M Donnelly Inter-Pro Football S-Final – Ulster 1-14 Munster 1-13

Munster rue late missed chances

By John Fogarty (GAA Correspondent) for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Ulster 1-14 Munster 1-13

Munster manager Ger O’Sullivan was keen not to blame two of his players for missing late chances to bring yesterday’s Interprovincial football semi-final into extra-time. In a gripping encounter played in front of a paltry 1,615 crowd in Armagh, Gary Hurney on two occasions and Donncha O’Connor both could have levelled the game but kicked wides. Hurney’s first effort in the penultimate minute of normal time hit the post and went wide and O’Connor followed suit a minute later. With almost the last kick of the game, Hurney, who had a shot blocked by Pascal McConnell in the 52nd minute, kicked off balance and saw his shot finish wide of the Ulster goalkeeper’s right-hand post by 50 yards.

The Waterford forward, an impressive performer in last year’s series and key to winning frees in yesterday’s game, hung his head knowing the significance of the miss. O’Sullivan, though, wasn’t going to fault him or O’Connor. “We had a very good few chances in the end but the legs were very tired at that stage,” he said. “It’s not easy, a lot of these fellas were training with their counties the last number of weeks and they were training with their counties again this week. “I’m delighted with the response that I got, they love playing the competition. You look at the players from Cork and Kerry, they make two trips each up here to the north later on this year and the first weekend they get off this year they give the commitment to play for Munster.”

Munster’s fight-back was captivating, seeing Cork and Kerry players combine in one-twos to stage a resurgence that saw them go ahead by a point in the 56th minute after trailing by 10 points in the 29th minute. Having kept Ulster scoreless for 29 minutes and notching up 1-8 without reply, there was part of O’Sullivan that rued his team’s dramatic finish but he felt Ulster earned the win. “The first half took a lot out of us [Munster trailed 1-11 to 0-6]. We were under fierce pressure in the first half and then we had enough in the tank to come back at them in the second half. “It was difficult after that. They raised their game again and there was going to be another kick in them. More power to them, they deserved it over the 70 minutes.”

While delighted with the victory, Joe Kernan, in his home county, was saddened by the size of the crowd that turned up. “I’m disappointed, the people have to support this. You seen two very committed sets of players out there so it’s just a pity more people didn’t turn out. But they can come to Croke Park next week.” The presence of just one Armagh player in the panel, Ciaran McKeever, may have had some effect on the attractiveness to people in the vicinity of the Athletic Grounds.

However, he certainly made his presence felt here, locking horns once again with Paul Kerrigan after last year’s Armagh-Cork game at the same venue when Kerrigan was red carded and McKeever handed a retrospective ban that was later rescinded. Both were yellow carded for an off-the-ball incident in the first minute of the second half and McKeever later exchanged heated words with manager O’Sullivan. Noel O’Leary was booked six minutes from time for a foul on McKeever. Then, two minutes later, the Armagh captain was fortunate to stay on the field after pulling back Eoin Cadogan.

Kernan wasn’t happy with Jerome Henry’s officiating, especially with an unacknowledged foul on Mark Poland which could have resulted in a penalty. “I thought they were harshly treated with some of the decisions, we had a man straight through, tackled from behind and we don’t even get a free.” After almost 30 minutes of failing to score, it was McKeever who stepped up to equalise in the 58th minute following Aidan Walsh’s second point. A minute later and, with Tyrone substitute Conor McAliskey making an impact, McKeever added another before Seán Cavanagh extended Ulster’s lead to two with a free that was brought forward for remonstration.

In the 67th minute, Aidan O’Mahony pushed forward to make it a one-point game but there was no score to follow. For making it a contest when it looked anything but one in the first half, Munster deserve credit. Relying on four Colm O’Neill frees from their first-half total of six, they were struggling especially after Martin Penrose’s ninth minute goal. However, they revived themselves to creep ahead largely due to a 41st minute Donncha O’Connor penalty goal following a Neil McGee foul on O’Neill.

Scorers for Ulster: S Cavanagh 0-5 (4f); M Penrose 1-1; C McManus 0-4; C McKeever 0-2; E McGee, D Givney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Munster: C O’Neill 0-5 (all frees); D O’Connor 1-0 (pen); A Walsh 0-2; G Collins, G Brennan, M Ó Sé, B O’Driscoll, P Kerrigan, A O’Mahony 0-1 each.

