Leinster SFC Final: Dublin 0-26 Westmeath 2-28
Ulster SFC Final: Armagh 2-28 Monaghan 0-25
Munster SHC: Limerick 2-29 Waterford 2-20
Stephen Barry was at the Gaelic Grounds as Limerick put on the afterburners in the second half to knock Waterford out of the championship.
[Late goals see Limerick past Waterford as they seal qualification for All-Ireland series]
A full two and a half hours after throw-in, Gordon sends on his last update before his match report later:
“FULL-TIME AFTER EXTRA-TIME IN CLONES: Armagh 2-28 Monaghan 0-25
Armagh are Ulster champions for the first time since 2008 after dominating extra-time in Clones. Oisín O’Neill’s goal changed the dynamic of the game and Armagh won extra-time 1-7 to 0-1. Armagh had lost the last three Ulster deciders."
Oisín O’Neill scored the goal that finished the game as a contest today.
Oisín Conaty was superb throughout, with six points from play, and won man of the match. He says its ‘about time’ that his side won the Ulster title after their three previous final losses.
Full-time: Armagh 2-28 Monaghan 0-25
Armagh finally get over the line in extra-time of an Ulster final and claim their first Anglo-Celt in 18 years. Darragh McElearney was sent off in the last second for an off-the-ball incident.
87 Mins: Monaghan are really struggling, trying to force a goal or a two-pointer, but their play is very ragged right now. Armagh 2-26 Monaghan 0-25
85 Mins: Monaghan had a goal chance but Ryan McAnespire’s square pass was cut out brilliantly. He’s been a step off his usual brilliant self today, and he really could have gone for it himself there. Armagh 2-26 Monaghan 0-25
83 Mins: Armagh are just keeping it away from Monaghan right now, although when Monahan finally got it back they gave it up easily. Grugan finally has a shot, and it’s a cracking score. Armagh 2-26 Monaghan 0-25
81 Mins: Oisín Conaty gets a super point on a wonderful day for him. Armagh 2-25 Monaghan 0-25
Half-time, extra-time: Armagh 2-24 Monaghan 0-25
78 Mins: Conor Turbitt fists over another Armagh point. Bannigan drops an effort short at the other end. Armagh 2-23 Monaghan 0-25
76 Mins: Jason Duffy is back on now, breaking out of defence and feeding Grugan, but the veteran can’t put it over.
GOAL for Armagh! The kickout pops out of Karl Gallagher and Grugan latched onto it. He squared it to O’Neill who slotted it coolly past Beggan. Armagh 2-22 Monaghan 0-25
73 Mins: Ryan McAnespire is turned over, taking too many steps. There’s still players slipping and a few with tape on their legs now too. McConville has a free for one point and slots it over. Armagh 1-22 Monaghan 0-25
71 Mins: Stephen O’Hanlon jinks left and right and slots over the first point of the second half. Armagh 1-21 Monaghan 0-25
Okay, Monaghan are out now. Dublin and Westmeath didn’t seem to get this length of time after the 70 minutes in Croker.
This is some break before extra-time. Maybe they’ve gone home thinking there’s a replay...
Armagh are in familiar, but uncomfortable territory now. The last three Ulster finals have gone to extra-time, and the last three Ulster finals have been lost by Armagh.
Gordon Manning is out in rainy Clones, awaiting another 20 minutes of this cracking match:
“FULL-TIME: Monaghan 0-24 Armagh 1-21
We are going to extra-time in Clones after Monaghan – inspired by Jack McCarron and Stephen O’Hanlon – staged a comeback to reel in Armagh. The Orchard County looked to be easing away to victory as they led 1-19 to 0-15 after 54 minutes but yet again Monaghan produced a late surge to force extra-time. McCarron nailed a two-pointer to spark the revival. There are no penalties today, so if the sides are level at the end of extra-time then the game will go to a replay."
Full-time: Armagh 1-21 Monaghan 0-24
An absolute nailbiter of a finish! Armagh couldn’t get the shot off and nearly let Monaghan back up the pitch, but in the end it was Ross McQuillan who got the shot off, falling well short. Extra-time awaits again!
