Irish Daily Mirror

REDEMPTION IS HANDS TARGET Tweaks to format in Munster

- BY PAT NOLAN

Kerry 11 (1993) Waterford 5 (1998) Mayo 4 (2003) Tipperary 3 (1980) Monaghan 2 (1997) Dublin 2 (2017) Offaly 2 (1981)

Cavan 1 (1977) Roscommon 1 (1978) Laois 1 (2001) Galway 1 (2004)

Meath Tyrone

TG4 All-ireland intermedia­te final

v

TYRONE arrive at Croke Park on Sunday aiming to exorcise the ghosts of 2017.

Last year a fancied Tyrone fell to Tipperary at Croke Park, and were denied the chance to regain senior status.

But Tyrone have bounced back impressive­ly this year and appear to have the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup firmly in their sights.

Standing in their way are Meath, as the Royal County prepare for a first All-ireland final in the adult grade since 1994, when the junior title was annexed.

The Royals’ semi-final victory over Roscommon, when they dismantled the Connacht champions on their home Dr. Hyde Park patch, should serve as a warning to Tyrone who stormed through the Ulster Championsh­ip and All-ireland qualifiers with ease – but have had two stern tests against Wexford and Sligo in the knockout stages.

Those games should have Gerry Moane’s charges primed for what lies in store against Meath, who may find the wide-open spaces of Croke Park to their liking.

Stacey Grimes, Fiona O’neill, Marion Farrelly, Vikki Wall and inspiratio­nal captain Niamh O’sullivan have the ability to hurt Tyrone but the Red Hands can call upon the likes of Gemma Begley, Áine Canavan (daughter of Tyrone legend Peter), and goal threat Chloe Mccaffrey. TYRONE TV TIMES: Live on TG4, throw-in 1.45pm

Limerick Louth TG4 All-ireland junior final

v MEATH AS it was in 2010, so it is at Croke Park on Sunday as Limerick and Louth lock horns in the All-ireland junior final. Eight years ago, Limerick made off with the West County Hotel Cup but there’s plenty of water under the bridge since then.

Louth lost another final in 2012 but finally got their hands on the silverware three years ago – and will hope to make it two junior titles in four seasons at HQ.

Louth have LIMERICK named an unchanged team following their dramatic semifinal victory over Derry where skipper Kate Flood (below) bagged a vital late goal. Áine Mcgrath has been handed a start for Limerick.

Louth are determined to put on a show in memory of former manager Mícheál Mckeown, who passed away in June with Darren Bishop now at the helm. LOUTH TV TIMES: Live on TG4, throw-in 11.45pm THE 2019 Munster Championsh­ip round robin series will be played over an extended six-week period, the provincial body has revealed.

For the first time this year, the competitio­n was played in a round robin format over five weeks though it meant that two counties – Tipperary and Waterford – had to play on four consecutiv­e weekends.

The pair didn’t progress to the next phase of the Championsh­ip having not managed a single victory between them while Cork and Limerick also failed to win when playing for the third weekend in succession.

At a meeting of the Munster CCC on Thursday night in Limerick, it was decided to start the 2019 round robin series on May 12, a week earlier than this year, to allow for a break weekend for all counties midway through.

The final set of round robin games will take place on June 16, similar to this year, with the provincial final between the top two in the group set to be a fortnight later.

It’s likely that the Leinster Council will adopt a similar format after Offaly, Wexford and Kilkenny all struggled with playing on three and/or four consecutiv­e weekends.

Meanwhile, the draw for the 2019 provincial football championsh­ips will take place on October 11.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland