Gaelic Games

John Haughey
BBC Sport NI Journalist at Clones

Image source, Getty Images

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.

Image source, Inpho

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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

Image source, Inpho

The Camogie Association has reacted to the controversy over players being forced to wear skorts as opposed to shorts by calling a Special Congress for 22 May to vote on the issue.

The Kilkenny and Dublin teams were forced to change into skorts before last weekend's Leinster Championship semi-final after taking to the field wearing shorts.

Both sides were told by the referee that the game would be abandoned if the players did not change.

A vote will take place at the Special Congress which if passed, will give players the option of wearing skorts or shorts from 24 May.

"The Special Congress is being called to consider motion(s) to provide all players with the choice to wear skorts or shorts while playing camogie," said a Camogie Association statement.

"The association had proposed to deal with this issue at next year's Congress but having listened to player feedback, the association recognises that waiting until 2026 is not acceptable for many."

Previous attempts to change the skort rule did not pass at the Camogie Association's Annual Congress in 2024.

Camogie is governed by the Camogie Association of Ireland, which is closely linked to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and alongside the Ladies Gaelic Football Association is scheduled to formally integrate into the wider GAA in 2027.

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."

Following the stance taking by the Kilkenny and Dublin teams in last Saturday's game at Blanchardstown, Cork and Waterford players have said that they will wear shorts in Saturday's Munster Senior Final.

A number of Dublin club teams have worn shorts in fixtures this week after the county's camogie board told referees to allow games to proceed even if players didn't wear skorts.

Dublin captain Aisling Maher described last weekend's episode as a "career low" adding that she was "sick of being forced to wear a skort that is uncomfortable and unfit for purpose".

Image source, Inhpo

All-Ireland winning defender Aaron McKay believes it'll be "third time lucky" for Armagh when they face Donegal in Saturday's Ulster final.

Despite winning their second All-Ireland title last year, the Orchard County have not lifted the Anglo Celt Cup since 2008, losing the 2023 final to Derry and last year's decider to Donegal in a penalty shootout.

But McKay is hopeful that Armagh can turn the tide this year and finally get over the line.

"It's definitely been too long for us. I suppose growing up and as child I remember going to Clones nearly every year and watching us win it, even a couple of times in Croker," McKay told BBC Sport NI.

"Even in those days throughout the mid 2000s we had great rivalries with Donegal, and you never thought at the time that it would end. It's unfortunate that they did and it's definitely went on for too long.

"Getting to one final and not getting over the line is one thing, people might say 'well we'll be back next year and finally get over the hill' and we didn't, but hopefully it'll be third time lucky on Sunday, and we'll bring it back."

The 29-year-old has not played since last year's All-Ireland final win over Galway at Croke Park - where he scored his county's only goal - because of an injury that required surgery.

But the Dromintee man does feel that he is nearing a return with the All-Ireland SFC round-robin series games his target.

"The plan was to be back for a championship because I knew I wasn't going to be back for the league even way back in say October, November time," he added.

"I knew that because I couldn't even get playing for the club in August and then I kind of just came to the conclusion that steroids and stuff weren't working anymore and that I had to get the operation.

"To be ready for the first group game in the All-Ireland series, anything earlier than that's a bonus, it's kind of where I'm still at.

"At the same time, one part of you is telling yourself that you are ready, but the head can sometimes be ignorant and stubborn enough and you want to plough ahead. If Geezer (Kieran McGeeney) would put the faith in me, I'd definitely throw myself in."

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tyrone have been dealt a blow ahead of the beginning of the All-Ireland SFC as forward Cathal McShane has stepped away from the panel.

McShane's last appearance for the Red Hands came last month as he was drafted into Malachy O'Rourke's starting 15 for their Ulster Championship opener against Cavan with Darragh Canavan ruled out through injury.

The All-Ireland winning forward was not named in the matchday squad for Tyrone's semi-final defeat to Armagh as Canavan and Mark Bradley returned from injury.