68 Mins: McCarthy gets in behind his man and slots one over on his left boot. Armagh have it now and seem to want the last shot of the game. Armagh 1-21 Monaghan 0-24
66 Mins: Rory Beggan has a kick from the guts of 60 yards out, out on the right. It drifts wide and there’s a sigh of relief throughout the Armagh crowd. Armagh 1-21 Monaghan 0-23
65 Mins: Ross McQuillan gets a fisted point to put Armagh back in front. Armagh 1-21 Monaghan 0-23
64 Mins: Karl Gallagher puts a two-point effort wide after more great running from O’Hanlon. Armagh take it up the pitch again, slowing things down. Armagh 1-20 Monaghan 0-23
63 Mins: Super score from Stephen O’Hanlon, shaking off McElroy and slotting it over. Blaine Hughes boots the ball over the sideline again from the kickout. Armagh 1-20 Monaghan 0-23
61 Mins: Oisín O’Neill does what he does, swinging a lovely point over offf the bench. Armagh 1-20 Monaghan 0-22
60 Mins: Stephen O’Hanlon hits a two-pointer to level it! Great kick after a total mess of a move beforehand, with the ball slipping from one team to the other. Armagh 1-19 Monaghan 0-22
58 Mins: Tomas McCormack drps a fisted effort short and Beggan gathers it. The ball goes down to McCarron again, who shakes off his man and slots another point. Armagh 1-19 Monaghan 0-20
57 Mins: Ross McQuillan is on for Jason Duffy. Aaron Carey pops over another good point for Monaghan, before Jack McCarron lands a two. Three in it now. Monaghan have got their last three scores from the last three kickouts. Armagh 1-19 Monaghan 0-19
55 Mins: McCarron launches his first two-point attempt, but it fails to curl in time. Stephen O’Hanlon gets on the ball after the kickout and smashes one at the crossbar. Armagh 1-19 Monaghan 0-16
54 Mins: Conor Turbitt puts up another free, keeping the lead at seven. Armagh 1-19 Monaghan 0-15
52 Mins: Conor McCarthy skins Andrew Murnin and pops over a great point off his left. Armagh 1-18 Monaghan 0-15
50 Mins: McAnespire is turned over more easily than you’d expect, although the Monaghan man is coming on for his first intercounty minutes this year. Armagh keep it for a bitbefore McMullen punches the hole and has a shot saved by Beggan. He manages to lift it again and get it over the bar. Armagh 1-18 Monaghan 0-14
47 Mins: Ryan O’Toole gets a very good score well away from his full-back spot. Armgh 1-17 Monaghan 0-14
46 Mins: Jason Duffy gets another point running very hard on the loop. Great score. Armagh 1-17 Monaghan 0-13
45 Mins: Ryan McAnespie and Jack McCarron are both on now. Bannigan pops over a free. Armagh 1-16 Monaghan 0-13
44 Mins: GOAL for Armagh! Tiernan Kelly hits the first goal of the Ulster final after Monaghan cleared the ball poorly and a long pass cut through their defence. Kelly finished it well into the bottom corner. Armagh 1-16 Monaghan 0-12
42 Mins; Oisín McGorman gets Monaghan’s first score of the second half, after a nice dummy buys him the space for a shot. Armagh 0-16 Monaghan 0-12
39 Mins: Jason Duffy hits a low effort over the bar after breaking through on goal. Monaghan are looking open so far in the second half. Armagh 0-16 Monaghan 0-11
38 Mins: Conor Turbitt gets the first two scores of the half, first from a simple free and then from the kickout, as his deflected goal effort goes over. Armagh 0-15 Monaghan 0-11
36 Mins: It’s absolutely bucketing down now in Clones. Dessie Ward has gone off at half-time, as has Paddy Burns for Armagh. Armagh 0-13 Monaghan 0-11
Mark McHugh spoke to RTÉ for a minute after the Westmeath win, where he said that he told the players at the start of the year that they would see Ronan Wallace climbing up the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the Delaney Cup.
Gordon Manning brings us an update at half-time of the Ulster final:
“HALF-TIME: Armagh 0-13 Monaghan 0-11
Armagh lead at the break after a tense opening half in Clones. Conditions were difficult as sporadic rain showers fell during the first 35 minutes. Monaghan started strongly and led 0-4 to 0-1 after five minutes.
However, a two-pointer by Jarly Og Burns settled Armagh and they moved 0-9 to 0-6 ahead by the 20th minute. A two-pointer from a free by Rory Beggan closed the gap again but late points by Oisín Conaty (his fifth of the half) and Joe McElroy gave Armagh a two-point advantage at the turnaround. The gap could have been greater only for Conor Turbitt’s goal-bound shot to hit the butt of the post and spin wide. Monaghan were clearly upset that chance was permitted as the clock had stopped momentarily and they felt the half should have been over before Armagh’s late goal opportunity."