ULSTER: P McConnell (Tyrone); C McKaigue (Derry); N McGee, E McGee (both Donegal); C McCarron (Tyrone), D Hughes (Monaghan), C McKeever (Armagh); S Cavanagh (Tyrone), D Givney (Cavan); M McHugh (Donegal), M Poland (Down), Joe McMahon (Tyrone); M Penrose (Tyrone) K Niblock (Antrim), C McManus (Monaghan).

Subs for Ulster: K Hughes (Monaghan) for McCarron (47); P McComiskey (Down) for Niblock (64); C McAliskey (Tyrone) for Poland (56).

Red card: D Givney (48, second yellow).

MUNSTER: B Kealy; M Ó Sé, A O’Mahony (all Kerry), P Codd (Tipperary); N O’Leary, E Cadogan, P Kissane (all Cork); G Brennan (Clare), A Walsh (Cork); P Kerrigan, D O’Connor (both Cork), A Clohessy (Clare); C O’Neill (Cork), G Hurney (Waterford), G Collins (Limerick).

Subs for Munster: M O’Gorman (Waterford) for Codd (29); B O’Driscoll (Cork) for Clohessy (32); R Donnelly (Clare) for Kerrigan, J O’Riordan (Limerick) for Collins (both 67).

Referee: J Henry (Mayo)

Ulster 1-14 Munster 1-13

Report from the RTE.ie web site

Ulster were left hanging on for a 1-14 to 1-13 win in this well-contested M Donnelly Interprovincial Football semi-final. Joe Kernan’s men looked in total control when they led by 1-11 to 0-06 at half-time, Martin Penrose scoring a fine goal in the 10th minute. However, Munster reeled off 1-06 without reply with Donncha O’Connor’s 40th-minute penalty igniting their fight-back. But Munster missed three chances to take the game to extra-time, Gary Hurney hitting two wides as Ulster hung on.

Sean Cavanagh was in superb form and Monaghan’s Conor McManus was also a key figure, hitting 0-04 from play. However, the home side totally lost their way as Munster scored an unanswered 1-08 either side of half-time. It took the visitors a long while to get up to the pace of the game but they came roaring back with a penalty five minutes after the restart from Donncha O’Connor. Colm O’Neill, who was fouled for the penalty, was at the heart of most of Munster’s scores as they chased down Ulster’s big lead. Aidan Walsh came into the game at midfield and Munster gradually chipped away at the deficit with points from Marc O Sé, Gary Brennan and substitute Barry O’Driscoll.

Ulster failed to score for 29 minutes either side of the break and with Munster in the ascendancy, the disappointing attendance of 1,615 supporters finally had a competitive match to watch. Ulster manager Kernan was furious when claims for a push in the back on Mark Poland were ignored and all the momentum was with Ger O’Sullivan’s men. Munster briefly took the lead when Aidan Walsh put them 1-12 to 1-11 in front with 15 minutes remaining.

Then Ciaran McKeever, Armagh’s sole representative on the Ulster team, scored two points from play inside 60 seconds to restore Ulster’s lead. Cavanagh tagged on a free before Aidan O’Mahony’s 68th-minute point left the minimum between the teams in a nail-biting finish. Ulster substitute, Tyrone rookie Connor McAliskey, made a useful impact and won the ball which led to McKeever’s second point. Munster spurned three chances to equalise and take the game to extra-time. Waterford’s Gary Hurney, who starred in last year’s final defeat to Ulster, was unlucky as his attempt at a point crashed off the post.

Goal scorer Donncha O’Connor was then guilty of a bad wide before Hurney missed again. After a quiet second half, Tyrone ace Cavanagh climbed highest and won a vital kickout to give Ulster possession and the defending champions survived to book their place in next Sunday’s final at Croke Park where they will face Leinster.

ULSTER: P McConnell; C McKaigue, N McGee, E McGee (0-01); C McCarron, D Hughes, C McKeever (0-02); S Cavanagh (0-05, 0-03f), D Givney (0-01); M McHugh, M Poland, J McMahon; M Penrose (1-01), K Niblock, C McManus (0-04).

Subs used: K Hughes for McCarron (47 mins), C McAliskey for Poland (54), P McComiskey for Niblock (64).

