All-Ireland SFC Quarter-finals
Kerry 2-18 Tyrone 0-12, FT
Armagh 0-14 Monaghan 0-14, FT - penalties to come
Conor McManus:
“We don’t make things easy for ourselves. There’s always a kick of the ball between us with Armagh. We managed to force penalties and we were hanging on, but we showed character and fight.”
On the penalties:
“It came back again, I’m just glad it didn’t come back a third time!”
Vinnie Corey: “I feel sorry for Armagh, it was enough for us to get into a semi-final. Listen, we’re delighted to win it but cruel to lose it. It was a tight game, we knew it coming down. We knew it was a 50-50 game. There was nothing separating the sides. We didn’t practice penalties, you can’t replicate that tension. We had faith we were going to score them.
“Conor McManus’ most clutch ever player and he did it again.”
A great first season for Corey, an All-Ireland semi-final wasn’t what was expected.
The winning penalty for Monaghan:
That is all from me, match report to come from Croke Park on Monaghan-Armagh.
FULL-TIME: Monaghan win on penalties! Incredible drama. Yet more heartbreak on penalties for Armagh. McManus’ point to bring it to penalties.
A clearly gutted Aidan Forker wins man of the match. Didn’t deserve to lose today but it was to be Monaghan’s day.
So it’s penalties then. Who have you got? Armagh have more experience in penalties in the championship but a few heartbreaking losses.
Conor McManus... scores! Top corner on the left. Monaghan 1 Armagh 0
Rian O’Neill... scores! Low and hard past Beggan. Monaghan 1 Armagh 1
Jack McCarron... scores! Sends Rafferty the wrong way. Monaghan 2 Armagh 1
Shane McPartland... scores! Into the right top corner. Monaghan 2 Armagh 2
Kieran Hughes... scores! Into the corner low. Monaghan 3 Armagh 2
Callum Cumiskey... misses! Beggan goes the right way and saves! Brilliant save. Monaghan 3 Armagh 2
Michéal Bannigan... scores! Rafferty goes the right way but powerful shot. Monaghan 4 Armagh 2
Oisin Conaty... scores! Low and under the keeper’s hand. Monaghan 4 Armagh 3
Gary Mohan... misses! Rafferty goes the right way. Monaghan 4 Armagh 3
Rory Grugan... scores! Sends Beggan the wrong way. Monaghan 4 Armagh 4
Back to McManus it goes... sudden death
Conor McManus... scores! Ooh just about. Nearly went over, top of the goal. Monaghan 5 Armagh 4
Rian O’Neill... scores! Drills it down the right. Monaghan 5 Armagh 5
Jack McCarron... scores! Down the middle. Monaghan 6 Armagh 5
Shane McPartland... scores! Maybe Beggan should have saved, got a hand to it but couldn’t save. Monaghan 6 Armagh 6
Kieran Hughes... scores! Send it into the corner. Monaghan 7 Armagh 6
Oisin Conaty... scores! Sends Beggan the wrong way. Monaghan 7 Armagh 7
Michéal Bannigan... scores! Rafferty’s hand just misses it. Monaghan 8 Armagh 7
Rory Grugan... scores! Again sends keeper the wrong way. Monaghan 8 Armagh 8
Gary Mohan... scores! Doesn’t miss this time. Monaghan 9 Armagh 8
Callum Cumiskey... misses! Beggan saves! Monaghan win 9-8 on penalties!
ET 22 mins: POINT FOR ARMAGH! Rian O’Neill kicks it over
Rafferty had pushed up the kickout but deemed to have fouled Kieran Hughes. A bit harsh that one. Monaghan go forward but they lose the ball, McPartlan wins it off Monaghan. Armagh run forward, it comes to star man O’Neill and he hits it over from distance.
Last hurrah for Monaghan... Monaghan win a free. Long way out, Beggan has taken the football. Some 65 metres out, a big ask into the swirling wind. He plays it short, McManus runs at the back and wins the free off Grugan!
ET 25 mins: POINT FOR MONAGHAN! Conor McManus hits it over! 14 points each!
FULL-TIME: Armagh 0-14 Monaghan 0-14
ET 19 mins: Campbell gets the ball, runs past a few players and goes for glory... but kicks it wide to the right! A minute left, penalties looming.