Okay, we can all breathe again for a second. That was hectic stuff, with the Sunday Game cutting straight from Westmeath’s celebrations after the final whistle to throw-in in Clones.
34 Mins: Turbitt hits the post with a low effort that seemed to have Beggan beaten!
Half-time: Armagh 0-13 Monaghan 0-11
34 Mins: A very good score from Joe McElroy off his left. Dessie Ward is now getting treated for a slightly late hit from Tiarnan Kelly, who laid on the pass for that score. Armagh 0-13 Monaghan 0-11
32 Mins: Blaine Hughes isn’t having it half as easy today in Clones as he did against Down. His short kick gets away from Armagh hands, and David Garland curls over a good effort. At the other end, Conaty burns O’Toole again and scores a cracking point, his fifth from play. Armagh 0-12 Monaghan 0-11
31 Mins: David Garland does well to lift a ball that went flying along the floor, and wins a free outside the 45′. A chance for Beggan so, who just guides it over gently. Armagh 0-11 Monaghan 0-10
29 Mins: Stephen O’Hanlon makes a good run into the Armagh defence, and chips over a left-footed effort just as a defender can be heard calling “all right foot!” Armagh 0-11 Monaghan 0-8
27 Mins: Rory Beggan boots the kickout down to the Armagh 45′, nearly sending Bobby McCaul in for a one-on-one soccer style, but the big man is pushed away from the ball. It’s not really enough for a foul, but prevents a big moment for Monaghan. Armagh 0-11 Monaghan 0-7
26 Mins: Tiernan Kelly kicks a good pass down to Conaty, who takes on Ryan O’Toole, checks inside, sends him flying into another Monaghan defender and chips it over. O’Toole is down getting treatment now. Armagh 0-11 Monaghan 0-7
25 Mins: Micheál Bannigan gets a score back for Monaghan and then Karl Gallagher rescues his side from a potential goal chance for Armagh at the other end. Conaty gets on the ball, takes on the man and pops it over. Armagh 0-10 Monaghan 0-7
22 Mins: Jarly Óg Burns has come off injured temporarily. Armagh have all the momentum at the minute, with Dessie Ward trailing Monaghan’s latest shot wide. Armagh 0-9 Monaghan 0-6
Full-time: Limerick 2-29 Waterford 2-20
A late Shane Bennett penalty doesn’t change the result, as Waterford exit the Munster SHC. Limerick came on really strong in the second half.
17 Mins: Four points on the trot for Armagh sees them take the lead in Clones. Armagh 0-8 Monaghan 0-6
Morrissey, Lynch and O’Donovan all pop up with classy scores to finish this gme off. 70 Mins: Limerick 2-28 Waterford 1-20
11 Mins: Oisín Conaty gets his second of the day, taking on his man and popping it over on his left. Conor McCarthy replies with his second. Armagh 0-3 Monaghan 0-5
9 Mins: Clones is a bit of a slip ‘n’ slide so far, with the ball very greasy and a good few players losing their footing early on. McMullen kicks another wide and then has a go at goal in the next play, which is saved well by Beggan. Cian McConville gets his first score of the Ulster final from a free. Armagh 0-2 Monaghan 0-4
5 Mins: Up in Clones, Andrew Woods swings over a two-pointer and Mícheál McCarville hits a point. Oisín Conaty is the only scorer for Armagh, with Darragh McMullen registering two wides early on. Armagh 0-1 Monaghan 0-4
GOAL for Limerick! This time it’s Hegarty with the finish after Limerick won a scramble for possession. The big man slices the ball and spins it over Billy Nolan. 62 Mins: Limerick 2-22 Waterford 1-20
GOAL for Limerick! Hegarty feeds Peter Casey, who kicks it beyond Billy Nolan and into the net. Limerick 1-22 Waterford 1-25
1 Mins: No time to boil the kettle folks, the Ulster final is on! Conor McCarthy gets the first score of the game to the delight of the home crowd in Clones. Armagh 0-0 Monaghan 0-1
Full-time: Dublin 0-26 Westmeath 2-28
Westmeath are Leinster champions! What a win. Jack Duncan got a last-second goal for the Lake County right at the buzzer.