MUNSTER: B Kealy; M O Se (0-01), A O’Mahony (0-01), P Codd; N O’Leary, E Cadogan, P Kissane; G Brennan (0-01), A Walsh (0-2); A Clohessy, D O’Connor (1-00, 1-00 pen), P Kerrigan (0-01); G Hurney, C O’Neill (0-05, 0-05f), G Collins (0-01).

Subs used: M O’Gorman for Codd (30 mins), B O’Driscoll (0-01) for Clohessy (33), R Donnelly for Kerrigan, J O’Riordan for Collins (both 68).

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)

Match Preview

Ulster v Munster, Athletic Grounds, 2.15pm

Reigning Interprovincial football champions Ulster take on Munster in the semi-final this Sunday in Armagh, and once again the northern province brings a remarkably impressive selection of players into the competition.

All nine counties are strongly represented on the panel, with the cream of Ulster footballers set to line out for Joe Kernan’s side. Among them are four of Donegal’s All-Ireland winners, with Michael Murphy, Neil McGee, Eamon McGee and Mark McHugh all taking part. Down stars Brendan McVeigh, Paul McComiskey, Mark Poland, Benny Coulter are in the panel while those involved from Tyrone include Pascal McConnell, Joe McMahon, Sean Cavanagh, Martin Penrose, Peter Harte, Cathal McCarron, Justin McMahon and Connor McAliskey.

The list of top players goes on, and beyond those from those three counties, elite players from Antrim, Armagh, Cavan, Derry, Fermanagh and Monaghan will all be hoping to play a role on Sunday. Their opponents Munster are managed by Ger O’Sullivan, who has Maurice Horan and Ger O’Keeffe with him as his selectors. They too have a serious crop of talent lining out for them this weekend.

They have All-Ireland winners from Cork and Kerry throughout their squad, with Marc Ó Sé and Aidan O’Mahony there from Kerry, and Noel O’Leary (Captain), Paudie Kissane, Paul Kerrigan, Aidan Walsh, Colm O’Neill, Donncha O’Connor, Eoin Cadogan all forming the Cork contingent. The squad is certainly not just limited to players from those two counties though – Waterford, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary are all very well represented on the panel.

Waterford and Limerick both have four representatives, while Clare have three and Tipperary have two. It means that all 15 counties from the two provinces of Ulster and Munster will be represented in this semi-final, a fine example of the meaning of the Interprovincial Championships. The winners will go forward to play the winners of the other semi-final, between Connacht and Leinster, at Croke Park on February 24.

Ulster Football Squad: Kieran McKeever (Armagh), Kevin Niblock (Antrim), Tommy McElroy (Fermanagh), Brendan McVeigh, Paul McComiskey, Mark Poland, Benny Coulter (all Down), Darren Hughes (capt), Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus (all Monaghan), David Gibney, Gearoid McKiernan (both Cavan), Pascal McConnell, Joe McMahon, Sean Cavanagh, Martin Penrose, Peter Harte, Cathal McCarron, Justin McMahon, Connor McAliskey (all Tyrone), Michael Murphy, Neil McGee, Eamon McGee, Mark McHugh (all Donegal), Chrissy McKaigue, Dermot McBride (both Derry).

Munster Football Squad: Noel O’Leary (Captain), Paudie Kissane, Paul Kerrigan, Aidan Walsh, Colm O’Neill, Donncha O’Connor, Eoin Cadogan (all Cork), Tony Grey, Maurice O’Gorman, Paul Whyte, Gary Hurney (all Waterford), Ger Collins, John O’Riordan, Thomas Lee, Seamus O’Carroll (all Limerick), Alan Clohessy, Gary Brennan, Rory Donnelly (all Clare), Brendan Kealy, Marc Ó Sé, Aidan O’Mahony (all Kerry), Paul Fitzgerald and Paddy Codd (both Tipperary)

For the Record

2013 M Donnelly Inter Provincial Football Fixtures

Semi-Finals (Extra time)

Sunday February 17^th

@ Morgan Athletic Grounds Armagh                 Ulster v Munster                          @ 2:00pm

@ Glennon Brothers Pearse Park Longford       Leinster v Connacht                     @ 2:00pm

Final (Extra time)

Sunday February 24^th

Inter Provincial Football – A look back

Ulster have defeated Munster in the last 9 Inter Provincial Finals they have contested dating back to 1979.

Munster’s last victory over Ulster in a final came in 1978 after a replay on a scoreline of 4-12 to 0-19.

