It was interesting to note that of the four senior championship matches over the weekend, seven of the teams had home-grown managers, with Leitrim bainisteoir Andy Moran the exception.
That is not unusual when it comes to the race for Sam Maguire. Of the 32 counties who started out (leaving New York aside), only nine are managed by 'outside' managers, namely Leitrim, Antrim (Enda McGinley, Tyrone), Roscommon (Anthony Cunningham, Galway), Sligo (Tony McEntee, Armagh), Carlow (Niall Carew, Kildare), Longford (Billy O'Loughlin, Laois), Louth (Mickey Harte, Tyrone), Offaly (John Maughan, Mayo) and Waterford (Ephie Fitzgerald, Cork).
In hurling, the situation is completely different. Thirty-two sides also took their places in the five tiered competitions but only 11 are managed by ‘inside’ men.
Tipperary and Kilkenny lead the way in terms of producing managers, with four from each in charge of teams – Colm Bonnar with his home county, Darren Gleeson (Antrim), Darragh Egan (Wexford) and Liam Cahill (Waterford) and of the Cats, Brian Cody, Henry Shefflin (Galway), David Herity (Kildare) and Michael Fennelly (Offaly).
Clones announcer raises a laugh The loudest laugh of the day at St Tiernach's Park was reserved for the ladies match, which, in a welcome development, was played as the curtain-raiser to the main event. Just as in the men's game, Donegal proved too strong in the ladies Ulster semi-final, winning comfortably.
At half-time, trailing by 10 points, Cavan manager Gerry Moane made a couple of changes, one of which – Ally Cahill for Áine Reilly – confused the man on the microphone, who announced over the public address system that Reilly was to be replaced by "number 18, Chris Conroy".
The announcer had, of course, read off the teamsheet for the men’s match rather than the ladies one preceding it and the supporters in the 15,523-strong crowd weren’t slow about letting him know!
Laois and Offaly to contest Leinster minor final It may have slipped past some supporters on what was a packed weekend of action but the Leinster minor hurling championship has produced a novel final.
With Offaly beating Dublin (3-18 to 1-15) in Tullamore and Laois stunning Kilkenny (1-15 to 0-15) in Portlaoise in the semi-finals, the midland neighbours will meet in the final for the first time.
Offaly, who were in the 2020 final, are looking to end a 22-year wait for a win while Laois, who last reached this stage in 2013, have not won this title since 1964. Only twice before in the history of the competition have neither Kilkenny nor Dublin featured in the final – 1966 (Wexford v Laois) and 1986 (Wexford v Offaly).
Cavan and Wexford claim bigger scalps As we all know, July Road has never made a mistake so it's only right and proper that we continue to keep the leading GAA pundits honest.
This week, it’s Colm O’Rourke’s turn. The Meath legend wrote: “So far in this championship only two games have seen a team beating another from a higher division, Galway beating Mayo and Derry hammering Tyrone.”
The actual number is four; O’Rourke forgot that Cavan beat Antrim and Wexford defeated Offaly.
Maher bemoans no-show Tipp fans "Very disappointing support for our boys in limerick today. They deserve better. For 60 mins was there for us, ran outa steam after pouring everything into it. Proud
– Former Tipp hurler Padraic Maher (@padraic_maher)
3-118 Sean O’Shea’s total scores for Kerry in 19 championship matches. His 6.7 point average is the highest of any Kerry player in history.