Kevin Mahony gets a point, but Tom Morrissey responds off the bench. 56 Mins: Limerick 0-21 Waterford 1-19
88 Mins: Seán Guiden gets a two-pointer but it will be too little too late. Dublin 0-26 Westmeath 1-28
87 Mins: Kilkenny has a tired effort at a goal with his left foot that’s stopped handily. Mark McHugh seems to have masterminded the win of a generation for Westmeath. Dublin 0-24 Westmeath 1-28
GOAL for Waterford! Kevin Mahony, goalscorer against Tipp, repeats the feat, firing low beyond Quaid. 52 Mins: Limerick 0-18 Waterford 1-18
85 Mins: John Heslin catches a kickout brilliantly in the middle of the park. Now it looks like a genius move to bring him back in. Dublin 0-24 Westmeath 1-28
Diarmaid Byrnes sells a brilliant dummy but his effort drifts wide. Austin Gleeson is on for Waterford. 49 Mins: Limerick 0-18 Waterford 0-17
83 Mins: John Heslin kicks a savage two-pointer to settle Westmeath. That’s his first ever in championship football, in his game where the rule has applied. Ray Conellan goes off with what looks like a bad injury. Dublin 0-23 Westmeath 1-28
82 Mins: Greg McEneaney pops one over the bar, Dublin’s first score of extra-time. Dublin 0-23 Westmeath 1-26
81 Mins: Dublin win the throw-in. Paddy Small eventually takes the shot, a two-point attempt, and it goes wide. Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 1-26
Limerick’s Aidan O’Connor levels matters in a slow second half so far. 43 Mins: Limerick 0-17 Waterford 0-17
Gordon Manning is in Clones right now, where the stands are packed:
“Monaghan have made three late changes to their starting team for today’s Ulster final against Armagh in Clones. Oisín McGorman, Bobby McCaul and David Garland all come in while Darragh McElearney, Cameron Dowd and Stephen Mooney drop out.
Armagh are unchanged in terms of the starting personnel but there is one alteration among the subs with Aaron O’Neill replacing Tomás Galvin on the bench.
Both teams are out on the field going through their warm-up and the sun is currently out at St Tiarnach’s Park. However, there have been several showers already this afternoon so underfoot conditions are likely to be greasy. Throw-in is at 4.15pm."
Half-time, extra-time: Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 1-26
79 Mins: Costello forces a two-point effort, but it goes wide. The seven-point lead looks huge, with Westmeath dominating the kickouts. Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 1-26
Jack Prendergast and Diarmaid Byrnes are involved in a bad collision and are both geting treatment. 38 Mins: Limerick 0-16 Waterford 0-17
77 Mins: Jack Duncan adds another point. Ciarán Kilkenny gets a half-chance for a goal, but the ball is stripped away brilliantly by Tadhg Baker.
GOAL for Westmeath! Brian Cooney attempts a two-pointer and it ghosts through Comerford’s hands and into the net. Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 1-26
75 Mins: Cian Murphy is on for Charlie McMorrow. Sam McCartan gets in behind the defence and pops one over. Dublin have been asleep so far in extra-time. Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 0-25
74 Mins: Senan Baker chips the ball up brilliantly, drives at the Dublin defence and is fouled by Doran. John Heslin chips over the handy free. Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 0-24
72 Mins: Ronan Wallace gets the first score of extra-time, then Conellan puts a shot wide where he really should have scored. Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 0-23
Seán Moran gives his full-time update as the captains take the second coin toss of the day.
“A wild finale to the Leinster final has seen it pushed into extra time. It looked as Dublin had defied a poor second-half performance to lead with little more than a minute left. Cormac Costello kicked a two-point free to level the match at 0-21 apiece, followed by another attack and a fisted point form David Byrne.
Westmeath retrieved the situation when Senan Baker, who had a whale of a match after coming on as a 44th minute replacement, kicked the equaliser – his fourth point of the match.
It would have been a travesty – inasmuch as these things count in the amoral world of the scoreboard – had Mark McHugh’s team lost in 70 minutes and they surged for one last attack but time ran out.
Dublin looked on the way to regaining the provincial title when leading by five, 0-14 to 0-9 in the 42nd minute but they lost the next 11 minutes by 0-2 to 0-10 to trail 0-16 to 0-19, as Westmeath’s accurate shooting and pillaging of the Dublin kickout changed the course of the match.
The teams went in at full time after the first 70-minute drawn Leinster final since Westmeath’s title year in 2004 when they beat Laois in a replay."
