Fixtures
All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Louth v Mayo, 6pm
Tailteann Cup final: Down 2-10 Wicklow 0-4 (HT)
45 Mins: That’s a lovely move from Wicklow, and Eoin Darcy puts it over. Their supporters are back in voice again, and now it’s another goal chance, but another wide! Burns got out quickly and Quinn put it wide. They win the kickout again and O’Toole plays in Quinn, and this time he fists it over. Down 2-12 Wicklow 0-12
43 Mins: Pádraig O’Toole takes on the man again and gets it over. Then Down throw away possession and Johnny Carlin has a go at goal, drawing another save from Burns, but McGraynor mnages to get it over in the end. Down 2-12 Wicklow 0-10
41 Mins: Ceilium Doherty skins his man and puts the ball over under pressure for a great score. Down 2-12 Wicklow 0-8
40 Mins: That’s a super score for O’Toole, jinking his man and slotting it over on the left boot. Down 2-11 Wicklow 0-8
39 Mins: There’s a great two-pointer for Eoin Darcy, after Kevin Quinn did good work to hold onto the ball. That’s the first time Wicklow have scored twice in a row. A poor Doherty miss gives them the ball again now. Down 2-11 Wicklow 0-7
37 Mins: Pádraig O’Toole and Dean Healy combine to get the most straightforward Wicklow score of the day. That’s more like it from them. Down 2-11 Wicklow 0-5
36 Mins: Shane Annett gets the first score of the second half for Down. Down 2-11 Wicklow 0-4
Some great analysis on The Sunday Game by Niall Morgan on the performance of Ronan Burns in that first half. He says Burns kept his back studs on the line, but he was clearly off his line for the penalty. That being said, it could easily have not been given at all, with the replays showing it to be a pretty soft peno.
Here’s the second goal of the first half, with John McGeough touching it beyond Jackson.
34 Mins: Last attack of the half, and Wicklow force a goal attempt where they could have easily had a point.
Half-time: Down 2-10 Wicklow 0-4
32 Mins: Another Wicklow attack and another poor shot, this from Dean Healy. They win the break, but the next effort is blocked down. Down 2-10 Wicklow 0-4
30 Mins: Down’s press is working so well, making Wicklow keep the ball for about a minute before they finally break out of their half. Wicklow win a free just inside the arc on the right hand side, but McGraynor puts it wide. Down 2-10 Wicklow 0-4
28 Mins: GOAL for Down! Murdock lines the two-pointer up, but it drops short and Jackson can’t get to it before John McGeough. Caolan Mooney is on for Down. Down 2-10 Wicklow 0-4
27 Mins: Mark Jackson finally gets his first score from the 45′ after the penalty. At the other end, Daniel Guinness goes for a fisted point and shovels it wide. Down 1-10 Wicklow 0-4
26 Mins: Penalty for Wicklow! Pádraig O’Toole gets in behind after a strong Wicklow turnover, and he is tackled high by Guinness in the area. Eoin Darcy will take.
SAVE! Two great saves from Burns, covering the rebound brilliantly. Down 1-10 Wicklow 0-3
25 Mins: What a solo run from Quinn, beating two men and having a go at goal that’s tipped over by Burns. Wicklow can’t keep the ball up there though because of the quick Down kickouts. Down 1-10 Wicklow 0-3
23 Mins: Another aimless attack from Wicklow. Then Down scamper through the heart of the Wicklow defence, with Doherty slipping another over. Down 1-10 Wicklow 0-2
21 Mins: Ronan Burns gets his second two-pointer from a free. Down continue to be hard for Wicklow to break down, but eventually Kevin Quinn takes it on and curls over short range effort. Down 1-9 Wicklow 0-2
18 Mins: Mark Jackson trots up for his third effort, this a 45′, and he misses again. Not a good day for him so far. Down 1-7 Wicklow 0-1
17 Mins: Down set up a slow attack, and Murdock skins two men superbly and kicks it high, but maybe not over. HawkEye says no, that’s a bad miss for Murdock. Down 1-7 Wicklow 0-1
15 Mins: GOAL for Down! Mark Jackson was still trotting back from the kick, and Daniel Guinness decided to hoof it up. Jackson cannot find it in the air, and nor can his defenders, so it’s Pat Havern who palms it in. Down 1-7 Wicklow 0-1
14 Mins: God, Wicklow really need to get their nerves sorted, because their handling under no pressure has been dodgy. Down are hunting them in packs, but that leaves a gap and the Garden County nearly get in for a goal, but for a good tackle. Mark Jackson cannot emulate Burns from the 45′. Down 0-7 Wicklow 0-1