ET 17 mins: Rafferty drills the ball into the square, looking for a punch into the goal but just goes wide. More patient play for Monaghan, Wylie breaks through but the pass can’t get through. Only a point each in extra time so far, not a classic. But certainly not lacking in tension.
ET 15 mins: Jack McCarron with a chance from the wing but wide, the 12th of the game for Monaghan.
ET 13 mins: A penalty shootout will come should the teams not be separated in the next 10 minutes. Bannigan runs at the back and shoots, looked possibly wide but it will go to hawkeye... “hawkeye data unavailable” on the screen. Hmm, that’s an odd one. Crowd not happy with that one.
ET 10 mins: A cagey half there of extra-time, tired and not many shots. Monaghan finally go for it with a Bannigan run laid off to O’Hanlon under pressure and he can’t get it on target. Heavy collision between Mackin and Lavelle. They will need treatment but the ref has blown for the end of the half. Still level scores with 10 minutes left.
ET HT: Armagh 0-13 Monaghan 0-13
ET 8 mins: Long build-up for Monaghan then Karl O’Connell accelerates and passes to Wylie but he’s rugby tackled by McCambridge and given a yellow and a foul. Sean Jones is back on. McManus scores! Level again.
ET 5 mins: McManus gives away the ball cheaply and Armagh counter, a good chance for Grugan but he pushes his shot wide to the right. Aidan Forker is off for Armagh, a blow for them.
ET 3 mins: Monaghan keep the ball as they try to kill some time for Jones to come back on the pitch. Armagh content to let them at it.
ER 1 min: Extra-time under way. Monaghan start extra time with only 14 men after Jones’ harsh black card. Armagh immediately break in numbers and McQuillan fists the ball over the bar.
73 mins: Armagh probe and look to create on last chance. One minute left... a shoulder by Gary Mohan, hard call if it was shoulder or not. Referee says no foul and a throw ball. McManus wins the ball and starting to get niggly as lots of pushing between both teams. McGeeney out on the pitch giving out about the referee. Full-time whistle goes, it’s a draw! Extra-time to come.
FULL-TIME: Armagh 0-12 Monaghan 0-12
What a tense game that was. Referee at the centre of attention for a few decisions near the end of the game. Tensions flaring. Armagh couldn’t get the point to bring them ahead. Extra-time coming up. Who will make the difference in this tight contest? Conor McManus could be one outlet:
71 mins: Free out to Armagh, Carey tackled but no free and then overcarrying. Three minutes stoppage time. Who will win it? Black card for Sean Jones for fouling Campbell! Monaghan down to 14.
70 mins: Armagh picking their moment to attack, goalkeeper Rafferty constant in it. Forker takes a long-distance shot and drops almost in the goal, punched over the bar by McPartlan and we’re back level!
67 mins: Monaghan win the kickout, great catch by O’Hanlon. The rain comes at Croke Park. More patient build-up by Monaghan, O’Hanlon gets the ball and runs at the defence but blind alley and penalised for overcarrying. Tense finish here.
65 mins: Super harrying by Monaghan and then turn the ball over. Long period of possession, McManus takes a chance from distance into the wind and it falls into the keeper’s hands. Rafferty tries to run out with it but he’s pressed out of it and falls back to McManus who scores! Monaghan back ahead!
61 mins: Another goal chance for Monaghan who are really pushing now. O’Connell flies through the middle of the pitch. Wylie the corner back right at the goal in a tight angle, three Armagh backs and a goalkeeper around him and just can’t squeeze it into the goal. It’s a 45 and Beggan takes it but he misses the target.
60 mins: After a very cagey first half, an enthralling second half here, teams going blow for blow. Goal chance for Monaghan, a very high ball is superbly caught by Hughes, lays off to Bannigan who goes for goal but his it over, just a point. Level once more.
57 mins: Goal chance for Armagh! Campbell runs through the middle plays Turbitt in a tight angle. Beggan makes himself big and makes a good save. Jack McCarron off for Monaghan for Sean Jones. From the 45, O’Neill puts it over brilliantly. Armagh back ahead!