Half-time: Limerick 0-15 Waterford 0-16
Limerick have come roaring back into this one, with Cian Lynch introduced off the bench early. 35 Mins: Limerick 0-15 Waterford 0-15
Full-time: Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 0-22
We will have extra-time! Mark McHugh is claiming a free at the end, but it’s all over for now.
69 Mins: Davy Byrne with the point from a fisted effort and Dublin lead again. But then back come Westmeath, and it’s Senan Baker who levels matters again. Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 0-22
67 Mins: Cormac Costello takes it and blasts it over the black spot. All even again! Dublin 0-21 Westmeath 0-21
66 Mins: Ciarán Kilkenny chips over a good score. Dublin win it back straight away and take it through on goal, but Paddy Small blares it wide from 20 yards. Dublin have advantage from beforehand and play the free in, winning another one just outside the arc. A big moment coming. Dublin 0-19 Westmeath 0-21
64 Mins: John Heslin has a chance to chip over an easy score, but tries to force a goal chance, and the opportunity goes to waste. Still three in it. Dublin 0-18 Westmeath 0-21
Limerick are really struglling, playing into a bad breeze in the first half. Waterford need to build a bigger lead though. 27 Mins: Limerick 0-10 Waterford 0-13
61 Mins: John Heslin is on now, with not long to go. Sam McCartan takes a two-point effort but it drifts just wide. Dublin 0-18 Westmeath 0-21
60 Mins: Ronan Wallace nearly kicks a two-point free over from a mile out, but Comerford gathers it just under the bar. Dublin 0-18 Westmeath 0-21
Kyle Hayes finally breaks Waterford’s scoring streak of six in a row, but Seán Walsh fires back with a great score, and Shane Bennett follows it up with a cracker of his own. 22 Mins: Limerick 0-10 Waterford 0-13
58 Mins: The Dubs are falling to pieces at the minute, and there’s no great subs to come in. Senan Baker hits two points to put four in it. Bugler manages to pull it back to three with a left-footed effort. Dublin 0-18 Westmeath 0-21
Waterford manage to put four points in a row together to level matters, and Aidan O’Connor hits a free wide to keep it that way. 18 Mins: Limerick 0-9 Waterford 0-9
55 Mins: Brian Howard breaks the lines and plays Seán MacMahon through for a clear one-on-one, but he’s the wrong man for the moment. He doesn’t really know what to do and fists it wide really poorly. Dublin 0-17 Westmeath 0-19
Shane Bennett solos right through the Limerick defence for an easy point. Then Kevin O’Mahony knocks one over. So far neither team is setting the world on fire. 15 Mins: Limerick 0-9 Waterford 0-7
52 Mins: Sam McCartan kicks a cracker to put Westmeath three in front! His first of the day. Dublin 0-16 Westmeath 0-19
51 Mins: After a scramble to lift the ball 20 yards from the Dublin goal, Brandon Kelly finally ends up with it and manages to lift it over the bar somehow. Dublin 0-16 Westmeath 0-18
50 Mins: Brian Howard levels things up again after a driving run. At the other end, Ronan Wallace inches Westmeath back into the lead with a lovely score on the spin. Dublin 0-16 Westmeath 0-17
Cathal O’Neill cracks over a lovely score after breaking a couple of tackles. 11 Mins: Limerick 0-8 Waterford 0-4
48 Mins: A sweet strike from Conor Dillon levels the game, and then the sub, Forde, puts Westmeath in front! Dublin 0-15 Westmeath 0-16
Billy Nolan drives over a point from miles out in play for Waterford. 8 Mins: Limerick 0-7 Waterford 0-4
45 Mins: A classy solo score from Senan Baker and a two-pointer from Matthew Whittaker bring the game back to a one-point contest. Westmeath should really have equalised through both of those men, but they both drop shots short. Dublin 0-15 Westmeath 0-14
Smashing point from Calum Lyons from out on the sideline. 6 Mins: Limerick 0-6 Waterford 0-3
43 Mins: Matthew Whittaker gets a point, Westmeath’s second in a row. They are a lot more dangerous when they play it faster. Dublin 0-15 Westmeath 0-11
It’s been a rapid start for Limerick at home in Munster hurling. 4 Mins: Limerick 0-5 Waterford 0-1
41 Mins: Scully puts another great ball into Costello, who swings it over on the turn. Dublin 0-14 Westmeath 0-9
39 Mins: Luke Breathnach kicks the first score of the second half. So far, Westmeath can’t break down the Dublin defence at all. Costello gets onto a nice kick pass in and adds another. Dublin 0-13 Westmeath 0-9
37 Mins: Robbie Forde is on for Jack Duncan. Brian Howard misses with the first shot of the half. Dublin 0-11 Westmeath 0-9
Seán Moran is in Croke Park as the second half is about to begin:
“Dublin lead the Leinster final 0-11 to 0-9 at half-time in Croke Park. It has been a strange match, played in fits and starts. Westmeath started well and led by two three times in the first 15 minutes but gradually the deep-set Dublin defence began to smother their attacks and turn over possession.
