard and Sinead McGettigan reduced the deficit to three with a few minutes remaining with a goal.

Blaithin Bogue scored a late point to help Fermanagh see out the victory.

Derry's winless run continued as Sligo fought back to beat the Oak Leafers 0-11 to 1-4.

Derry registered all their points in the first half, with Leah Casey scoring to give them a 1-4 to 0-4 lead at the break.

Sligo improved after the break, with Lauren Normanly contributing 0-4 as they registered seven unanswered points for a third win in four games.

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Michael Murphy was at the centre of instant drama on his return to Donegal duty as he helped the home side maintain their winning start to Division One of the Allianz Football League by beating All-Ireland champions Armagh 0-21 to 1-10.

Jim McGuinness felt the need to introduce the 35-year-old for his first inter-county action in 981 days after Armagh had cut Donegal's six-point half-time advantage to only two within nine minutes of the restart.

However, Armagh skipper Aidan Forker immediately squared up to Murphy and they became embroiled in a pushing match, which was followed by the Orchard County captain headbutting the Glenswilly man in the chest.

Forker's actions left Tyrone referee Sean Hurson no option but to red card the Armagh captain.

Murphy's response to the borderline farce was to point from play with his left foot within 30 seconds and he soon added another before scores from man of the match Patrick McBrearty and Ciaran Thompson left the home side in control once more at 0-17 to 1-7 ahead.

The 2012 All-Ireland winning skipper's ball winning in midfield helped Donegal close out the game as he also added a further late free to complete a thoroughly impressive return to the inter-county stage.

Earlier, Darragh McMullen's eighth-minute goal had given Kieran McGeeney's side a 1-2 to 0-2 lead as he finished to the net after good work by Jarlath Og Burns and Tomas McCormack.

However, Donegal responded with nine straight points with Armagh run ragged as all but one of the home side's 12 first-half points came from play.

With Armagh giving the ball away on numerous occasions, Donegal ruthlessly punished the turnovers as skipper McBrearty hit three first-period points with his Kilcar club-mate Ryan McHugh, Jamie Brennan, Oisin Gallen and the lively Conor O'Donnell all contributing 0-2.

Armagh were also struggling to come to terms with the new rules - in particular having to hand the ball to the opposition when penalised - with keeper Ethan Rafferty punished as he held on to possession too long in midfield on one occasion, which led Donegal to being awarded a 13-metre free, which Gallen pointed.

After looking off the pace for the majority of the first half, Armagh looked like they were back in the contest as successive two-pointers from Rafferty and Andrew Murnin left only two between the sides.

However, Forker's red card seemed to take the air out of their challenge.

After full-time, the adoring home fans surrounded their hero Murphy on the pitch.

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Tyrone fell to a second straight Division One defeat as Mayo edged an attritional battle in Castlebar to win 0-12 to 0-10 and move off the bottom of the table.

The Ulster county led 0-5 to 0-4 at the break and 0-9 to 0-7 with 20 minutes remaining, but the Westerners finished strongly to claim their first win of the campaign.

Tyrone - still without their Errigal Ciaran contingent - also ended the game with 14 men after defender Michael McKernan was shown a second yellow card late on.

Goalkeeper Niall Morgan top-scored with 0-3 for Tyrone, who welcome Kerry to Omagh next week in a must-win game for Malachy O'Rourke's side.

In a largely forgettable first half, Mayo scored three of the opening four points through Frank Irwin, Davitt Neary and Cian McHale, with Morgan hitting Tyrone's only point in the opening quarter.

Mayo dominated possession early on and could have scored a goal after seven minutes only for Morgan to deny Eoin McLoughlin, who also failed to turn in the rebound.

But after Brian Kennedy notched a much-needed score for the visitors, Mayo were temporarily reduced to 14 men when Conor Reid was shown a black card following a clash with Darren McCurry.