55 mins: Oh great pass by Beggan who comes into midfield and finds Bannigan with massive space and he puts it over. Rafferty kicks it out of play from a kickout and Monaghan go again but Armagh turn it over. O’Neill with a sumptuous pass to Grugan on his own and punches it over the bar. Have to wonder why he didn’t go for goal there.
52 mins: Aidan Forker levels the scores after a good kickpass into Murmin laying off. Monaghan come up the pitch, McCarthy gets the ball and shows great pace, bursts past the back and kicks over the bar confidently. Game opening up a bit finally. Forker having a fine game and wins a free and Grugan scores. Level again, nine each!
48 mins: Dessie Ward uses his physicality to burst through and McCabe fouls him. McCarron scores the free and all of a sudden Monaghan are ahead! McCarron has another good chance as Monaghan win the ball high up but on his right he goes wide.
44 mins: Foul on Jarly Óg Burns, and Rian O’Neill with another confident free, Armagh back in front. McManus wins the ball again and a great pass to the wing, O’Hanlon blocked but comes to Mohan who sticks it over. McManus making an impact.
42 mins: Monaghan’s talisman Conor McManus comes on for Karl Gallagher, can he inspire Monaghan? They are yet to score in this half. Armagh going long more often but Monaghan dealing with it well, some good defending by Wylie and Boyle in two different attacks. McManus wins the ball with his first touch and he’s harshly tackled. McManus getting some treatment. But he gets up and scores a brilliant free curling over the bar. All square!
37 mins: Similar pattern to the first half so far. Rafferty plays a good ball inside but Murnin fails to collect and Monaghan crowd him out. After some possession, Lavelle takes a shot from distance but wide.
Half-time: Armagh 0-6 Monaghan 0-5
Not the best half of football you’ll see all year there to say the least. Cagey stuff by both teams, who seem to want to avoid losing than going for the win. But still well poised for the second half for who wants it. Monaghan with some costly misses in the latter part of the half that they hope will not be costly come full-time.
35 mins +2: Two minutes of additional time. Armagh’s keeper Rafferty comes out and kicks it straight to Ryan Wylie. Monaghan counter and try to get the ball up as quick as possible with the keeper out. Cynical foul by McElroy, Monaghan with a chance to level it at half-time... and Bannigan kicks it into the keeper’s hands.
33 mins: Grugan tried a few dummies but couldn’t get the shot away after a brilliant block by Lavelle. McAnespie plays to Mohan who calls the mark but he drops it short. A few too many missed by Monaghan last 10 minutes.
30 mins: Patient play by Armagh and a good footpass to Murmin who calls the mark and puts it over. O’Hanlon then misses a good chance for Monaghan. Armagh lead by one.
27 mins: Monaghan go from side to side patiently and Conor McCarthy with an accurate shot from the wing, his second point of the match. Armagh come up the pitch, Campbell through on goal, dummied the defender but Monaghan full-forward Mohan all the way back the one to block the goal! O’Neill misses the 45.
24 mins: Bannigan handpasses it quickly to Mohan who gets in front of his man to turn and strokes over the bar. Armagh then win a free from the restart, O’Neill curls one in from 40 metres from the ground. Super kick.
22 mins: Good hard running by O’Neill and lays off to Óg Burns who wins the free, O’Neill converts. Great field by Ciaran Mackin and kick it positively forward, quick hands off by Duffy and Murmin scores to give Armagh the lead.
17 mins: Another point for Monaghan. McCarron looking lively, takes a very good long-range shot but hits the post. Mohan catches it and punches it over. Yellow card for Forker for a tussle off the ball.
15 mins: Forker kicks the ball into the square, Beggan wins it but crowded out and Monaghan can’t keep hold of it. Lavelle fouls and O’Neill hits the post from the free. Armagh win it and get another free, which O’Neill puts over this time.
12 mins: Blanket defence central here, both teams packing the defence. Good turnover by O’Hanlon after an Armagh counter. Then McCarron gets the ball on the wing and hits a beautiful point from the left-hand side. Monaghan go ahead!
10 mins: First point for Monaghan, wing-back Conor McCarthy from distance with a great score. Earlier McCabe’s shot went into Beggan’s hands.
6 mins: Sloppy pass by Beggan after he came out to support the attack. Stefan Campbell though misses a good opportunity after a number of passes. Another wide for Monaghan, from Jack McCarron who are yet to score.