The Owen Roes attacker made just one National League appearance this season, coming off the bench to kick a point in Tyrone's defeat at Mayo in February.

McShane made his inter-county debut a decade ago against Donegal in 2015 and throughout his time in red and white he picked up three Ulster SFC medals (2016, 2017 and 2021) alongside his All-Ireland SFC medal in 2021.

McShane won an All-Star for his performances in 2019, finishing as the All-Ireland SFC's top scorer, kicking 3-48 in nine games.

He suffered a serious ankle injury in a league game at Galway at the beginning of the 2020 season before returning to help Tyrone win the All-Ireland title in 2021, scoring goals off the bench in their semi-final win over Kerry and in the decider against Mayo.

The 29-year-old's absence will prove a blow to O'Rourke and the wider Tyrone squad as they head into an All-Ireland round-robin series starting with a trip to the Ulster champions before hosting Mayo and taking on Cavan at a neutral venue.

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Galway's 1-17 to 1-15 Connacht Final win over Mayo means the Tribesmen will join Dublin, Derry and the losers of next Saturday's Ulster Final between Armagh and Donegal in what has been dubbed the 'group of death' in the All-Ireland Football Championship.

With Padraic Joyce's Galway side now confirmed in group four, Mayo will be placed in group one alongside Tyrone, Cavan and the winners of the Ulster Final.

Kerry's 4-20 to 0-21 Munster Final victory over Clare means the Kingdom face a rematch with Cork in a group two that will also include Roscommon and the losers of next Sunday's Leinster Final between Louth and Meath.

Clare's defeat puts them in group three alongside Monaghan, Down the winners of the Leinster Final in what is being regarded as the weakest of the four groups.

The Tribesmen won the Connacht decider for a fourth consecutive year after being pushed all the way at MacHale Park.

Mayo started well and went ahead through Darren McHale's early goal, but then went 25 minutes without a score as Galway upped the tempo and edged ahead before they were awarded a penalty.

Matthew Ruane pulled back Johnny McGrath and Matthew Tierney scored from the spot with Galway tagging on some late scores to lead by eight points at the break.

Mayo managed to level midway through the second half but Galway went back in front and held on to claim a two-point win.

At the Fitzgerald Stadium, the Munster final was over as a contest after 35 minutes with Kerry having found the net four times in a ruthless dismantling of Clare as they claimed a fifth successive title.

They had a 15-point advantage at half-time, with Micheal Burns and Barry Dan O'Sullivan scoring and the impressive David Clifford netting twice as well as kicking five points.

Clare, who were playing their third consecutive Munster final against the Kingdom, outscored Kerry in the second half, but could only reduce the deficit to 11 points by the end of the game.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Tyrone retained the Ulster under-20 title with a 1-19 to 2-14 win over Donegal after extra-time at Owenbeg.

Ruairi McCullagh kicked 0-9 as the Red Hands claimed a third title in four years.

The real winning of the game came with three two-pointers in the first four minutes of extra-time as the holders exerted their dominance.

Paul Devlin's side will now meet Munster champions Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final on the weekend of 10 May in a repeat of last year's decider won by Tyrone.

McCullagh and Kevin Muldoon led the charge for their sides in a first half which really failed to catch light.

Tyrone kicked eight wides to Donegal's two but led by the minimum at the break as 0-5 played 0-4.

The Tir Chonaill emerged sharpest for the second stanza kicking two, two-pointers in as many minutes with Shane Callaghan and Conor McCahill firing over.

Tyrone responded from the very next play as Liam Og Mossey's attempt at a point cannoned off the post and into the hands of Joey Clarke, who fired to the roof of the Donegal net.

The sides traded scores before the pace of Muldoon burned a hole through the heart of the Tyrone defence, he slipped Cathal O Gallchoir through, he hit the net and Donegal led by two with 10 minutes to play.

Throughout Donegal refused to engage beyond their 40-metre arc as McCullagh levelled with two scores.

