Gaelic Games

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Down suffered defeat in Round 2A of the Tailteann Cup as they were beaten 3-22 to 1-20 by Offaly in Tullamore.

Goals from Dylan Hyland and Shane Tierney helped Offaly into a 2-13 to 1-11 at half-time with a late strike from Diarmuid Egan making sure of the comfortable win in the second half.

The Mourne men, who had overcome Leitrim in the preliminary round, produced a spirited attempt at a fightback in the second period, but ultimately fell short.

Conor Laverty's side will now drop into Round 2B while Offaly are through to the quarter-finals.

The two sides traded early scores before Offaly edged ahead through a two-pointer from Hyland.

Down responded through a goal from Pearse McPolin on eight minutes, but another two-pointer, this time from Jordan Hayes restored Offaly's advantage.

They stretched their lead out to five on 16 minutes as they were then awarded a penalty which Hyland duly dispatched.

A second goal arrived just five minutes later as Tierney netted to move Offaly out to 2-12.

On the back foot, Down set out to close the gap and rattled off a few points to reduce the gap to five at the break.

The Mourne men started brightly in the second half and drew level at 1-18 to 2-16 through a John McGeough point on 48 minutes.

Offaly found another gear and started to pull away again with a big two-pointer and a goal from Egan in a five-minute spell just after the hour ultimately moving the game beyond Down.

Odhran Crumley
BBC Sport NI journalist at Fitzgerald Stadium

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Donegal manager Jim McGuinness admitted that Micheal Burns' red card had a "big impact" as his side hammered Kerry to reach Round 2A of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.

The dismissal of Kerry's Burns before the start of the second half proved a major turning point, following a heated altercation between the sides after the half-time hooter that left Donegal's Ryan McHugh bleeding from the eye.

"Listen, it was a tough, tough game. Obviously, the sending off had a big impact on the game and probably had a big impact on the scoreboard as well," McGuinness told BBC Sport NI.

"It would have been a much different game in the second half other than that, but listen, from our own point of view, we were happy with the way we played, happy with the first half.

"It would have been a tougher battle in the second half, no doubt about that, but we're just happy to get the result."

There is clearly no love lost between the two counties following a fierce recent rivalry for the biggest prizes. Kerry claimed last year's All-Ireland title before Donegal gained a measure of revenge by winning the Division One final in March.

Kerry felt Donegal forward Michael Murphy was lucky to escape a red card in that league decider for a high-fisted challenge on Kingdom defender Dylan Casey and the bad blood from that game seemingly spilled into Saturday with the home side welcoming the All-Star forward to Killarney with a few scuffles before the ball was even thrown in.

"No, that was the big one. We knew coming into the game it was going to be that way," added McGuinness.

"It was going to be a very, very physical battle and the key thing for us was just to stand your ground and thankfully the boys did that and got the victory as well."

The Tir Chonaill side are now potentially just one win away from a return to Croke Park for the last eight of the All-Ireland series after bouncing back from their shock Ulster quarter-final defeat by Down in impressive fashion.

"I suppose, getting the win and putting us in a position now where one more victory could take us to the quarter-final is what we were looking for," said McGuinness, who hopes to lead Donegal to a second All-Ireland title as manager after masterminding the 2012 win in his first spell.

"That was the big part coming in here today. It was a game that we wanted to win from that point of view, listen, we just tried to embrace it.

"It gives us the opportunity now to win one more game and hopefully we can do that now.

"At the end of the day, it's very, very disappointing when you get beaten at Ulster. It was important we got back on the horse today and thankfully the boys did that."

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Former Tyrone joint-boss Feargal Logan says he hopes the Red Hands will "turn up big" in Sunday's All-Ireland opener against Roscommon.

Malachy O'Rourke's side will return to action at Dr Hyde Park [14:00 BST], over a month on from their Ulster Championship preliminary round exit at the hands of eventual winners Armagh.

They face a Roscommon side who won the Connacht title this month and Logan, who won the Sam Maguire as a player and manager, believes the Rossies will provide stern opposition, even if Tyrone come in fresher.

"It's a big one for Tyrone, everyone is on the starting line this weekend and next in the hunt for Sam. Tyrone will hopefully turn up big this Sunday," he told BBC Sport NI.

"Roscommon have always had superb forwards, they have added to their supporting cast, around their back and their keeper has been well tightened up, so Roscommon are a full force and ought to be challenging around semi-finals and finals of the All-Ireland stage.

