For the past few years, there has probably been more interest in the All-Ireland hurling championship than Gaelic football, where supporters were losing interest because of the negative tactics employed by most counties. But the new football rules devised by Jim Gavin and his committee seem to have given Gaelic football a new lease of life.
Still there is great interest in the hurling final in Saturday’s hurling Limerick vs. Cork final next Saturday’s Munster final. The GAA Council announced that due to high demand for tickets for the final in the Gaelic Grounds there would be no public sale of tickets, which would only be available through the respective county boards. So it’s going to be a full house in Limerick on Saturday evening when the men in green will be bidding for a record 7th Munster title in-a-row. The last county to win the Munster final before Limerick commenced their great run was Cork in 2018, who top the Munster winners’ charts with 54 wins; Tipp are in second place with 42 wins, while Limerick have only 25 Munster titles to their credit.
Cork were probably unlucky not to get at least a draw in last year’s All-Ireland final against Clare and when they had a 10-point win over Tipperary in the National League final back in April, they were installed as hot favorites to lift the MacCarthy Cup for the first time since 2005. The Rebels started their Munster championship with a draw against Clare, then hammered Tipp again, but were brought back down to earth when Limerick beat them by 16 points in the Gaelic Grounds on May 18. Limerick looked awesome that day.
Now I think the 7th in on. Declan Hannon led Limerick in their six wins and he is the only captain to have gotten his hands on the new Mick Mackey Cup, which was first presented in 2022. Cian Lynch is Limerick captain this year and if Cork win it will be Richard Downey who will accept the Mackey Cup.
CATS TIPPED
There is no doubt that the winners of the Munster final on Saturday evening will be installed as favorites to lift the MacCarthy Cup in July, but that won’t bother Galway and Kilkenny who will contest the Leinster final at Croke Park on Sunday in what will be the first big hurling game at GAA headquarters this year. Kilkenny are bidding for six in-row, while Galway, who have been playing in the Leinster championship since 2009, last won the Bob O’Keeffe Cup in 2018. Galway have really missed Joe Canning, who retired in 2021 and former Kilkenny star Henry Shefflin’s only success during his three years in charge was winning the second tier Walsh Cup in 2023. Now Micheál Donoghue, who managed Galway in 2017 when they ended a 29-year wait for the McCarthy Cup, is back in charge of the Tribesmen. When the counties met in the Leinster Round Robin series at Nowlan Park in April Kilkenny had a 12-point win, their first-ever over Galway in the round robin. The Cats will be favorites to win again on Sunday.
NEW LIGHTS
FOR CROKER
The GAA are in the process of replacing their floodlights at Croke Park for the first time since they were installed in 2007. Costing just over €2 million, the revamped lights are expected to be debuted for the NFL game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 28. Peter McKenna, Croke Park Stadium Director and Commercial Manager said: ‘‘This is a ten to 20-year investment for ourselves. The incandescent bulb we had is being replaced by the LED [light emitting diode]. We were finding it harder and harder to replace the incandescent bulbs and they are expensive to turn on.”
KERRY SEEKS TO UP
COMMERCIAL GAME
Kerry GAA has started the process to hire a commercial director to lead the organization’s commercial strategy and drive revenue growth. Last week Kerry GAA publicly advertised the new position. The job specification says the commercial director will “create and implement a commercial strategy that focuses on new fundraising models, including grant applications as well as identifying, developing and implementing new commercial opportunities to generate substantial revenue growth.” In his report to the Kerry County Board convention last December, Kerry GAA treasurer Paudie Healy told delegates: “Our commercial income for 2024 has reached an impressive €1,286,676, marking a significant increase of 11.8 per cent over 2023. This robust growth reflects the strength of our partnerships and the unwavering support of our sponsors.’’
FAMILY AGREEMENT
There is a mutual agreement between father and son in the Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s household in Cork. With Micheál Aodh Martin in goal for the Cork footballers and Micheál Senior running the country, both get their share of feedback. But according to the Cork goalkeeper that doesn’t extend within their four walls. He said: “We have a mutual thing there. I won’t scrutinize his performance if he doesn’t scrutinize mine. We have probably both learned over the years that it doesn’t work otherwise.” The Taoiseach has previously joked about getting “desperate flak” from his son when Nemo Rangers’ county football final was postponed at short notice in 2020 due to covid restrictions. Micheál Aodh said: “In fairness, over the last couple of years the WhatsApp has gotten a bit quieter and I don’t give him as much stick.’’
