Gaelic Games

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Tyrone won the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship for the first time since 2010 with a dramatic 1-16 to 1-15 win over Kerry in Sunday's final.

Ben Kelliher netted the only goal of the first half as Kerry held a 1-8 to 0-7 advantage at the break.

Tyrone, without key forward Joel Kerr after his move to Premier League side West Ham, kept fighting and got a goal through Peter Colton's penalty with nine minutes remaining in Newbridge.

There was nothing to split the sides in injury time, but Diarmuid Martin popped up with the decisive point in the final minute to get Tyrone over the line.

After a tight opening quarter, Tyrone started to stretch their legs as James Mulgrew landed a two-pointer from play and Eoin Long fired over a free.

But after Gearoid White and Danny Murphy chipped into the Red Hands' advantage, Kelliher worked some space in front of goal and fired into the top corner to put Kerry in front at half-time.

Aodhan Quinn brought Tyrone back within one point just seconds after the restart and Long levelled the final with a free.

Tadhg O'Connell and Diarmuid Martin traded scores before White's two-pointer moved Kerry back in front.

Long responded for Tyrone but another two-pointer, this time from Kevin Griffin, restored the Kingdom's three-point buffer.

Kerry could have all but ended the contest after Kelliher was clean through on goal after a poor kick-out from Ronan Donnelly, but the goalkeeper redeemed his error by forcing the forward wide before Padraig Goodman put in a big block.

Griffin then landed a free, but Matthew Daly immediately responded for Tyrone to keep a goal between the sides and Long fired over with the Kerry goal gaping.

There was a further twist with nine minutes to play with Daly was brought down by John Curtin and Tyrone were awarded a penalty, which Colton fired into the top corner to put Gerard Donnelly's side one point ahead.

Murphy's well-taken point levelled the contest with five minutes remaining, and Kelliher landed a point after Donnelly pushed his goal-bound effort over the bar as the clocked ticked into four minutes off additional time.

Colton levelled the game once more through a well-struck free, and another effort bounced off the upright allowed Martin to put the Ulster champions ahead heading into the final minute.

Kerry had one last attack but another decisive intervention from Martin, who came away with the ball after goalmouth scramble, sparked wild celebrations as Tyrone ended their long wait for success at this grade.

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Tyrone coach Ciaran Gourley says it is "unfortunate" that West Ham footballer Joel Kerr was not available to play in Sunday's All-Ireland Minor final against Kerry.

Kerr played a key role in the Red Hands' progression to the final on Sunday, but was not able to feature for Gerard Donnelly's side as his contract with the Premier League side started on 1 July.

The 16-year-old had balanced playing gaelic football for Tyrone and was also an underage player with Irish Premiership side Glentoran.

There were reports in the build-up to the final that Kerr would not be allowed to play after his move to the Premier League side was finalised, but he was surprisingly named in the Red Hands' starting team before throw-in.

However, Gourley confirmed that Kerr was not available to feature and said it was "unfortunate" for the teenager.

"We had hoped during the week there might have been an opportunity for us," Gourley told TG4 before Tyrone's decider.

"Look, he signed with them on 1 July so he's their [West Ham's] player.

"You have to respect that it's a big opportunity over there and you can't maybe jeopardise that for this one game.

"The players have still prepared as best they can and I know he'll be watching and cheering us on, but unfortunately for us he's not here."

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The Armagh senior ladies footballers will begin the search for new management after it was confirmed Darnell Parkinson and Joe Feeney have stepped down.

The pair took over from Greg McGonigle at the beginning of the year, having served as members of the Derry native's backroom team last year when the Orchard women won the Division One and Ulster titles and reached the last four of the All-Ireland Senior Championship.

Armagh retained their provincial crown with victory over Donegal in May's final at Clones, bust lost the Division One final against Kerry.

In the All-Ireland Championship, a shock defeat by Kildare meant they failed to progress from the group stage.

On Saturday, retained their senior status thanks to a 0-15 to 0-5 victory over Donegal in a relegation semi-final.

"On behalf of Armagh, we extend our sincere thanks to Darnell, Joe and the backroom team for their contribution to our senior team for the 2025 season," said Armagh chairperson Sinead Reel in a statement.

"We thank all those involved on the management team, their partners and families for their time and commitment to the Armagh cause.

"We wish the entire management and backroom team all the best in their future endeavours.

"Back-to-back Ulster titles and senior retention leaves a strong foundation for the future of Armagh football."