"Sometimes sitting back and watching others empty themselves out, [in latter rounds of the provincial championships] all the injuries and suspensions and stuff comes with it is good, but momentum is still key in sport."

The All-Ireland series will have a new format in 2026, with the group stage ditched.

There will instead be a qualifier series with an initial round of eight games. The winners will move into round 2A and the four winners of those games will advance into the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

The first round losers will play in round 2B and those four winners will meet the losers of 2A to decide the remaining four quarter-final slots and Logan hopes it will bring greater jeopardy into the early stages of the competition.

"It'll be interesting to see how it goes. The round robin has been a bit tedious the last number of years so one default backdoor system, it will be an exciting couple of weeks coming up."

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This week on the GAA Social, Thomas Niblock and Oisin McConville speak to former Derry goalkeeper Eoin McNicholl.

The 41-year-old, who works in statistics with Ulster GAA, has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.

McNicholl won an All-Ireland minor title in 2002 with the Oak Leaf County, plus MacRory and Hogan Cup medals with St Patrick's College, Maghera, before representing his county at senior level.

Tragedy hit his family 30 years ago when younger sister Clodagh, aged six, died of brain cancer and now Eoin is dealing with his own recent diagnosis for which he is now receiving chemotherapy.

Speaking about his condition to "raise awareness", the Glenullin man tells of finding a lump for which he sought medical advice.

"It was what I needed to hear," the married father of three told the podcast.

"He [doctor] didn't hold anything back, but it was broken down to me in a way I could digest.

"As soon as he said the word 'cancer', it was nearly a moment you see in those war films where someone throws a grenade, all you can hear is ringing but see people talking and you're not hearing what they're saying. He was talking at me for a period of time and I just wasn't taking it in.

"Sinead [his wife] was in a bad way, I probably shed a tear or two but quickly turned into process mode as to what I needed to do."

Eoin underwent surgery the following week and a subsequent CT scan leaving a period of waiting until the next set of results.

"They said after the original surgery, I am 80-85% better, but me being a statistics person, I always feel 85% could be better," he added.

"Chemo can bring that down to two or three percent, so it was a no-brainer."

He admits chemotherapy has been "tough going" but he is "feeling 95% normal now" and has high hopes of a full recovery.

"Fingers crossed that if the next CT scan comes in and the lymph modes are still low, I won't need to go for another round of chemo. I feel like I'm getting there."

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Armagh captain Aidan Forker said that his side "were due one" as they ended an 18-year wait for an Ulster Championship title with a thrilling 2-28 to 0-25 win over Monaghan after extra time.

Playing in their fourth successive Ulster final, having lost the previous three, Kieran McGeeney's side led by seven at one stage of the second half at Clones and looked on course for victory before Monaghan fought back to force extra time.

Oisin O'Neill's goal early in extra time proved crucial as the Orchard County picked up a 15th Ulster title and a first since 2008, with Forker keen to savour the occasion after their recent heartbreak in the competition.

"It's something I've seen in my head for a long time [lifting the Anglo Celt-Cup]. Obviously the last number of years have been tough, but just delighted for the group and the boys who just stuck at it," he told BBC Sport NI.

"So happy for the management team too, we've had some tough days in Ulster. The first six or seven years of my career in Armagh were defeats, four finals in a row, I think we were due one."

Forker believes that Armagh used their experience of previous final defeats to their advantage and that fitness work done in the lead up to the Clones decider helped them to last the course and pick Monaghan off in extra time.

"We've been here before. We were there with Tyrone in the first round [a one-point extra-time victory in April] and we know the work we've done in terms of training and it won out in terms of our legs at the end, we started well in extra time and took our simple scores," he added.

"Delighted it all came together. We were deserved winners in the end."

Watch highlights as Armagh overcome Monaghan 2-28 to 0-25 after extra time at St Tiernach's Park in Clones to win a first Ulster Championship title since 2008.

Read more: Armagh end their 18-year wait for Ulster honours

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Armagh's Oisin Conaty says that their three consecutive defeats in Ulster Senior Football finals are "a big driving factor" ahead of this year's decider against Monaghan.

During their semi-final, Armagh thrashed Down 3-33 to 0-14 to book their spot in their fourth successive final as they also broke the record for the highest single-team score in an Ulster SFC match.

The side will now aim to win their first Ulster title since 2008 after losing the last three finals, one in extra time and the other two after a penalty shootout.