The holders would keep the ball for almost four minutes at the end before Conor O'Neill's effort tailed wide, sending the game to extra time at 1-9 apiece.

The game would burst into life in extra-time as three two-pointers from Eoin McElholm, Shea McDermott and McCullagh put Tyrone into a seven-point lead.

Seanan Carr replied with a fine individual goal for Donegal as three separated the sides heading into the final period of extra-time.

Drama would follow as Donegal chased the game at the death and with two between the sides, the Tir Chonaill men were punished for failing to keep three defenders in their own half allowing McCullagh to slot over and put three between them.

Tyrone netminder Conan McGarvey would prove the hero as he saved Conor McCahill's goal bound effort with the final action of the match.

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This year's beaten Ulster SFC finalists - Armagh or Donegal - will drop into the so-called 'Group of Death' in the All-Ireland series.

The losers of the Ulster final on 10 May will be placed into Group Four alongside the beaten Connacht finalists - either Galway or Mayo - as well as Dublin and Derry.

"Can I be the first to call it the 'Group of Death', please?" said the GAA's Director of Player, Club and Games Administration Feargal McGill during Wednesday's draw.

The Ulster champions will drop into Group One with the winners of Sunday's Connacht final between Galway and Mayo, Tyrone and Cavan.

On paper, Group Four certainly looks to be the toughest with all six potential teams having reached last year's knockout rounds.

Derry and Dublin are guaranteed to be a part of it with both counties hoping to rebound from disappointing provincial campaigns.

Derry lost to Donegal in the Ulster preliminary round, while Dublin were stunned by Meath in last weekend's Leinster semi-final in Portlaoise, setting up a first Leinster final without the Dubs since 2010.

The first round of Sam Maguire games will be played on the weekend of 17/18 May, with the Connacht and Munster finalists among those in action.

The Ulster and Leinster finalists will begin their campaigns the following week.

Armagh are hoping to retain their All-Ireland title after winning Gaelic football's biggest prize for the second time last summer.

Having lost last year's Ulster final to Donegal on penalties, the Orchard County navigated their way through a Group of Death that contained Galway, Derry and Westmeath before beating Roscommon, Kerry and Galway in the knockout rounds to lift Sam.

Down, who earned a spot in the Sam Maguire series by winning last year's Tailteann Cup, will face the Leinster winners, the Munster runners-up and Monaghan in Group Three.

In the Tailteann Cup, Antrim will face 2022 winners Westmeath, Limerick and London, while Fermanagh will take on Wexford, Carlow and Longford.

Antrim, who were relegated to Division Four before losing their Ulster quarter-final to Armagh, have reached the Tailteann Cup semi-finals in each of the past two seasons.

This is the last year of the current All-Ireland format with the group stages set to be scrapped for 2026.

All-Ireland SFC

Group One: Armagh/Donegal winners, Galway/Mayo losers, Tyrone, Cavan

Group Two: Kerry/Clare winners, Louth/Meath losers, Roscommon, Cork

Group Three: Louth/Meath winners, Kerry/Clare losers, Monaghan, Down

Group Four: Galway/Mayo winners, Armagh/Donegal losers, Dublin, Derry

Tailteann Cup

Group One: Kildare, Sligo, Leitrim, Tipperary

Group Two: Offaly, Laois, Wicklow, Waterford

Group Three: Westmeath, Limerick, Antrim, London

Group Four: Fermanagh, Wexford, Carlow, Longford

Image source, BBC Sport

On this week's GAA Social, Oisin and Thomas are joined by Cork legend Jimmy Barry-Murphy.

A multiple All-Ireland winner in football and hurling as a player, Barry-Murphy also managed his native Cork to the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 1999.

In a wide-ranging interview, the trio go into Barry-Murphy's long career in the sport, including his experiences with former Manchester United footballers Denis Irwin and Roy Keane.

You can listen to the GAA Social on BBC Sounds right now