It was disciplined defending by Dublin and none of Westmeath’s nine points have come from frees whereas Cormac Costello kicked three from three placed balls.
A run of six unanswered points gave Dublin the initiative but just as they looked to be taking control, Shane Allen popped up in the 26th minute to shoot the only two-pointer of the half to cut the margin to two, 0-8 to 0-6.
It was competitive to the whistle from there. Evan Comerford saved well after Brandon Kelly had slipped in Shane Corcoran but the move ended in a point for Sam Macartan.
There are 36,536 in attendance for a match well poised going into the second half."
Here is the Limerick team to face Waterford in the Gaelic Grouds at 3pm.
Waterford are without Stephen Bennett. Conor Keane starts in place of Aaron O’Neill at corner-back.
A small technical glitch at HQ, as the hooter failed to sound on 35 minutes. David Coldrick managed to call a halt to the action in the end.
34 Mins: Another goal chance for Westmeath, but the Dubs scramble back well and force Kelly to pop it over.
Half-time: Dublin 0-11 Westmeath 0-9
33 Mins: Davy Byrne swings over a neat score for Dublin, after a lovely run from Niall Scully. Dublin 0-11 Westmeath 0-8
32 Mins: Kilkenny and Bugler chip over a point each for Dublin. Then Comerford makes a great save to deny Shane Corcoran! The corner-forward salvages a point for Westmeath in the end. Dublin 0-10 Westmeath 0-8
28 Mins: Goal chance for Westmeath, but Brandon Kelly fists it over from a tight angle. They won a good turnover and kicked it long, where it bounced awkwardly over David Byrne’s head, setting up the chance. Dublin 0-8 Westmeath 0-7
25 Mins: That’s a super score for Westmeath from well outside the arc. Shane Allen knew they were on an advantage, and he takes the chance to swing a two-pointer over. Dublin 0-8 Westmeath 0-6
24 Mins: Westmeath take another shot from a poor spot, and it hits the post. Dublin win the break, get the ball up quickly, and Scully pops another one over on his left. Dublin 0-8 Westmeath 0-4
22 Mins: Bugler wins a soft free and Costello taps it over. It’s been a good while since Westmeath scored by now. Dublin 0-7 Westmeath 0-4
20 Mins: Ciarán Kilkenny sizes up Tadhg Baker, drops the shoulder and kicks the ball sweetly over the bar. Dublin 0-6 Westmeath 0-4
19 Mins: Nathan Doran makes a great interception at the back for Dublin. The Dubs are forcing Westmeath out wide and turning them over in numbers more and more often. Costello wins his ball really well out wide for Dublin, finds Scully and the captain puts Dublin in front. Dublin 0-5 Westmeath 0-4
17 Mins: An awful fisted wide by Davy Byrne, but he was on an advantage, so Costello levels the game. Adam Treanor is on for Danny Scahill for Westmeath. Dublin 0-4 Westmeath 0-4
15 Mins: Luke Breathnach is on for Ó Cofaigh Byrne, so it’s likely that Killian McGinnis will swap into midfield. Paddy Small beats his man, tries to make a goal chance, but settles for a point in the end. Dublin 0-3 Westmeath 0-4
14 Mins: Kevin O’Sullivan skips right through the centre of the Dublin defence and clips over a good score. Ó Cofaigh Byrne lands awkwardly from the ensuing kickout, which will worry the Dublin selectors. Dublin 0-2 Westmeath 0-4
13 Mins: Another poor miss from Bugler, three wides in a row for the Oliver Plunkett’s man. Dublin win the kickout though, and Eoin Kennedy lands a point. Dublin 0-2 Westmeath 0-3
12 Mins: Westmeath slow the play up, cagey in attack. Eventually Dublin corner a forward and dispossess him. Charlie McMorrow boots the ball away though, so Westmeath have it back and Ronan Wallace charges up directly and gets a point. Dublin 0-1 Westmeath 0-3
8 Mins: Dublin open their account through a Cormac Costello free. Ó Cofaigh Byrne wins the Westmeath kickout, but Dublin go at the goal again and end up wasting a point opportunity. Dublin 0-1 Westmeath 0-2