"It would mean everything," Conaty replied when asked what it would mean to beat Monaghan on 17 May.

"You know, that's the medal we've all been chasing. Three Ulster finals, three losses, so it's a big driving factor.

"It's the medal that we don't have in there. So, focus goes towards Monaghan and getting that medal, hopefully, in our back pockets."

Armagh's opponents Monaghan secured their spot in the decider for the first time since 2021 after an impressive comeback from 10 points down to beat Derry 1-30 to 3-23.

Conaty added that Kieran McGeeney's side will be prepared for a tight match against a tough opposition.

"We've seen the players they have and the team they have," the All-Ireland champion from 2024 continued.

"It's going to be another battle, like Ulster always is, especially an Ulster final here. So, our focus goes towards them and the qualities they bring.

"Hopefully we get over the line this time."

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Antrim defeated Westmeath 2-29 to 2-20 at Corrigan Park in Saturday's Joe McDonagh Cup game but Down lost out 4-28 to 0-27 to Laois at O'Moore Park.

Laois's win over the Mournemen means that they edge closer to a third McDonagh Cup final in a row, with Carlow already assured of contesting the decider.

Aaron Dunphy starred with a points tally of 3-5, including a second-half hat-trick, while Stephen Maher grabbed eight points to become his county's all-time leading scorer in the championship.

Down trailed 0-18 to 0-11 at the interval and their deficit increased further in the second period.

Pearse Og McCrickard top-scored for them with 0-15 but their hopes of making the decider hang by a thread at best.

They need to beat Westmeath in the final round of fixtures, hope that Laois lose to London and Antrim defeat Carlow, and emerge with a huge swing in points difference also.

Antrim clinched a comfortable nine-point victory over Westmeath.

Darragh McCormack and Oisin Donnelly traded goals late in the first half, with Eoin Keyes finding the net for the visitors in the second period, and Joseph McLaughlin scoring Antrim's second goal.

McLaughlin and Seaan Elliott contributed 1-4 and 0-7 respectively for the Saffrons, while David Williams accumulated 10 points for Westmeath.

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Down opened their Tailteann Cup campaign with a comfortable 1-27 to 0-16 win against Leitrim at Pairc Esler.

The 2024 winners bounced back from their thumping Ulster semi-final defeat to Armagh 13 days ago and the agony of missing out on All-Ireland qualification to pick up a morale-boosting victory in Newry.

It was an even start to the game with the sides trading early scores before the Mourne men pulled away midway through the first half with four successive scores, including two two-pointers from Pat Havern and Ronan Burns.

Leitrim registered a two-pointer of their own from Killian Gaffey to reduce the deficit to four points as Down held a 0-12 to 0-8 half-time advantage.

The Division Three champions started the second half strongly and increased their lead courtesy of another two-pointer, this time from Daniel McGuinness and three more points in a row.

Conor Laverty's side continued to dominant and had another spell in the second period in which they killed any hopes of a Leitrim fightback as they rattled off four more successive points before Ruairi McCormack added a goal.

McCormack palmed home after Ceilum Doherty had teed him up as Down capitalised on a poor Leitrim restart.

The two sides then exchanged some late scores as Down recorded a 14-point victory.

They will now face Offaly in Tullamore in Round 2A on Saturday, 23 May, while Leitrim will take on Carlow in Round 2B.

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Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney has made no changes in personnel for Sunday's Ulster Senior Football Championship final against Monaghan in Clones [16:15 BST].

The Orchard men were 28-winners over Down in their semi-final and the same 15 has been named, albeit with some positional tweaks.

Greg McCabe is named in the half-back line with Joe McElroy into midfield alongside Jason Duffy and Andrew Murnin selected in the forwards, while semi-final top-scorer Conor Turbitt will wear the number 11 jersey.

Blaine Hughes retains his place in goal behind a settled full-back line, while McKay's move into the half-backs will see him start on the opposite wing from Jarlath Og Burns with Tiernan Kelly in the middle.

McGeeney has been boosted by the return to the match day squad of 2024 All-Ireland winning captain Aidan Forker who has been absent through injury, but takes his place on the bench, while Ross McQuillan is also named among the subs after missing the Down game due to a calf strain.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes; Peter McGrane, Aaron McKay, Paddy Burns; Greg McCabe, Tiernan Kelly, Jarlath Og Burns; Joe McElroy, Jason Duffy; Darragh McMullen, Conor Turbitt, Tomas McCormack; Cian McConvile, Andrew Murnin, Oisin Conaty.