Ulster and Munster have played 49 times in the Inter Provincial Football competition since their first meeting in 1927. Ulster have won 26, Munster 18 while there have been 5 draws.

The record of the teams in Inter Provincial Finals involving both Munster and Ulster is Played 18, Ulster 12, Munster 4 and Drawn 2.

Munster have won 15 Inter Provincial Football titles. The breakdown by county of winning Munster Football captains is as follows – Kerry (11), Cork (4). John O’Keeffe (Kerry) is the only player to captain Munster to Inter Provincial Football success on two occasions, winning in 1977 and 1978 while playing at full-back. Tomas O Se is aiming become the 11^th captain from Kerry to lead Munster to Inter Provincial Football honours.

Munster did not win an Inter Provincial Football title from 1950 through 1971.

After winning the 1999 title (captained by Seamus Moynihan of Kerry), Munster lost in the semi-final for the next 7 consecutive years. During those barren years, Nicholas Murphy (Cork) played in 6 of the 7 games, missing out only in 2004 before getting his just rewards as winning Munster captain in 2008.

Munster captured 4 Inter Provincial Football titles in a row from 1975 to 1978. Jimmy Barry-Murphy (Cork), Dave McCarthy (Cork), John O’Keeffe (Kerry), Ger Power (Kerry) and John Egan (Kerry) won medals in all four years.

Munster captured the first ever Inter Provincial Football competition in 1927 with victories over Ulster and Connacht.  John Joe Sheehy of Kerry was the winning captain.

Inter Provincial Football Roll Of Honour

Ulster (30) – 1942, 1943, 1947, 1950, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2012

Leinster (28) – 1928, 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1939, 1940, 1944, 1945, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1974, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006

Munster (15) – 1927, 1931, 1941, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1999, 2008

Connacht (9) – 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1951, 1957, 1958, 1967, 1969

List of Munster Inter Provincial Football Teams

Visit the Munster GAA web site at https://munster.gaa.ie/history/railway-cup-football/ to view the list of all the teams to represent Munster in the Inter Provincial Football competition.

Most Recent meeting – Ulster v Munster

2012 Final – Ulster 3-11 Munster 1-15 – Morgan Athletic Grounds Armagh on February 26^th

Munster: Alan Quirke (Cork); Aidan O’Mahony (Kerry), Johnny McCarthy (Limerick), Stephen Lavin (Limerick); Tomas O Se (Kerry), Graham Canty (Cork), Paudie Kissane (Cork); Gary Brennan (Clare), Seamus Scanlon (Kerry); Patrick Kelly (Cork, 0-2), Paul Kerrigan (Cork, 0-3), John Cooke (Limerick); David Tubridy (Clare, 0-8, 0-3 frees, 0-1 45), Gary Hurney (Waterford, 0-2, 0-1 free), Ian Ryan (Limerick)

Subs: Pearse O’Neill (Cork) for Cooke, Rory Donnelly (Clare, 1-0) for Kelly, Mark Collins (Cork) for Ryan

Ulster: B McVeigh, B Donaghy, N McGee (1-0), K Lacey, C McKeever, D Hughes (0-3, 0-2 45s), J Loughrey, D Gordon (0-1), R Kavanagh, P Harte (1-0), M Poland (1-1), M Penrose (0-2, 0-1 free), C Gilligan, B Coulter, O Mulligan (0-4, 0-1 frees)

Subs: J McMahon for Gilligan, O Lennon for Kavanagh, V Corey for Loughrey

Referee: M Duffy (Sligo)

Most Recent victory for Munster v Ulster

2008: Semi-Final: Munster 1-5 Ulster 0-5 – October 26^th at Fermoy

Munster: Paul Fitzgerald (Tipperary); Diarmuid Duggan (Cork), Johnny McCarthy (Limerick), Padraig Reidy (Kerry); Tomas Ó Sé (Kerry), Stephen Lavin (Limerick), Tomas O’Gorman (Waterford); John Galvin (Limerick), Nicholas Murphy (Cork); Patrick Kelly (Cork), Daniel Goulding (Cork), Maurice O’Gorman (Waterford); Donncha O’Connor (Cork), Micheal Cussen (Cork), Ian Ryan (Limerick).