13 Mins: Another free for steps, and O’Toole chucks the ball away, so Ronan Burns is up to take a two-point free. A few steps back and he glides it straight over the black spot. Down 0-7 Wicklow 0-1
12 Mins: Wicklow back on it, but Down are doing a great job of keeping them from getting inside. Then some blind luck after a fumble gives Pádraig O’Toole a goal chance, but Down do well to win it back, before overcarrying. McGraynor taps that over and Wicklow are off and running. Down 0-5 Wicklow 0-1
9 Mins: A poor wide by Eamon Brown and a good kickout by Mark Jackson gives Wicklow some respite. This attack needs to be a lot more dangerous, but instead there’s an awful kick pass that presents it back to Down. Down 0-5 Wicklow 0-0
7 Mins: A really speculative effort from Kevin Quinn drops well short. At the other end Micheál Rooney looks like he was aiming for a long ball, but it floats all the way over for two. So the wind must be going towards the Canal End. Down 0-5 Wicklow 0-0
6 Mins: Down are winning the Wicklow kickout right now, and it results in another score for the Ulster men; Daniel Guinness on the scoreboard. Dean Healy sees yellow for a high tackle. Down 0-3 Wicklow 0-0
4 Mins: Down should have had a goal there from Pat Havern, but his effort is blazed over. That came from a terrible pick up and a quick solo and go. Bit of a nervy start for both teams, with Down coughing up the ball easily, and then Wicklow handing it right back, letting Ceilium Doherty get a score. Down 0-2 Wicklow 0-0
2 Mins: We’re off and running in the Tailteann Cup final. Down have the first attack, but Wicklow do well to win it back. Wicklow hold the ball for a while, but then overcarry and Down have it back. Nothing major so far. Down 0-0 Wicklow 0-0
One of the major things going for Wicklow though, is their manager Oisín McConville, who has a seriously impressive record in finals both as a player and manager. He told Ian O’Riordan that he’s been encouraging his charges to enjoy the occassion, without being distracted by it.
[Oisín McConville wants Wicklow to embrace Tailteann Cup final’s big-day atmosphere]
Okay, let’s focus in on the Tailteann Cup now, with only ten minutes til throw-in. Here’s my preview for the final now, as two teams in very different places meet, in Down and Wicklow. With Down in Division 2 next year, while Wicklow will start on the bottom rung, you’d have to think the Ulster side’s to lose today.
[Wicklow’s progress has been rapid, but Down challenge might be too soon in Tailteann Cup final]
It’s been a funny few years for Louth in managerial terms, with Mickey Harte, Ger Brennan and Gavin Devlin all being appointed in rapid succession, but somehow each has advanced the team to new heights. Malachy Clerkin charts that journey.
[Gavin Devlin’s long road from Mickey Harte’s lieutenant to Louth leader]
From just up the road in Monaghan, Conor McManus’s view is that Louth’s appearance in the last four of the All-Ireland should not be a shock to anyone. He documents their steady rise to reach their first semi in nearly 70 years.
[Conor McManus: Building steadily and tactically brave, Louth’s progress has been no shock]
Malachy Clerkin sets the scene for a wonderful weekend in GAA HQ. In one semi-final, the greatest rivalry in football is renewed, while in the other you have a true 50:50 contest.
[Malachy Clerkin: Heady times for football as Croke Park sells out for All-Ireland semi-finals]
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Tailteann Cup final and the first of football’s All-Ireland semi-finals. We’re right at the business end of things now and it’s going to be a huge day in a sold out Croke Park.
First off, we’ll have the Tailteann Cup final between Down and Wicklow. Down enter the game as big favourites, having already won this tournament in 2024, while Wicklow upset Offaly to reach the final. That one throws in in just under an hour, at 3.30pm.
Then it’s the big one, Louth’s first All-Ireland semi-final since 1957, as they take on a young and exciting Mayo side. While Louth appear to be peaking after several years of building up, Andy Moran’s side have reached this stage early on into their development. Neither side would have been expected to make it this far, so it’s a massive opportunity for both. Throw-in is at 6pm.