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Cork manager Pat Ryan insists his side must improve if they are to avenge last year's All-Ireland hurling final heartbreak after thumping Dublin in Saturday's semi-final.

The Munster champions produced a dazzling display to win 7-26 to 2-21, but the Rebels boss felt there are aspects of their game which were not quite up to scratch.

An overall tally of 47 points is hard to find holes in, but Ryan felt his team left a number of chances behind them and insists it's an area they must clean up as they get set for the 20 July final against either Kilkenny or Tipperary.

"We prepared really well for Dublin and gave them the respect they deserved after their fantastic win (against Limerick)," Ryan told BBC Sport NI.

"We knew we were coming up against a great challenge, but prepared really diligently and are delighted with our performance.

"I thought we went to sleep with a couple of our chances and gave them chances for goal, so it's something to work on going forward. Our (shooting) efficiency was down in that first half around 60% and those are things that just won't do in the final.

"We have some very dangerous inside forwards but there were times we didn't work hared enough to retain the ball and our tackling from behind wasn't good enough, but they are things we'll go after over the next two weeks."

Ryan added: "It's all about wining Liam MacCarthy and we're looking forward to it. We came up here for a performance and there were parts of that performance we wouldn't be happy with. We'll go after that because it needs to be perfect to win an All-Ireland and it wasn't perfect last year against Clare."

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Ryan's sentiments were echoed by man-of-the-match Alan Connolly.

The Blackrock man hit a hat-trick of goals and 3-2 overall, while laying on another for Brian Hayes just before the break which was the game-breaker.

"It was a good performance but we know we can do better," said the full-forward.

"We left a lot behind us but I don't want to look at the negatives because there were a lot of positives. Dublin are a great side with great management, so we knew if we made a good start and kept going, nobody could live with us."

Veteran attacker Patrick Horgan finished with eight points and also laid on a goal for Tim O'Mahony just after the break.

Cork's goal-hungry approach highlighted the talent they have in the forwards and also exemplified the balance they have.

"Today we saw that more than ever with seven goals and probably could have got one or two more," said hurling's leading points scorer of all time.

"We'll probably hear more about that during the week but that's what this team can do when we click and we did today."

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Donegal have dropped into the All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Championship relegation play-off after a 0-15 to 0-5 defeat by Armagh.

In a repeat of the Ulster final, which Armagh won, both sides dropped into the opening relegation play-off round after finishing bottom of their respective groups.

The Orchard County held a 0-11 to 0-1 lead at the break and their dominant first-half performance was enough to retain their top flight status.

Donegal will now face Leitrim in the relegation play-off and the loser will drop into the All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship for next season.

Niamh Reel, Lauren McConville both hit two points and Caroline O'Hanlon struck her third score just before half-time as Armagh dominated proceedings, while Jodie McFadden recorded Donegal's sole point of the half.

McFadden and Cait Gillespie started chipping into Armagh's lead after the restart, but Catherine Marley, Reel and Katie Dowds helped the Ulster champions keep Donegal at arm's length in the second half.

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Eoin Cody and Shane Murphy have been restored to the Kilkenny line-up to face an unchanged Tipperary in Sunday's All-Ireland Hurling semi-final at Croke Park.

The match, which will throw in at 16:00 BST, will be shown live on BBC Two NI, the BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. There will also be live text updates on the BBC Sport website.

Ballyhale Shamrocks club-man Cody returns to Derek Lyng's full-forward line after missing the Leinster final win over Galway on 8 June with a leg injury.

Tipperary boss Liam Cahill has opted to stick with the same 15 that beat Galway in the quarter-finals for the Munster county's first last-four appearance in six years.

Michael Breen, Ronan Maher, John McGrath and Jason Forde all started Tipp's 2019 All-Ireland final win over Kilkenny.

Kilkenny: Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Shane Murphy; Mikey Carey, Richie Reid, Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan; Martin Keoghan, TJ Reid, Eoin Cody.

Subs: Aidan Tallis, Tommy Walsh, David Blanchfield, Padraic Moylan, Killian Doyle, Zach Bay Hammond, Fionan Mackessy, Stephen Donnelly, Luke Hogan, Luke Connellan, Billy Drennan.

Tipperary: Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Craig Morgan, Ronan Maher, Bryan O'Mara; Willie Connors, Peter McGarry; Jake Morris, Andrew Ormond, Sam O'Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath, Jason Forde.

