Thursdays GAA in the Papers

Catch up on all the latest news, views and GAA-related rumours in GAA.ie's midweek feature, GAA In the Papers.

The Cork public was probably running away with itself. Before the game, they were saying we were back but realistically we knew in January that if we got to a league final it would be a good start to the year. 



William Egan, Cork

Limerick hurler Donal O’Grady has hit back at criticism of his side’s fitness, which analysts claimed was not up to scratch after they surrendered second half leads in their last two defeats - to Clare and most recently to Tipperary.

"No matter what anyone says and I’ll stand up for Limerick, we train harder than any other county. The Clare game the first day we were way off the mark (fitness wise),” he said in the Irish Examiner.

“We were as fit as Tipp on the day — I just thought they had stronger players coming in. They had three All Stars coming off the bench and in 20 degree heat it isn’t easy.”

Cork wing-back William Egan has admitted that the Leeside supporters got carried away with themselves before the Allianz Hurling League final defeat to Kilkenny.

"The Cork public was probably running away with itself,” the Kilbrin man said in the Irish Examiner. “Before the game, they were saying we were back but realistically we knew in January that if we got to a league final it would be a good start to the year. 



"We knew there’s a big gap between us and Kilkenny and Tipp. We knew we had stuff to work on. We’re hoping to use Kilkenny last year as a template to follow. They rectified mistakes and that paid dividends in the end so we’re hoping to follow that."

In an interview with the Irish Sun, former Dublin midfielder Ciarán Whelan says his native county need to show the same desire they did last year if they are to retain Sam Maguire.

“The natural instinct in players is to lack that bit of hunger and desire that got them over the line,” he said.

“In the last five minutes of the All- Ireland final, you saw the forwards chasing down their men and putting Kerry under pressure.

“It’s whether the players will have the desire to do that in the second half of a Championship match. History shows it is very difficult to defend the title.”

Kilkenny centre-back Brian Hogan has warned that nobody’s place in the Cats’ squad is safe following the axing of John Mulhall.

"There are a lot of new faces in to make up the numbers with the injuries and everything, but it also gives Brian a chance to have a look at them in the practice matches," said Hogan in the Irish Independent.

"There are a good few of the U-21s in with us and other guys that have been showing up well in club matches. Brian has always said that if you're playing well for your club, you're putting yourself in the window to be called in."

In an interview with the Irish Independent, Louth manager Peter Fitzpatrick has explained why he asked former Dublin goalkeeper John O’Leary to join his backroom team.

Speaking ahead of the Dublin-Louth game in Croke Park on Sunday, he said: "You can never have too many good people around you. These guys are proven winners and bring so much knowledge to the scene. They're a huge help. It might seem a bit strange for John to be working with Louth in the build-up to the Dublin game but this sort of thing has happened in a lot of counties.”