2 mins: Early point for Armagh, Aidan Forker with a nice point straight over the bar. Early wide from Monaghan, Bannigan after a bit of possession.
A change to the Armagh team, Joe McElroy comes in for Conor Turbitt, Jarly Og Burns for Callum Cumiskey. A change for Monaghan as Darren Hughes comes in for Ryan O’Toole.
Monaghan (SFC v Armagh): Rory Beggan, Darren Hughes, Kieran Duffy, Karl O’Connell, Conor Boyle, Conor McCarthy, Karl Gallagher, Killian Lavelle, Stephen O’Hanlon, Michéal Bannigan, Ryan McAnespie, Jack McCarron, Gary Mohan, Dessie Ward. Subs: Darren McDonnell, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus, Sean Jones, Ryan O’Toole, Shane Carey, Kevin Loughran, Fintan Kelly, Darragh McElearney, Francie Hughes, Colm Lennon
Armagh (SFC v Monaghan): Ethan Rafferty, Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Aidan Forker, Conor O’Neill, Greg McCabe, Jarly Óg Burns, Ciaran Mackin, Ben Crealey, Jason Duffy, Rory Grugan, Stefan Campbell, Joe McElroy, Rian O’Neill, Andrew Murmin. Subs: Shea Magill, Conor Turbitt, Jemar Hall, Justin Kieran, Oisín Conaty, Shane McPartlan, Barry McCambridge, Ross McQuillan, Connaire Mackin, Tiernan Kelly.
Armagh and Monaghan rivalry is a competitive affair devoid of emnity, writes Malachy Clerkin. Unlike rivals Tyrone and Cavan, Monaghan don’t hold the same grudges against Armagh and vice versa. The two neighbouring counties are very much intertwined, with the two communities mixing often.
For Monaghan something needs to change. They’ve never won a straight knock-out game at this stage of the championship — in six games they’ve lost to Tyrone three times, Dublin twice and Kerry once. They made it through the Super-8s in 2018 by beating Galway and Kildare but when it comes to one-off, do-or-die, they’ve invariably died rather than done.
[ Armagh and Monaghan rivalry a competitive affair devoid of emnityOpens in new window ]
David Clifford speaks on GAAGO: “We played Tyrone a few years ago and we had 33 turnovers in the game, can’t win with that. Today we only had four, that was a big reason we won today.
On that great moment for the Kerry second goal:
“I didn’t have a great day with the kicking, so nice to have something come off.”
Michael Murphy says “you do that every day, do you?” A nice bit of laughter between Clifford and the panel. The moment again:
Next up: Monaghan against Armagh at 6pm! Stay tuned.
FULL-TIME: Kerry 2-18 Tyrone 0-12
Authoritative performance by Kerry at Croke Park today. Dominant against Tyrone in defence and attack. A big amount of turnovers as they strangled Tyrone’s scoring threats, then their forwards were purring. Cliffords, O’Shea, Spillane, while midfielder Diarmuid O’Connor was man of the match. Good luck to whoever is playing them next after that performance.
73 mins: Man of the match O’Connor nearly scores another goal, but belts it over the bar. Some mercy on Tyrone. Watch this piece of magic from David Clifford in the build-up:
One more Sean O’Shea free off the ground for the road. Some 1-5 on the day. A red card for Paudie Clifford and Conor Meyler for off-the-ball antics. Second yellows for them both.
More exhibition stuff from David Clifford, nearly scores a cracker but great save by Morgan.
69 mins: Point for McCurry from a free. But a few moments later he is very lucky to avoid a red with a punch into the chest of O’Sullivan. Darragh Canavan scores another one for Tyrone. Diarmuid O’Connor wins man of the match.
64 mins: A simply fantastic performance by Kerry today, that will surely make them favourites for the All-Ireland. Stephen O’Brien with a point now from the bench.
61 mins: GOAL FOR KERRY! Ooh that was good by Kerry. Clifford with two players on him, the ball about to go out of play and ingenuity to hit a perfect pass to Brosnan. Two on two, pass to O’Shea who round the keeper and finishes it off. Brilliant. Magic by Clifford. McShane scores another for Tyrone.
58 mins: Kerry winning all the one-on-one battles. O’Shea wins the ball inside and lays off for Clifford to score. Donnelly gets a bit of space on the wing and drills one over. You’d think too little too late for Tyrone.