And while Matthew Ruane scored a lovely point for the hosts, scores from Michael McKernan, Mark Bradley and Eoin McElholm late in the first half gave Tyrone a slender advantage at the break.

Despite Jordan Flynn's two-pointer putting Mayo back in front early in the second half, Tyrone built a two-point lead through a couple of Darren McCurry frees and two Morgan scores, one of which came from play.

But after Ryan O'Donoghue and Fergal Boland brought Mayo level, the impressive Irwin curled a fine effort over the bar to nudge Kevin McStay's side in front once more.

Cathal McShane came off the bench to knock over an important free for Tyrone before Morgan failed with a goal-bound shot when he could have taken a point.

That missed chance allowed Mayo to break up the field and win a free, which O'Donoghue converted to put the hosts ahead.

And after McKernan was dismissed for hauling down Neary, Boland scored to ensure a much-needed Mayo victory and increase pressure on the Red Hands.

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Meath made it back-to-back wins in Division Two as they saw off Down 0-24 to 1-18 in an entertaining game at Pairc Esler.

Conor Laverty's side narrowly led 1-09 to 0-10 at half-time after Ryan McEvoy's fine goal.

However, Meath fought back in the second half, landing five successive scores at one stage, including two two-pointers to take the three-point win.

Jordan Morris was key for Meath, scoring 0-7 to help spark the fightback for Robbie Brennan's side.

The two teams came into the game with a win and a loss in their opening two fixtures, and it was a back and forth start in Newry, as both sides traded early points.

The hosts had the first goal chance as Caolan Mooney lined up a shot from a tight angle which was blocked before it could trouble Billy Hogan.

Ronan Jones was then shown a black card for a cynical foul but despite being a man down, Meath battled well and edged back in front once Jones was reintroduced.

Just as they were starting to establish control, the influential Havern nailed a two-pointer for the Mournemen to restore parity.

McEvoy fired Laverty's side ahead just before half-time as he twisted his marker and slammed into the far corner after collecting Shay Millar's fine cross-field pass.

Meath had renewed energy after the break, with their run of five successive points helping to swing momentum in their favour.

They had a goal chance on 48 minutes but Ronan Burns produced a big save to deny Morris a goal.

Down attempted a late charge of their own, reducing the deficit to two points with five minutes remaining, but a late free from Eoghan Frayne sealed the win for Meath, who had Jones sent off.

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Derry produced a superb second-half comeback to secure a 0-16 to 1-13 draw with Division One pacesetters Galway.

Galway dominated the first half at Celtic Park with Dylan McHugh netting and Shane Walsh firing over six points to help the Tribesmen into a 1-10 to 0-4 lead at the break.

The Ulster hosts lost their opening two league games but fought back bravely from nine points down.

Derry still trailed by four points late in the game, but Lachlann Murray reduced the gap before Shane McGuigan slotted over three straight points in a thrilling finish.

Galway looked on course to make it three wins from three matches after a one-sided opening 35 minutes.

Paul Conroy's excellent pass put McHugh through on nine minutes and he supplied a composed finish for the only goal of the game.

Galway added three more scores before Walsh hit a two-pointer and he quickly followed it with another.

It was all change after the interval as Derry finally found their groove and set about mounting a fightback.

Derry keeper Neil McNicholl saw his goalbound shot diverted over the bar by John Daly and McGuigan rifled over a two-point free as the Oak Leafers scored seven points without reply to move two behind.

Walsh steadied Galway nerves with his third two-pointer of the evening but there was still time for Derry to change the outcome.

Lachlann started the four-point burst before McGuigan showed pinpoint accuracy to clinch an unlikely draw.

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Former Tyrone joint-boss Feargal Logan says he doesn't know if he will make a managerial return after suffering a stroke a year ago.

Logan and Brian Dooher took the Red Hands to All-Ireland glory in 2021, but the pair stepped down from the roles last August.

The solicitor has recovered over the past 12 months but has yet to return to work.

Logan told this week's GAA Social podcast that he has not made a decision on his future in the sport.

"I genuinely don't know - how I reinvent now, I have to start moving forward again as I've had a by-ball of a year," said the 56-year-old.

"And how I reinvent in anything - work, football, I genuinely don't know. What I do know is I won't go at the pace I did before whatever I do.

"Who knows. If you said when I finished playing for Tyrone, I would manage the Tyrone team, or the U21 team, I would say you're mad."

Logan and Dooher guided Tyrone to the All-Ireland title in their first season in charge.

It was just hours before a Football League derby against Derry when Logan became unwell and suffered a stroke.

"I'm probably old enough now to say never say never, but who knows what the future holds.

"I suppose the key thing is to keep well and I know I'll not be at the same pace I was at."

Listen to Feargal Logan on The GAA Social here

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Former Tyrone joint-manager Feargal Logan says he is now "great" a year on after suffering a stroke.

Logan and Brian Dooher guided Tyrone to an All-Ireland SFC title triumph in their first year in charge in 2021.

It was just hours before a league derby with Derry - then managed by former Red Hands boss Mickey Harte - when the 56-year-old became unwell.

"[I'm] great - last year on 4 February I got up, ready and really eager to play Derry," Logan told this week's GAA Social podcast.

"I was really eager to come up against Mickey, totally ready for action and got to the top of the stairs and keeled over.

"Parts of it are still a bit blurred. I thought Eileen [his wife] would still bring me to Celtic Park. She tells me how upset I was. I was essentially on the floor thinking this is okay, I'll be in the dugout today."

Logan began his recovery, and the solicitor and Dooher stepped down from their roles with Tyrone six months later.

His former Red Hands team-mate Jody Gormley appeared on the podcast just weeks before passing away from cancer in December.

"Of all the things that have happened to me in the last year, I should be the happiest man - you had Jody sitting with you not long ago.

"So, relatively in the scheme of the world, I'm absolutely great. I didn't plan on three or four months in a darkened room, three or four months in bed, a lot of rehab.

"It's been an interesting year and I came across a phrase recently that probably sums it up - I think I had a reasonable attitude of gratitude before, now my attitude for gratitude has been enhanced over the last year."

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Oisin McConville is hoping Antrim's scheduled Ulster SFC opener against All-Ireland champions Armagh will take place at Corrigan Park but says the venue "has to be right" for that to happen.

With Antrim having received a home draw for the fixture on 12 April, the Saffrons should be entitled to home advantage but Ulster GAA has said the west Belfast venue "does not meet the required health and safety standard".

In response to that, Antrim's players have vowed not to play the game if it is not staged at their current home ground.

Corrigan Park's capacity is just under 4,000 which would be nowhere near the number required to accommodate the hordes of Armagh fans keen to see the defending All-Ireland champions in action.

However, Ulster GAA's statement last week suggested that the health and safety issues were the sticking point rather than the venue's capacity.

Speaking on The GAA Social on BBC Sounds, 2002 Armagh All-Ireland winner McConville believes both the Antrim players and Ulster GAA could be in danger of giving themselves little room for manoeuvre in the stand-off.

"If you come out and you get a home draw, it should be played there. I am a firm believer in that," said McConville

"But there seem to be a few hoops to jump through to make those things happen. I don't know if Antrim were aware of those hoops.

"If Antrim can turn round whatever the barriers are to having it there [over the next couple of months], that sounds the best solution to having it there. Again I think it's very difficult for the Ulster Council because of the guidelines, the health and safety whatever it is….to back down.

"With the way the Antrim players have come out and talked about it, it's really difficult for them to show weakness or back down at this stage."

McConville says the issue will not be of concern to the Armagh players.

"I don't think they care where they play the game. I've played a game in Corrigan Park….the pitch is 100%. It's perfect."

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Antrim hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald admitted his side are "right in relegation [trouble] now" in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League after Sunday's chastening 2-26 to 0-17 defeat by Offaly.

