Monaghan need to be brave against Mayo; Nadal conquers Djokovic in latest epic

Don’t fuss about the Ulster final, writes Darragh Ó Sé in his column, as that sort of football won’t win the Sam Maguire. Referring to the cagey Ulster final between Donegal and Derry, he writes he was disgusted with the approach of Donegal. “Donegal weren’t brave enough. That’s the long and short of it. If you go 12 minutes at the end of an Ulster final without taking a single shot, you don’t deserve to win it.” He invites Monaghan to be brave against Mayo at Castlebar as he tips the Connacht team to roll over Monaghan if they try to play conservatively.

After Derry’s win on Sunday, their first Ulster title since 1998, Chrissy McKaigue is relishing in Derry’s rare old times. Two months shy of 33, McKaigue is the oldest player on the Derry panel and looking forward to challenging for the All-Ireland. In Ulster, Tyrone are looking to keep their All-Ireland hopes alive against Armagh and are focused on keeping their discipline after a number of red cards in recent games. Meanwhile, Seán Moran writes the flaws revealed to date are unlikely to derail GAA split season and that judgment will depend on success of season for club players and not inconvenience for intercounty game.

The great Rafael Nadal has done it again on his favourite venue of Roland Garros, beating Novak Djokovic in another epic in the French Open late on Tuesday night. Seeking his 14th French Open, the Spaniard absorbed a strong fightback before rising to win 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(4). Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev played one of the best big matches of his young career, remaining rock solid against sensation Carlos Alcaraz and snuffing out the surrounding hype as he won 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(7). On the women’s side of the draw, 18-year-old Coco Gauff saw off Sloane Stephens to reach French Open semi-finals.

In golf, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell has joined a list of names playing in Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed LIV Tour beginning on June 9th, surprisingly headlined by Dustin Johnson, who in February said he was “fully committed” to the PGA Tour. Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood among the other names listed for the event in Centurion Club in England.

In today’s subscriber only piece, Gordon D’Arcy writes Leinster’s defeat of inches will hurt like no other. He writes the fact that Leo Cullen’s side led with a minute to go having been substandard in performance terms difficult to dismiss. “I can’t escape my overriding emotion that if I had been playing in that match, I would have been painfully aware it was one we should have won.” The European defeat has sharpened Leinster’s focus on Glasgow, writes Johnny Watterson. It has taken time to absorb La Rochelle’s win, but hooker Dan Sheehan says he has “turned the page”. Meanwhile, Ulster lock Mick Kearney has announced his retirement with the former Leinster, Connacht and Zebre forward to hang up his boots at the end of the season.