Subs: Barry Hogan, Joe Caesar, Sean Kenneally, Seamus Kennedy, Brian McGrath, Noel McGrath, Oisin O'Donoghue, Johnny Ryan, Conor Stakelum, Darragh Stakelum, Alan Tynan.

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Both Cork and Dublin show changes to their teams for Saturday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final at Croke Park.

The game, with throw-in set for 17:00 BST, will be broadcast live on BBC Two NI, as well as the iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

The Munster champions welcome back team captain Rob Downey who has recovered from a hamstring injury to slot back in at centre-back as Cormac O'Brien drops out due to a quad injury.

In another of the three changes from their penalty shootout win in the provincial decider last month, Niall O'Leary returns at corner-back in place of Damien Cahalane with his groin injury cleared.

In attack, Declan Dalton is another coming back from injury having recovered from the hamstring problem that forced him out of the Limerick game, but a similar issue means Seamus Harnedy is absent for the weekend.

There is a further boost for Pat Ryan's team as Ger Mellerick is fit for a place on the bench, having been absent last month due to a fractured finger.

Dublin manager Niall O Ceallachain has also made changes for Saturday's semi-final as the red card picked up by team captain Chris Crummey in the win against Limerick in the quarter-final means he is suspended this week.

Conor Burke, who scored five points from midfield in the victory against the Treaty, deputises at centre-back, with Conor Donohoe returning from his own suspension to partner Brian Hayes at midfield.

In attack, Darragh Power is preferred to Diarmaid O'Dulaing and will start at wing-forward with Cian O'Sullivan moving into the corner.

John Hetherton - who found the net as a second-half substitute against Limerick - is again held in reserve, while Donal Burke is another named on the bench and will provide a noted attacking option for Dublin if called upon.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Niall O'Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O'Donoghue; Ciarán Joyce, Rob Downey, Mark Coleman; Tim O'Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Diarmuid Healy, Shane Barrett, Declan Dalton; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.

Subs: Brion Saunderson, Damien Cahalane, Ger Millerick, Tommy O'Connell, Ethan Twomey, Luke Meade, Brian Roche, Jack O'Connor, Shane Kingston, Robbie O'Flynn, Conor Lehane.

Dublin: Sean Brennan; John Bellew, Paddy Smyth, Conor McHugh; Paddy Doyle, Conor Burke, Andrew Dunphy; Conor Donohoe, Brian Hayes; Rian McBride, Fergal Whitely, Darragh Power; Sean Currie, Ronan Hayes, Cian O'Sullivan.

Subs: Eddie Gibbons, Donal Burke, Colin Currie, Paddy Dunleavy, Daire Gray, John Hetherton, AJ Murphy, David Lucey, Paul O'Dea, Diarmaid O Dulaing, Conal O Riain.

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Ger Brennan has departed his role as Louth manager after two seasons in charge.

The former Dublin two-time All-Ireland winner guided the 'Wee County' to their first Leinster SFC title in 68 years earlier this year with victory over Meath.

Louth's 2025 season ultimately ended with a 2-22 to 0-12 defeat by Donegal in Ballybofey at the preliminary quarter-final stage on 22 June.

The St Vincent's club-man's decision will intensify links to his native county following Dessie Farrell's decision to end his six-year reign as manager following Saturday's quarter-final loss to Tyrone.

In a statement confirming his decision to step down, Louth GAA thanked Brennan and his backroom team for their efforts.

"With Ger's expert guidance and the invaluable support of his outstanding management team, our squad achieved remarkable success – including maintaining our Division Two status and the momentous achievement of bringing the Delaney Cup home to Louth for the first time in 68 years, a truly historic milestone for the county," said county chairman Sean McClean.

"On behalf of everyone at Louth GAA, we want to express our profound gratitude to Ger for the transformative influence he has had during his time with us. The high standards he established, the ambitious vision he shared with us all, and the truly memorable experiences he created will continue to inspire and guide us for years to come."

In his own statement Brennan thanked the Louth county board and his players.

"Most importantly, I want to express my profound gratitude to the Louth senior footballers," he said.

"It has been an absolute privilege to be part of your journey these past two years. What you have accomplished for the Gaels of County Louth will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come. Your dedication, heart, and commitment have made history.

"As you embark on the next chapter of your journey, I have complete confidence that fresh perspectives will bring new energy and insights to your honest and hardworking team. The future is bright for Louth football."

Image source, Thomas Niblock

This week's GAA Social podcast sees Oisin and Thomas joined by Louth goalkeeper Niall McDonnell.