After staying within range of Offaly for the opening half hour, the Saffrons conceded an unanswered 1-5 before half-time to leave them 1-14 to 0-7 down at the interval and if anything the Faithful County were even more dominant in the second half.

"I'm not going to cover over that, that's where we're at," said Fitzgerald of Antrim's relegation concerns following the Tullamore defeat.

Most concerningly from an Antrim point of view, Fitzgerald admitted his players "didn't fight hard enough".

"We were nine points to seven down, playing average but still in the game. Next thing we gave a sharp pass we shouldn't have given and they got a goal out of it. We went five, six down. Once we went another point or two with that it just was like…that was it.

"You could actually feel it on the sideline that we weren't going to fight it back and I don't know why that is, because they're really good lads, they work really hard."

Fitzgerald added that Antrim's display once again demonstrated the disparity in their home and away displays, which has been a feature of recent campaigns.

The defeat came seven days after last weekend's encouraging home win over Westmeath.

"It didn't matter what moves or what formation or what we tried to do today, we changed so many different things to try and get us back in the game."

The Antrim boss acknowledged that it "could get worse before it gets better".

"I've said it but there are very few people who just come in and make it happen like that."

The Saffrons' next game in two weeks will be the home contest against Fitzgerald's former Waterford side before their concluding Division 1B games against an improving Carlow outfit and Laois - which both are now taking on the appearances of relegation dogfights.

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Tyrone overturned a seven-point half-time deficit to earn their first win in Division 1 of the Ladies National Football League by edging out Mayo 1-15 to 2-11 at Swinford.

Two points from Chloe McCaffrey and a superb Aoife McGahan score kept Tyrone in touch at 0-4 to 0-3 down despite playing against the breeze before a run of four unanswered points by the hosts and Clodagh Keane's goal on the stroke of half-time left the interval scoreline at 1-9 to 0-5.

However, Tyrone used the elements well after the break as they hit four straight points when Mayo were down to 14 players following a yellow card.

Against the run of play, Sinead Walsh scored Mayo's second goal on 43 minutes after a wayward shot by Hannah Reape fell into her hands and she thundered a strike past Amelia Coyle.

However, Mayo skipper Danielle Caldwell was then yellow carded as two more McCaffrey frees and brace of Niamh O'Neill scores left only a kick of the ball between the sides before Sorcha Gormley fired a levelling goal.

Erin Murray put Mayo back ahead but O'Neill fired over two late points to put Tyrone ahead for the first time.

Kayla Doherty had a chance in the final seconds to win it for Mayo but her shot was brilliantly saved by Coyle as Darren McCann's side left Swinford with a valuable win.

Defending Division One champions Armagh maintained their winning run by edging out Dublin 0-11 to 2-4 on Saturday.

In Division Two, a last-minute goal from skipper Roisin Rodgers earned Donegal a 1-7 to 0-8 win over Monaghan.

Cavan were among the Division Three winners as they hammered Carlow 6-17 to 1-4 while Down lost 2-11 to 1-4 against Laois.

Fermanagh, meanwhile, were victorious in Division Four as they held off Longford 4-14 to 4-8 in a high-scoring contest.

LIDL NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE RESULTS

Division One

Armagh 0-11 Dublin 2-4

Kerry 2-10 Kildare 0-7

Tyrone 1-15 Mayo 2-11

Meath 2-11 Waterford 1-13

Division Two

Donegal 1-7 Monaghan 0-8

Galway 1-18 Roscommon 1-11

Cork 3-12 Tipperary 0-9

Clare 2-17 Westmeath 0-7

Division Three

Cavan 6-17 Carlow 1-4

Laois 2-11 Down 4-3

Limerick 5-12 Offaly 1-4

Louth 1-6 Wexford 0-6

Division Four

Fermanagh 4-14 Longford 4-8

Leitrim 1-11 Wicklow 3-4