Subs: Ethan Rafferty, Gareth Murphy, Oisin O'Neill, Ross McQuillan, Daniel Magee, Ciaran Mackin, Barry McCambridge, Ryan Duffy, Aidan Forker, Tomas Galvin, Rory Grugan, Aaron O'Neill, Callum O'Neill, Padraig O'Keefe, Callum O'Neill.

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Monaghan will be without Louis Kelly for Sunday's Ulster final against Armagh in Clones [16:15 BST] but manager Gabriel Bannigan is boosted by the return of Gary Mohan and Ryan Wylie to the mach day squad.

Kelly, who started in the victories over Cavan and Derry earlier in the competition, is ruled out with an Achilles injury and in his absence, Karl Gallagher will move into midfield and Aaron Carey named in the half-forward line.

With Kelly out, Darragh McElearney gets the nod to start in defence but this is the only change in personnel from the semi-final win over Derry.

That means Bannigan has resisted the temptation to start Bobby McCaul who made a huge impact when introduced against the Oak Leafs, as the 20-year-old forms part of a strong bench that also includes Mohan, Wylie, U20 star Max Maguire, semi-final hero Jack McCarron and Ryan McAnespie who is still returning to full fitness.

While Mohan and Wylie are ready to be called upon, Sunday's final has come just a little too early for Fionan Carolan who is still recovering from a hamstring problem.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Darragh McElearney, Ryan O'Toole, Dylan Byrne; Cameron Dowd, Killian Lavelle, Dessie Ward; Micheal McCarville, Karl Gallagher; Aaron Carey, Micheal Bannigan, Stephen O'Hanlon; Conor McCarthy, Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney.

Subs: Kian Mulligan, David Garland, Robbie Hanratty, Bobby McCaul, Gary Mohan, Max Maguire, Ryan McAnespie, Shane Hanratty, Oisin McGorman, Jack McCarron, Ryan Wylie.

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Tyrone remain on track for a third Under-20 All-Ireland title in a row after a 2-12 to 0-13 win over Kildare in a tense semi-final.

The Red Hands led by five points at the break as Kilare pushed the holders at Breffni Park.

Key forward Shea McDermott netted in the 29th minute as Tyrone led by 1-6 to 0-4 at half time.

Led by Jimmy Lynch, who ended the game with six points to his name, the Lilywhites cut into Tyrone's lead and the margin was down to one point as the game entered the final quarter.

But the Red Hands edged clear again when Conor O'Neill landed a two-pointer and Darragh Donaghy netted in the 49th minute, and that was enough to get over the line.

The Red Hands have won three of the last four deciders and are now one game away from a third title in a row.

They will face Kerry in the final after the Kingdom, who beat Roscommon by 3-17 to 0-17 after extra-time.

In a tense semi-final, Daniel Kirby, Paddy Lane, and Tomas Kennedy all netted in extra-time as Kerry pulled clear in the closing stages.

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Monaghan captain Micheal Bannigan feels Armagh are capable of repeating their impressive semi-final win over Down when they face the Farney men in Sunday's Ulster Senior Football Championship final in Clones [16:15 BST].

Less than 24 hours after Monaghan's thrilling semi-final victory over Derry, the Orchard men romped to a 28-point win which saw them through to a fourth-straight provincial decider.

While they have lost the past three in heartbreaking fashion, the manner of their victory over Down has Kieran McGeeney's side enter this final as favourites to end their 18-year wait for an Anglo Celt Cup triumph and Bannigan feels the challenge his team face is whether they can match that level of performance.

"I think they definitely can [repeat the Down performance]," Bannigan told BBC Sport NI.

"They performed very well the last two games and weren't bad against Tyrone either, but the question is if we can get up there and match them.

"It's another game of football. Win it and you get all the plaudits but you have to put in your head that you're playing Armagh in a game of football and can we be better over 70 minutes?"

It took a dramatic two-pointer from Jack McCarron after referee Noel Mooney initially thought the game was over before reversing the decision for Monaghan to force extra-time and then a two-pointer with the final kick by Rory Beggan to win it in the additional period.

Despite trailing by double digits in the second period, Bannigan always had faith they could keep their bid for a first Ulster title since 2015 on track.

"At half-time we said we'd given ourselves a mountain to climb, but we've put ourselves in that position before and came close to climbing it," he added.

"We know we can reel them back in with two-pointers so we never thought it was gone."