Subs: Alan O’Connor (Cork) for Kelly (38), Liam Ó Lionáin (Waterford) for M O’Gorman (56), Michael Crowley (Limerick) for Ryan (59)

Ulster: J Devine (Tyrone); F Moriarty (Armagh), V Corey (Monaghan), K Lacey (Donegal); D Harte (Tyrone), C Gormley (Tyrone), A Carr (Down); D Clerkin (Monaghan), R Kavanagh (Donegal); B Dooher (Tyrone), B Mallon (Armagh), D Hughes (Down); S Johnston (Cavan), E Bradley (Derry), T Freeman (Monaghan).

Subs: K Toner (Armagh) for Johnston (38), S O’Neill for Bradley, E Lennon (Monaghan) for Carr, R Flanagan (Cavan) for Hughes (all 44), R Woods for Kavanagh (53).

Last Inter Provincial Football Title for Munster

2008: Final – Munster 1-9 Connacht 0-7

Munster team: Paul Fitzgerald (Tipperary); Diarmuid Duggan (Cork), Johnny McCarthy (Limerick), Padraig Reidy (Kerry); Tomas Ó Sé (Kerry), Steven Lavin (Limerick), Tomas O’Gorman (Waterford); John Galvin (Limerick), Nicholas Murphy (Cork – Captain); Patrick Kelly (Cork), Donnacha O’Connor (Cork), Maurice O’Gorman (Waterford); Daniel Goulding (Cork), Alan O’Connor (Cork), Ian Ryan (Limerick)

Subs: Robbie Costigan (Tipperary) for Tomas O’Gorman, John Hayes (Cork) for Alan O’Connor, Steven O’Donoghue (Cork) for Patrick Kelly, Eddie Rockett (Waterford) for Maurice O’Gorman, Michael Crowley (Limerick) for Ian Ryan. Joe Hayes (Clare). Michael Cussen (Cork) and Liam Ó Lionáin (Waterford) played in the semi-final.

GAA ENCOURAGES ALL SUPPORTERS TO SUPPORT THEIR PROVINCE FOR OUR LADY’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, CRUMLIN

The GAA announced today that all proceeds from the 2013 M. Donnelly GAA Football Interprovincial Final to be held on Sunday February 24 in Croke Park will go directly to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin.

The AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Junior Club Championship final involving Kenmare Shamrocks (Kerry) and Ballinasloe (Galway) will act as the curtain raiser at 2pm, while the inter-provincial football final will throw-in at 3.45pm.

Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Liam O’ Neill made the announcement in Croke Park today joined by footballers Bernard Brogan, Dublin and Ciarán Lyng, Wexford who were on hand to show their support for the charity.

“The Association is delighted to play its part in helping the hospital fulfill its ambitious target of completing and delivering world class facilities for cardiac and cancer patients and their families”.

“Our inter-county All-Ireland winners have a long standing tradition of visiting Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin with the Sam Maguire and Liam MacCarthy Cups, always bringing a lot of excitement to many of the children. It is now our time to support them and I also welcome the support of the GPA on this initiative”, commented Uachtarán Chumann Luthchleas Gael Liam O’ Neill at the launch.

“Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin is delighted to team up with the GAA to help raise funds for our Cancer and Cardiac Wards” said Geraldine Regan, Deputy CE / Director of Nursing Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin at today’s announcement.

“For many years the children and their families look forward to these visits from the victorious GAA teams and many of them decorate their rooms in the team colours”.

“This fund raiser is a very welcome extension of that support by the GAA and its players, which everyone associated with the Hospital much appreciates”.

Tickets for this Croke Park double header are priced at €10 for Adults, €5 for Juveniles with all proceeds going to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin. Tickets can be purchased through gaa.ie/tickets or other usual outlets.

For more information contact Lisa Clancy, Director of Communications at 01-8658659 / 087-2314260

or

Sarah Benson, Communications Manager, Children’s Medical and Research Foundation at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin on 087-7555988

Note to editor: The 2013 M. Donnelly inter-provincial football semi-finals take place this coming Sunday, February 17. In the first semi-final, reigning champions Ulster take on Munster at the Morgan Athletic Grounds, Armagh with throw-in at 2:15pm. In the second football semi-final, Leinster take on Connacht at 2pm in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford.

In the M. Donnelly GAA Hurling Interprovincial Championship semi finals the meeting of Ulster and Munster will take place at 12.30pm before the football equivalent in Armagh while the meeting of Leinster and Connacht takes place in O’Connor Park, Tullamore at 2pm.