6 Mins: Seán Bugler has a left-footed effort for a point that’s ruled wide by HawkEye. The Westmeath crowd voice their approval loudly. So far, the Lake County side look very relaxed, but they’re robbed in possession and Scully sees the pass and kicks it into Brian Howard. His goal attempt drifts poorly wide though, so Dublin remain scoreless. Dublin 0-0 Westmeath 0-2
3 Mins: Seán Bugler hits the post with Dublin’s first effort, from just inside the arc. Ronan Wallace bursts through with a solo-and-go, and Shane Corcoran and Brandon Kelly combine for the latter to land another point. Dublin 0-0 Westmeath 0-2
1 Mins: About 35,000 are in Croke Park today for this final, and it’s underway now. Westmeath get the opener through Matthew Whittaker, who jinks past Scully to pop it over on his left. Dublin 0-0 Westmeath 0-1
Here are the teams for today’s Leinster final, with throw-in in just five minutes:
Dublin: Evan Comerford; Theo Clancy, Nathan Doran, David Byrne; Seán MacMahon, Charlie McMorrow, Eoin Kennedy; Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Brian Howard; Seán Bugler, Niall Scully, Ciarán Kilkenny; Paddy Small, Killian McGinnis, Cormac Costello
Westmeath: Jason Daly; Danny Scahill, Charlie Drumm, Tadhg Baker; Ronan Wallace, Shane Allen, Matthew Whittaker; Brian Cooney, Ray Conellan; Kevin O’Sullivan, Sam McCartan, Conor Dillon; Shane Corcoran, Jack Duncan, Brandon Kelly
So far, Munster has been uncharacteristically predictable, and Waterford will be up against it to throw a spanner in the works today. A Limerick win against Waterford would make it clear who will emerge from Munster, with Clare and Cork also riding high so far. Denis Walsh was at Semple Stadium last night as the Banner breezed past the All-Ireland champions, Tipperary.
[‘Our supporters needed a response and we got that’ - Clare boss Brian Lohan hails win over Tipperary]
Gordon Manning spoke to Westmeath GAA’s head of games and former Dublin player Darren Magee ahead of today’s final. He says that a provincial win would ‘do huge things’ for the county.
[Former Dublin footballer Darren Magee hoping to mastermind Leinster triumph with Westmeath]
John Heslin’s comeback to the Westmeath panel is one of the big stories leading into the Leinster final. At just 33, the county legend could add a lot coming off the bench, where he is named for today’s game.
In the opposite corner for today’s final are Armagh, who go into the match as big favourites. For the Orchard County, it’s all about getting over the line, after three Ulster final losses in a row. Malachy Clerkin speaks to recently retired Ciaron O’Hanlon, who has the rare distinction of owning an All-Ireland medal without ever winning a provincial medal.
[After losing three Ulster finals in a row, Armagh must beat Monaghan to avoid making history]
Monaghan come into today’s Ulster final without an Anglo-Celt since their 2015 victory over Donegal, and with only one appearance in the final since then. Conor McManus was the star of their 2013 and 2015 Ulster-winning teams, and remembers how the flew under the radar in that first year. After a poor Division 1 campaign and a brilliant comeback in their semi win over Derry, McManus reckons there’s plenty for 2026 Monaghan to learn from the 2013 side.
[Conor McManus: What Monaghan’s 2013 Ulster football triumph can tell current team]
Hello and welcome to live coverage of today’s championship action. There’s just three games across both codes today, but that should be plenty to keep us going.
In football, the Leinster and Ulster deciders will close out the provincial championship. First, Dublin take on Westmeath at Croke Park (2pm), looking to claim back the Delaney Cup after Louth broke their 14 year winning streak.
Then Armagh look to clinch their first Anglo-Celt Cup since 2008, as they take on Monaghan at their home ground of Clones (4.15pm).
Sandwiched between those two finals is the Munster SHC clash between Limerick and Waterford (3pm). Although unfancied, a Waterford win would keep their hopes alive of progressing through the Munster round robin.
