Railway cup returns!

[The Insider]

At the game in Longford today about 450 to 500 at it in total. Very good football played.  No one should question the desire of the players. Leinster came from behind by 3 points to win.  A number of the Leinster players made themselves available for visits to club venues on Saturday to meet and greet kids and supporters. Also a little known fact despite being highlighted in the local press and media is that all proceeds from the series this year goes to the National Children's Hospital. Hopefully in the future this will encourage people to attend and help worthy causes suchas this

[ross4life]

Reports from http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/gaa/brogans-shooting-boots-reel-in-connacht-585125.html http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/gaa/ulster-notch-narrowest-of-wins-in-football-inter-pro-585122.html




Leinster 1-21 Connacht 1-20

Bernard Brogan sparked a late revival from Leinster as they reeled in Connacht in this afternoon's M Donnelly Interprovincial Football semi-final at Pearse Park.

Connacht led 1-20 to 1-15 with just seven minutes remaining, but Brogan brought his shooting boots to the Longford venue as his late four-point haul proved crucial.

The Dublin star fisted the match-winning score with three minutes to go as Pat Gilroy's men set up a final showdown with defending champions Ulster.

A goal from Meath's Joe Sheridan handed Leinster an early 1-2 to 0-2 lead, but Connacht, with Paul and Michael Conroy in impressive form, foraged ahead by half-time.

Wexford's Adrian Flynn drove forward from centre-field to add his name to the scoresheet, helping Leinster move 1-7 to 0-8 ahead.

But with Mayo's Michael Conroy landing successive scores, the westerners soon edged ahead.

Indeed, the John Tobin-managed team hit the final four points of the opening period with Leitrim captain Emlyn Mulligan landing two frees, Sligo's Mark Breheny on target and Paul Conroy hitting his third point of the afternoon.

The competitiveness of the fare increased after the break as Breheny replied to an early string of scores from Leinster's John Heslin, Brogan and Redmond Barry.

Paddy Keenan of Louth slotted over to bring Leinster level, but Galway sharpshooter Paul Conroy then pounced on a rare error by Stephen Cluxton to score his side's only goal.

Brogan spared his Dublin team-mate's blushes though with a strong finish to this entertaining encounter.

He squared things up at 1-20 apiece before his ninth point of the day sealed Leinster's passage through to next Sunday's Interpro final at Croke Park (throw-in 3.45pm).

Leinster last tasted Interpro success in 2006 and they will be keen to deny Joe Kernan's side their second title in-a-row.

Although Connacht were pipped in a dramatic finish, Mark Gottsche will remember the match for a special reason as he became the first ever London player to line out for the westerners in the Interprovincial Football Championship.

LEINSTER: S Cluxton; K Lillis, G Molloy, B Malone; M Quinn, G Brennan, A Flynn (0-3); MD Macauley (0-1), J Heslin (0-2); B O'Connor (0-2), R Barry (0-1), C O'Sullivan; D Dolan, J Sheridan (1-0), B Brogan (0-9, 0-5f).

Subs used: S McCormack (0-2) for Dolan (17 mins), P Keenan (0-1) for Quinn (31), B Kavanagh for Brennan (52), P Flynn for Sheridan (55), J Stafford for O'Connor (60).

CONNACHT: D Clarke; G Cafferkey, F Hanley, J Moore; L Keegan (0-1), N Daly, G O'Donnell; J Gibbons, S O'Shea; M Breheny (0-3, 0-2f), E Mulligan (0-6, 0-4f), M Martin (0-1); J Doherty, P Conroy (1-5, 0-1 '45'), M Conroy (0-4).

Subs used: M Gottsche for Martin (31 mins), P Brennan for Gottsche (63).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ulster 1-14 Munster 1-13

Ulster were left hanging on for a one-point win in this well-contested M Donnelly Interprovincial Football semi-final.

Joe Kernan's men, the 2012 Interpro winners, came out of the blocks quickly and led by 10 points after half an hour.

They led by 1-11 to 0-6 at half-time at the Athletic Grounds, Martin Penrose expertly finishing the goal after 10 minutes.

Sean Cavanagh was in superb form and Monaghan's Conor McManus was also a key figure at that stage, hitting 0-4 from play.

However, the home side totally lost their way as Munster scored an unanswered 1-8 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 Se, 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 (0-1); C McCarron, D Hughes, C McKeever (0-2); S Cavanagh (0-5, 0-3f), D Givney (0-1); M McHugh, M Poland, J McMahon; M Penrose (1-1), K Niblock, C McManus (0-4).

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

MUNSTER: B Kealy; M O Se (0-1), A O'Mahony (0-1), P Codd; N O'Leary, E Cadogan, P Kissane; G Brennan (0-1), A Walsh (0-2); A Clohessy, D O'Connor (1-0, 1-0 pen), P Kerrigan (0-1); G Hurney, C O'Neill (0-5, 0-5f), G Collins (0-1).

Subs used: M O'Gorman for Codd (30 mins), B O'Driscoll (0-1) for Clohessy (33), R Donnelly for Kerrigan, J O'Riordan for Collins (both 68).

[rodney trotter]

Michael Quinn would be the only player missing that started. Sigerson with DCU, David Givney will be playing for DIT, he won't be around either.

[rodney trotter]

Michael Quinn would be the only player missing that started. Sigerson with DCU, David Givney will be playing for DIT, he won't be around either.

There are also several Wexford men there that have a match in Armagh the evening before.

Forget about that. Gilroy might get a few of the Kildare players like Bolton, Conway,Foley, none were made available or able to play, today.

[Orchardman]

I'd say there is a good chance of anyone of those playing on saturday of being able to play again on sunday. Sure it's a day out in croker for them. What happened micky murphy, was he just being rested? think he named in the squad

[Syferus]

I'd say there is a good chance of anyone of those playing on saturday of being able to play again on sunday. Sure it's a day out in croker for them. What happened micky murphy, was he just being rested? think he named in the squad

Probably two Sigerson matches on Friday/Saturday coming up, I doubt anyone but the most rabid Ulster Inter-Provincial supporter can blame him from excusing himself on second thoughts.

[Orchardman]

I'd say there is a good chance of anyone of those playing on saturday of being able to play again on sunday. Sure it's a day out in croker for them. What happened micky murphy, was he just being rested? think he named in the squad

Probably two Sigerson matches on Friday/Saturday coming up, I doubt anyone but the most rabid Ulster Inter-Provincial supporter can blame him from excusing himself on second thoughts.

Of course not, he and everyone else knew he would be playing in the sigerson next weekend sure.

[Syferus]

I'd say there is a good chance of anyone of those playing on saturday of being able to play again on sunday. Sure it's a day out in croker for them. What happened micky murphy, was he just being rested? think he named in the squad

Probably two Sigerson matches on Friday/Saturday coming up, I doubt anyone but the most rabid Ulster Inter-Provincial supporter can blame him from excusing himself on second thoughts.

Of course not, he and everyone else knew he would be playing in the sigerson next weekend sure.

Would have been chosen before DCU even made the semis - maybe he agreed conditionally, didn't want to appear presumptuous, etc. The most obvious reason would be that on top of that he may have had some sort of twinge or minor injury and they didn't want to risk him after him playing mid-week.

A different scenario here but Cathal Cregg was named in the Connacht team but didn't feature, he was chosen after he'd been injured against Fermanagh but that didn't stop him being named.

I'm surprised a lot of Sigerson-tied players don't opt out of the inter-pros voluntarily, honestly.

[emainmacha]

Links to photos of Ulster V Munster

Football Link


http://www.flickr.com/photos/16144312@N07/sets/72157632792317049/detail/

Hurling Link, can't see a thread on Railway Cup in hurling pages, which sums up how the competition has been ignored and brought low since I used to go to Croke Park to watch the double header semi finals two great days out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/16144312@N07/sets/72157632788329531/detail/

[BennyCake]

When and where is the Railway Cup Hurling final?

[emainmacha]

Looked at Main Webpage and it says 3rd of March with venue and time TBC

http://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-and-results/national-fixtures/mdonnelly-gaa-interprovincial-championship/hurling/

Football next week in Croker, looks like a double header with Junior club final

[our_fella]

Ulster GAA Inter Provincial Football Final Team Starting Line up Sunday 24th Feb Croke Park

1. Pascal McConnell
2. Chrissy McKaigue
3. Neil McGee
4. Eamonn McGee
5. Aaron Kernan
6. Darren Hughes
7. Ciaran McKeever
8. Sean Cavanagh
9. David Givney
10. Mark McHugh
11. Martin Penrose
12. Joe McMahon
13. Jamie Clarke
14. Kevin Niblock
15. Conor McManus
16. Brendan McVeigh
17. Cathal McCarron
18. Dermot McBride
19. Mark Poland
20. Justin McMahon
21. Tommy McElroy
22. Ryan Jones
23. Gearoid McKiernan
24. Conor McAliskey
25. Paul McComiskey
26. Kieran Hughes
27. Peter Harte

Ulster 4/5 with PP.. serious odds esp with Kernan & Jamie Clarke included

[Captain Obvious]

Two games in two days for the Armagh players?

[rodney trotter]

Surprised David Giveny is starting. Sigerson semi on Friday and a possible final on Saturday.
Still a great opportunity for him to play in Croke Park.

[our_fella]

Surprised David Giveny is starting. Sigerson semi on Friday and a possible final on Saturday.
Still a great opportunity for him to play in Croke Park.

I doubt Kernan & Clarke will start for Armagh on sat. Would be unfair on the lads originally named