55 mins: Tyrone finally get their first point of the half after 20 minutes from a free from McCurry. Sub McShane makes an immediate impact with another point, but they’re nine points behind.
52 mins: GOAL FOR KERRY! Dancing feet of O’Connor. Midfielder dummies on defender, hits around the other and past the keeper. A thrashing. Still no score from Tyrone this half. They look out of sorts and it’s game over, with 20 minutes left.
47 mins: Must be said, some superb defending by Kerry today. Strangling Tyrone in a way that would be more typically associated with classic Tyrone teams. Some 15 turnovers by Kerry today. McGeary and Ruarí Canavan off for Tyrone. Kerry go for goal to put a cherry on top of their 10 minute dominance, low shot by Geary is well saved by Morgan. The 45 is a mammoth kick by O’Shea and over the bar.
44 mins: Another point for Kerry, a little too easy for the Kingdom. Spillane this time. Game slipping away from Tyrone. Darragh Canavan wins the ball inside and plays into the square with a fist pass but Shane Ryan gathers. Kerry then punish Tyrone as Sean O’Shea gets his third point of the match.
38 mins: First attack of the half, long ball in and free given. Clifford converts. Jack Barry slightly fortunate to avoid a red perhaps after a heavy tackle. Tyrone’s free though is kicked into the keeper’s hands. Clifford is then fouled and Seán O’Shea scores from in front of the post. Five-point lead now.
35 mins +2: Two minutes stoppage time at the end of the half. Possession for Tyrone for two to three minutes but they could not find a gap. Peter Harte goes for a potshot from distance but goes wide. Advantage Kerry.
Half-time: Kerry 0-9 Tyrone 0-6
High-quality game so far. Kerry well deserving of their lead but Tyrone are competing well and far from out of it, particularly if they can get the ball to the Canavans. Kerry’s forwards have been good as expected but they will be especially pleased with how they have turned over the ball. This point from Ruairí Canavan has been the pick of the bunch so far:
34 mins: Paudie Clifford wins a free and brother David sticks it over. Good spell for Kerry as they go three points clear.
31 mins: Good high fielding by Jack Barry and plays it into Clifford who is fouled. He scores the free. Conor Meyler runs at the defence and wins a free. Was a tricky one with the swirling wind though and McCurry kicks into the keeper’s hands. Great interplay by Kerry and Diarmuid O’Connor shimmies the defence and kicks it over with the left over the bar.
28 mins: The sun comes out at Croke Park as Mattie Donnelly hits the post. A slight lull in the game before Ruarí Canavan is fouled and wins a free in. McCurry converts to level the scores.
22 mins: More magic from the Canavans! Ruarí Canavan completely sells the defender with a fake shot and then drills over the point. Great flair from the Tyrone man. Kerry respond with Paudie Clifford making space for himself and kicking over. Some great forward play today so far.
20 mins: Tom O’Sullivan, encouraged by his last shot tries another but pushes it wide. Tyrone win the kickout and McGeary kicks it wide also. A long period of possession for Tyrone and Darragh Canavan goes for the posts and great point into the wind. Tyrone back within one.
16 mins: McCurry scores a free to get Tyrone’s second point of the day. Michael O’Neill is booked. Then a good passage of play by both teams, Tom O’Sullivan launches a long-distance shot over the bar. Ruari Canavan with a good point for Tyrone.
12 mins: Morgan kicks a long free for Tyrone but it drifts wide. Foley turns the ball over for Kerry and some beautiful flowing football, off the shoulder and Séan O’Shea slots it over. Then White plays into Clifford who calls the mark and another point for Kerry.
8 mins: Nice first point for Tyrone, Michael McKernan from corner-back, runs through the Kerry defence and expertly puts it over. Kerry respond with some good build-up, running through contact, laying the ball off to Adrian Spillane who hits it straight over from the middle of the pitch.
5 mins: A cagey start for both teams with packed defences. But the first point of the day goes to Kerry after some patient play, Geaney pushed off his man and sticks it over the bar.
2 mins: Early ball in by Kerry from the throw-in and Morgan has to make a good catch to grab it. Clifford with a nice swivel to shoot but surprisingly wide.
Malachy Clerkin tees up a wide open weekend in his scene setter this morning: https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2023/07/01/final-eight-teams-bring-flaws-and-inscrutable-mysteries-but-no-big-scary-beast/
Down to the last eight, then. None of them travelling as forlorn hopes. Like political polling, we’d maybe want to be careful about drawing too many conclusions from the line-up – this is a snapshot in time, nothing more. But after months of bellyaching and ballyragging, it should be noted that this is a healthier-looking snapshot than has usually been the case at this stage.
Think about it. When was the last time we got down to the last eight without a turkey-shoot in the offing? It’s a decade at least – and even in 2013, Mayo ended up laying waste to Donegal. Whether through the old-style qualifiers, the Super-8s or even the Covid-era provincial finals, it has generally been the case for a long time now that when we get to this stage, telling the contenders from the pretenders had not been a problem.
But who would you say are the impostors in 2023? Cork, who’ve beaten Mayo and Roscommon in the past fortnight? Monaghan, who’ve beaten Tyrone in Tyrone and drawn with Derry in Derry? Armagh, who holed Galway’s season below the waterline a fortnight ago and watched from the comfort of the shore as the LÉ PJ went down last Sunday?
You can also read Denis Walsh’s superb piece on the varied history of Jack O’Connor’s backroom staff here:
For full squad lists of all four quarter-finals, fixtures, and TV details, check out our GAA Weekend Guide:
Here are the teams that were named during the week for today’s games:
Kerry (SFC v Tyrone): Shane Ryan, Graham O’Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan, Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White, Diarmuid O’Connor, Jack Barry, Dara Moynihan, Seán O’Shea, Adrian Spillane, Paudie Clifford, David Clifford , Paul Geaney. Subs: Shane Murphy, Tony Brosnan, Mike Breen, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Barry Dan O’Sullivan, Ruairí Murphy, Micheál Burns, Stephen O’Brien, Donal O’Sullivan, Dylan Casey, Seán O’Brien.
Tyrone (SFC v Kerry): Niall Morgan, Michael McKernan, Ronan McNamee, Pádraig Hampsey, Cormac Quinn, Michael O’Neill, Peter Harte, Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick, Conor Meyler, Ruairí Canavan, Kieran McGeary, Darren McCurry, Matthew Donnelly, Darragh Canavan. Subs: Lorcan Quinn, Frank Burns, Aidan Clarke, Niall Devlin, Richard Donnelly, Niall Kelly, Nathan McCarron, Cathal McShane, Seanie O’Donnell, Joe Oguz, Niall Sludden.
Monaghan (SFC v Armagh): Rory Beggan, Ryan O’Toole, Kieran Duffy, Karl O’Connell, Conor Boyle, Conor McCarthy, Karl Gallagher, Killian Lavelle, Stephen O’Hanlon, Michéal Bannigan, Ryan McAnespie, Jack McCarron, Gary Mohan, Dessie Ward. Subs: Darren McDonnell, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus, Sean Jones, Darren Hughes, Shane Carey, Kevin Loughran, Fintan Kelly, Darragh McElearney, Francie Hughes, Colm Lennon
Armagh (SFC v Monaghan): Ethan Rafferty, Paddy Burns, Aaron McKay, Aidan Forker, Conor O’Neill, Greg McCabe, Callum Cumiskey, Ciaran Mackin, Ben Crealey, Jason Duffy, Rory Grugan, Stefan Campbell, Conor Turbitt, Rian O’Neill, Andrew Murmin. Subs: Shea Magill, Joe McElroy, Jemar Hall, Justin Kieran, Oisín Conaty, Shane McPartlan, Barry McCambridge, Ross McQuillan, Jarly Óg Burns, Connaire Mackin, Tiernan Kelly.
Hello and welcome ... We’re down to the last eight in the All-Ireland football championship. First up it’s the champions Kerry, who take on their modern rivals Tyrone in a mouth-watering tussle at Croke Park. That kicks off at 3.45pm.
Then it’s the turn of Ulster neighbours Monaghan and Armagh with a rare spot in the semi-finals up for grabs.
Both games are live on streaming site GAAGo and we’ll be covering both games throughout the afternoon. Keep in touch via the comments section but for now, let’s get started!
