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A New Hope - GAA 2020

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    Virgin Media's news correspondent, and fervent Royal, is sanguine:

    https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1330234288525234189

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      He doesn't have much else. In fairness, Meath are probably in the top 10 teams, and they didn't lay a glove on the Dubs. A friend of mine lives in Meath, and a couple of years ago he was at his then 12 year old sons game. He got talking to an All Ireland winning Meath player, who was still involved with Meath minors. He said to my mate that he'd better hope his son's age group step up, because there's nothing ahead of them to challenge for Sam. For a county like Meath, that's a sad indictment.

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        Tipp four points up at the break - will they freeze when they feel the hand of history on their shoulders?

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          Tipp have a goal wrongly disallowed, that could hurt them before the end.

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            And Tipp are the champions - suspect they'll want to keep the jersey now for the semi against Mayo!

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              Rather spookily, the semi-finals in 1920 saw Tipp play Mayo, and Dublin face Cavan, so clearly the Breffnimen will cause an upset in the late game.

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                Cavan beat Donegal to win the Ulster championship for the first time since 1997 as 14/1 outsiders.

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                  Mickey Harte to take over as Louth manager. To put it into context, it's like Arsene Wenger leaving Arsenal, and a week later turning up as Walsall's manager.

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                    The two hurling semi-finals are this weekend, but before that, camogie and womens' football take precedence.

                    All-Ireland Camogie Semi-Finals:

                    Cork v Kilkenny:


                    Two notable strongholds of the small-ball game, with Cork dominance being restored in the last decade, largely driven by veterans Gemma O'Connor and Orla Cotter, though the latter has now retired. Unbelievably, the Cats have finished as runners-up for three consecutive seasons since victory in 2016, with Denise Gaule their most noted exponent, but the Rebels probably get the narrow nod to advance.

                    Galway v Tipperary:

                    Thanks to the leadership of manager Paudie Murray, the Tribeswomen have broken the above duopoly, and are the current holders of the O'Duffy Cup. Tipperary, led by Cait Devane, have been consistent in recent years, without ever truly threatening a breakthrough, and it seems likely that they will fall short again tomorrow.

                    All-Ireland Womens' Football Semi-final:

                    Armagh v Dublin:


                    It's fair to say that the Orchard County caused the shock of the Championship in eliminating Mayo from their preliminary group, though the skilful Amy Macken has been regularly rewarded with All-Star selection. Dublin have supplanted Cork as the powerhouse of the distaff game, and are currently aiming for four-in-a-row, led by Sinead Aherne, Sinead McGoldrick and Noelle Healy in particular, and are unbackable favourites to reach their seventh successive decider.

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                      All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Finals:

                      Waterford v Kilkenny:


                      The last time the D?ise lifted Liam in 1959, John Gregson joined the pre-match parade as footage for his hit film, Rooney, though Liam Cahill has had a better start to his managerial career than Wayne, so far. Still, they were ultimately outclassed by Limerick in the Munster final, and while Kilkenny have largely escaped to victory in their two outings to date, they have shown enough flashes of brilliance to suggest the end result will be more Pele than Sylvester Stallone.

                      Limerick v Galway:

                      The Shannonsiders have easily been the most consistent team of the last three seasons, winning the 2018 All-Ireland, followed by the last two Leagues and Munster titles, even if narrow defeat to the Cats saw them cede their Championship crown at this point last year. Galway on the other hand, have failed to capitalise on their 2017 triumph, even failing to progress in the round-robin last year. As long as the mercurial Joe Canning takes to the field, they will always be in contention, but Limerick should edge through by 3-4 points.

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                        A real turn-up for the books in Croke Park - Kilkenny were eight points up and cruising, and Waterford had shown little drive in the course of the first half. However, after the break, the Deise completely dominated proceedings, and ultimately prevailed by four, for only their third-ever Championship victory over the Cats. As expected, Dublin won the womens' football semi, though not without dogged Armagh resistance (3-15 to 3-10), while it'll be a repeat of the 2019 camogie final as Kilkenny and Galway advanced to the decider.

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                          That was one hell of a second half in Croker. Austin Gleeson's one of the best hurlers in the country when he puts his mind to it, and the coup de grace right on full time was a thing of beauty. I don't think anyone outside Tipperary or Galway would begrudge them the title.

                          Where now for Brian Cody? I doubt if the Kilkenny board will ditch him like Tyrone did with Mickey Harte, but he may decide enough is enough himself.

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                            Yes, after 21 years at the helm, he's won everything multiple times over at this stage, so may just decide to hand over to Shefflin or Eddie Brennan now.

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                              A risible aspect of hurling commentary/punditry is a sense that the culture is somehow harder than that of their football counterparts - an example being Joe Canning getting a dig of a hurley butt into his back, and where Marty Morrissey tentatively suggests a possible red, Cyril Farrell disdainfully suggests the Galwayman would get a lot worse in training!

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                                The same Canning has pointed four sidelines, which must be a record in one game.

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                                  Limerick prevail eventually despite making heavy weather of the second half - the game was stopped for around seven minutes, as Canning was stretchered off the pitch after being knocked unconscious in a collision with a teammate.

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                                    Limerick just about deserved it. Their physical strength is awesome. They've probably got too much for Waterford.

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                                      All-Ireland SFC Semi-Finals: Cavan v Dublin

                                      This is the second significant achievement of Mikey Graham's managerial career, the first being when he steered the Longford village of Mullinalaghta to Leinster club success, and almost defeated Dr Crokes in the All-Ireland semis. Still, with the Breffni County only playing in the All-Ireland series for the second occasion in 51 years, their players necessarily lack big game experience, and facing the six-in-a-row chasing title-holders, respectability seems the name of the game.

                                      Mayo v Tipperary:

                                      Whisper it quietly, but this may be Mayo's best-ever opportunity to bury the most infamous hoodoo in Irish sport - especially given the continued absence of fans. Tipperary are no strangers to this scenario, indeed meeting the same opposition at this stage in 2016, but can their callow youth hold out against the grizzled veterans?

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                                        Dublin five ahead , 0.12 to 0.07 at half time. Not the destruction that people have been expecting, and Cavan have the wind at their back in the second half, but it's difficult to see the Dubs let a five point lead slip.

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                                          Dublin authoritative in the second half, 1-24 to 0-12, and in truth, hard to see anyone narrowing the gap in the immediate future.

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                                            Apparently Dublin have scored at least one goal in every Championship game since 2012,which is as impressive as anything else.

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                                              So flicked from the snooker to TG4, but surprisingly no ladies football on - why, you may ask? Parnell Park was frozen, so the game was switched to Croke Park as the curtain-raiser to the men's game - you would think that the cameras would therefore be available to the broadcaster, but apparently they wouldn't be set up in time for transmission.

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                                                Mayo lead by 16 at the break (4-12 to 1-5), but Tipp should have scored two further goals in the first five minutes, only they hit their attempts straight at the keeper. Cillian O'Connor with 3-6 already, and Mayo on course for their tenth successive final defeat.

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                                                  That's bizarre, meanwhile the Tipperary Horse and Carriage has quickly turned into a pumpkin. After a bright start, 3.06 given away from turnovers leaves Mayo 4.12 to 1.05 ahead at half time. Only the extremely foggy conditions can save Tipp from an almighty hiding.

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                                                    Paddy Prendergast still hale and hearty at the age of 93 here in Tralee, I think he's just holding out for the gap to be bridged at this stage.

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