McDonnell helped his county to win the Leinster title for the first time in 68 years in May as they beat Meath in the final.

In the podcast, he discusses his breakthrough into the Louth panel under Ger Brennan, the goalkeeping position under the new rules and that memorable Leinster final at Croke Park.

You can download and listen to the GAA Social on BBC Sounds here.

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The fixture details for this year's All-Ireland SFC semi-finals have been confirmed as the race for the 2025 Sam Maguire reaches its final stages.

Kerry will face Tyrone at Croke Park on Saturday 12 July, with a 17:00 BST throw-in.

On Sunday 13 July, Meath play Donegal in the second semi-final at the same venue, with a 16:00 BST start.

Both matches will be broadcast live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

The semi-finalists secured their last-four berths on a dramatic weekend of quarter-final action.

Kerry blasted past last year's All-Ireland winners Armagh while Tyrone toppled Dublin, Meath upset 2024 runners-up Galway and Donegal recovered from a sizeable deficit to overcome Ulster rivals Monaghan.

The All-Ireland Football final will take place on Sunday, 27 July and will also be broadcast live by BBC Sport NI.

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Kerry boss Jack O'Connor hit back at his team's detractors after the Kingdom surged into the All-Ireland semi-finals in spectacular style with a 0-32 to 1-21 win over Armagh at Croke Park.

The Munster champions breathed new life into their bid for a 39th Sam Maguire Cup by knocking out the holders with a performance that extinguished the hurt of their shock group stage defeat by Meath.

While O'Connor praised his side's performance, he took aim at a Sunday Independent column written by former Derry footballer Joe Brolly that clearly irked him in the lead-up to the quarter-final.

"One of the great motivators in life is trying to prove people wrong. We were being portrayed as a one-man team," said O'Connor.

"I saw somebody writing this morning that said the only Kerry player worthy of being called a Kerry player was David Clifford.

"Now, David is a great player but David will tell you that there was a fair supporting cast there today.

"We think we have a lot of good footballers but I think sometimes we're being judged on different criteria to other teams."

O'Connor, who has led Kerry to four All-Ireland titles across three spells in charge, added he "didn't see any ex-Dublin players coming out slating the team" after their shock Leinster semi-final loss to Meath.

Following Kerry's 1-22 to 0-16 loss to Meath in Tullamore, the Kingdom's six-time All-Ireland winner Darragh O Se was critical of O'Connor's team in the Irish Times, writing they didn't take the game "seriously enough".

"Unfortunately a few pundits down our way let themselves down in that regard," added the Kerry boss.

"I'm not giving out about it from my own point of view. What's to be gained by slating people? It's the easiest thing in the world. I'm in the business of building people up. I'm not in the business of knocking people."

O'Connor outlined that he has "spent all my life coaching underage school kids, minors, Under-21s, seniors, at every level".

"I'd ask people who are knocking that group and knocking people involved with the group to look in the mirror and say, 'What have you contributed?

"What have you contributed to Kerry football off the field?

"Go away and coach a team. Go away and coach a development squad. Go away and coach a minor team. That's how you help Kerry football, not knocking people."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Croke Park

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Armagh boss Kieran McGeeney was coy about his future after his side's All-Ireland reign was ended in devastating fashion by Kerry in Sunday's quarter-final.

The Orchardmen beat Kerry in last year's semi-final, but were no match for the Kingdom this time around as Jack O'Connor's side struck 14 unanswered points in an inspired second-half display to win 0-32 to 1-21.

McGeeney, who was appointed Armagh boss in 2014, said his future is "hard to know" in the immediate aftermath of his team's championship exit.

"I sit down every year [to reflect], and my thing is always about players," said McGeeney.

"It's all about the players first and foremost and what they want and how much they want to push on.

"My appetite for football has always been the same. I love it, I enjoy it despite the abuse, it's just one of those things - maybe it's an addiction. I haven't even thought about that [the future], to be honest."

Having masterminded Armagh's 2024 triumph, McGeeney is in rarefied air as someone who has captained and managed his native county to the Sam Maguire Cup.

Despite his success, however, the 53-year-old says he is not immune to criticism, which he feels is primarily aimed at managers in the GAA world.

"Whether it's the GAA themselves or the supporters, the GAA manager is the person who gets blamed for everything," added McGeeney.

"I always find it amusing from the outside looking in at people doing their jobs and how they're graded and nobody ever looks in the mirror too much."

While admitting he has made his fair share of "mistakes", McGeeney added: "It's amazing how everybody else tends to have a mirror that goes out the ways rather than looking back at themselves."

Armagh led Sunday's quarter-final by a point at the break and extended their advantage to five before Kerry took over in unstoppable fashion.

The Kingdom's 14-point salvo was delivered in a 13-minute spell when the Munster men destroyed Armagh in the middle of the field and scored everything they looked at.

"We had 11 out of our 13 kick-outs we lost," observed McGeeney.

"It's one of those days. Seanie, no matter what he hit, was putting them over and everybody else was joining.

"It's 15 minutes you'd like to forget, but it happens in sport. We've done it to other teams, so you have to take it on the chin and move on."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist at Croke Park

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Meath progressed to the last four of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship for the first time since 2009 with a 2-16 to 2-15 win over Galway in a slow-burn thriller at Croke Park on Sunday.

After a forgettable first 35 minutes that ended with Galway leading 0-7 to 0-6, this weekend's third quarter-final burst into life in the second half with all four goals scored in a breathless 12-minute spell.

Conor Gray and the brilliant Jordan Morris scored Meath's goals, and while Cillian McDaid and Liam Silke found the net for Galway, the beaten Leinster finalists finished strongly to join Donegal and Tyrone in the last four.

While Meath can look forward to another trip to Croke Park in a fortnight, defeat represents a bitter end to 2025 for last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists Galway.

Galway, pushed all the way by Down in last week's preliminary quarter-final, led by a point at the break despite trailing for much of the first half in the counties' first Croke Park meeting since the 2001 final.

Their midway lead would have been greater, too, had it not been for Meath keeper Billy Hogan, who did enough to put off Galway wing-back Dylan McHugh and force his shot wide.

In a madcap second half, it was Meath who struck first. After Morris (two) and Matthew Costello (three) combined for five points, substitute Gray poked home the game's first goal to put Robbie Brennan's side 1-11 to 0-9 ahead.

Morris quickly added to Meath's tally, but after Shane Walsh nailed a much-needed two-point free for Galway, the Tribesmen roared into a three-point lead with a couple of finely worked goals.

First, Matthew Tierney teed up McDaid to fire high into Hogan's net, before Maher drove at the Meath defence and set up Silke, who rolled a low shot into the corner to put Galway three up.

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While understandably shellshocked, Meath refused to give in, and after captain Eoghan Frayne sent over a much-needed score, Morris fisted home Meath's second goal after Galway coughed up possession in a dangerous position.

With Damien Comer introduced during the second half, Galway looked to their big guns for a rescue act.

Comer did indeed chip in with a fine score from play, but it was not enough to save the Connacht kingpins as Meath backed up their second green flag through Cathal Hickey and another two from Morris - who finished with 1-6 - to add Galway to their Dublin and Kerry scalps from earlier in the championship.

For Galway - whose last Sam Maguire triumph came in 2001 - it is another difficult period of soul-searching ahead, but this was unquestionably Meath's day as Brennan's side ensured Leinster representation in the semi-finals after Dublin's exit.

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Tyrone boss Malachy O'Rourke praised the attitude of his players in their 0-23 to 0-16 All-Ireland quarter-final win against Dublin.

In a tight and tense affair, the Red Hands' substitutes made the difference with the likes of Ruairi Canavan and Eoin McElholm scoring late to help them pull away from the Dubs.

And O'Rourke was pleased that his side kept going until the end as they booked their place in a first All-Ireland semi-final since 2021 and secured a first championship win over Dublin since 2008.

"Delighted for them all to get over the line and get through. It wasn't a brilliant game to watch, but you have to acknowledge you're up against a quality opposition and you're not going to have it all your own way," he told BBC Sport NI.

"I'm delighted with the way the boys dug, defended really well and scored some good scores."

O'Rourke said the conditions made the game even harder but that he was happy with the contributions of the whole squad, particularly in the second half.

"In the first half we were a bit disappointed with how we played and the two- pointers kept us in it and we went in a point ahead.

"We felt there was more in us, we gave the ball away cheaply with unforced errors and Dublin putting us under pressure. We wanted to turn the table second half and play with more urgency and more pressure on them, and we achieved that fairly well, "he added.

"It was tit for tat, we made a few wrong choices, and our execution shots weren't as good as what they could have been, but the boys kept going as we knew they would, they were hungry to win the game and we finished really strongly."