Gaelic Games

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist at Croke Park

Image source, Getty Images

Clare manager Brian Lohan wasn't "going to have any complaints" about a big call by referee Thomas Walsh in his side's All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Limerick.

With 55 minutes played and Clare three ahead, Peter Duggan was taken out by Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid for a penalty when almost certain to score.

Quaid made contact with the helmet of Duggan in the foul and while Clare players protested the yellow shown to Quaid ought to have been upgraded, Walsh was happy with his decision.

Tony Kelly buried the award, which proved Clare's final score of the game, and while there was debate about the incident, the Clare manager was not using it as an excuse for his team's heartbreaking 1-21 to 1-19 loss.

"Those are tough calls to make. We aren't going to have any complaints," Lohan said.

"We came up, gave everything we had and felt we needed 110% from our players. We got 110% but probably needed 115%. It was one of those days and performances, so we have to congratulate Limerick."

Clare produced an outstanding first-half display that saw them take a five-point lead into the break.

They were unable to hit the same heights after the restart, yet remained ahead until the 70th minute when Limerick's Aidan O'Connor scored a decisive goal.

The Banner hit seven wides in the second period compared to four in the first and added just 1-3 to their tally in that period.

While proud of his team's efforts, Lohan felt it just wasn't enough.

"We had our peaks, they had theirs and they probably just got a little bit more out their peaks than what we got," he reflected.

"Our endeavour and work-rate was excellent and couldn't fault anyone, so maybe you just have to give credit to the opposition."

Watch highlights as Aidan O'Connor scores a late goal to help Limerick edge past Clare 1-21 to 1-19 in a thrilling conclusion to their All-Ireland SHC semi-final at Croke Park.

The Treaty County will now face Galway in the final on Sunday, 19 July.

Read more: Limerick strike late to deny Clare in a thriller

Image source, Inpho

All-Ireland winners Seamus Flanagan and Jason Forde join Thomas and Oisin to look ahead to the weekend's All-Ireland Hurling semi-finals on this week's GAA Social podcast on BBC Sounds and on the BBC NI YouTube , externalchannel.

Cork face Galway at 15:30 BST on Saturday 4 July and Clare play Limerick at 16:00 the following day, with both games being played at Croke Park and both being broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two NI.

Forde, a three-time All-Ireland winner with Tipperary, including last year, reflects on his county's failure to get out of the Munster Championship this year, and discusses weighing up his options whether he will continue to play inter-county hurling.

Former Limerick player Flanagan talks about adapting to life after a career in the inter-county game which yielded five All-Irelands and an All Star.

Looking ahead to the Clare-Limerick contest, Flanagan says the last-four tie represents "the last dance" for a lot of the Clare players and the outcome of the tie "depends on what Clare turns up".

"They know what Limerick are going to bring and Clare have to go to a level we haven't seen this year. The teams bring the best out of each other as the rivalry between them is massive," he said.

Forde agreed that Munster champions Limerick were favourites but did not discount Clare's chances of making the 19 July decider.

"It's hard to look past Limerick," he argued.

Forde fancies Cork to book their place in the final.

"Going by form you have to fancy Cork but Galway have been steadily progressing and have pacey young players who won't have any fear," he said.

You can listen to the GAA Social on BBC Sounds and watch on YouTube right now.

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan said his side not being able to take advantage of the extra player during their All-Ireland quarter-final exit by Louth "makes it all the more devastating".

Louth were reduced to 14 men after just seven minutes when midfielder Sean Callaghan was sent off.

However, despite scoring a goal in each half, Monaghan could not take advantage of the extra man with the Wee County booking their spot in the final four for the first time since 1957 after the 0-27 to 2-18 win.

Bannigan's outfit's All-Ireland exit means there will be no Ulster province in the semi-finals for the first time since 2016.

"I suppose it makes it all the more devastating for us that we didn't make good use of that extra man and that's on us," Bannigan said.

"We never managed to find a period in the game where we got completely on top, apart from probably the first seven minutes before the red card when we started really well.

"After that, I don't know whether we went a little bit casual or a little timid, but the energy levels just didn't seem to be there and we just weren't getting our hands on enough ball, creating enough chances and weren't putting scoring runs together. The game was very tight."

Monaghan were without experienced injured goalkeeper Rory Beggan, which handed Under-20s captain Jamie Mooney his senior inter-county debut at Croke Park.

Bannigan praised Mooney's performance between the posts but added Beggan was "a massive loss".

"Of course it impacted us, there's no point saying it didn't impact us," he responded when asked if the absence of Beggan had an influence on the team.

"Jamie is a young lad with plenty of potential and showed up very well in training during the week and his kickout range is very good. He probably didn't get to show that range as well as he could.

"Come Friday evening, with the testing that was done with Rory, it just wasn't an option to play him, and we had to get on with it."

Image source, Getty Images

Dublin will face defending All-Ireland champions Kerry for a spot in the Senior Football Championship All-Ireland final.

Louth and Mayo will meet in the other semi-final with both matches to be played on the weekend of 11-12 July.

Dublin fought back in the second half against Galway to secure their spot in the last four, while Kerry edged past Tyrone 2-25 to 0-27.

Louth booked their semi-final spot for the first time since 1957 when they beat Monaghan as Mayo overcame Cork at Croke Park.

Tyrone and Monaghan's quarter-final exits mean there will be no Ulster representation in the semi-finals for the first time since 2016.

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Tyrone midfielder Conn Kilpatrick said the 2-25 to 0-27 defeat by in Saturday's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final will "take a while to get over".

Despite a strong display from Tyrone, Jack O'Connor's side booked a spot in the last four and moved a step closer to defending their title.

Red Hands boss Malachy O'Rourke was left frustrated after the match by 'really, really harsh calls' in Dublin with Kilpatrick echoing his manager's thoughts.

"It's a disappointing result and one that'll take a while to get over to be honest," Kilpatrick told BBC Sport NI.

"I felt we were right in the game for large parts of it. We had done a lot well. Just a few decisions I think didn't go our way and I feel, on another day, we would have got them.

"The boys put a massive shift in the game. Kerry are champions for a reason because they are a good team, but we still had full belief that we could take them on our day and it just wasn't to be today."

Tyrone's wait for their first Sam Maguire title since 2021 will now continue with Monaghan, who face Louth in their quarter-final on Sunday, Ulster's final team in this year's All-Ireland.

Kilpatrick added that it has been "a tough campaign" which included an Ulster Championship preliminary-round exit at the hands of eventual winners Armagh.

"It's no surprise that we obviously had a tough campaign. Everybody knows it and we were coming into the championship being completely written off, but again we had full belief in the squad," he continued.

"It's fine margins that can cost you and, look, it's very disappointing and it's hard to put into words but fair play to Kerry, they beat us on the day and we have to go again next year.

"Hopefully everybody comes back and we add to the squad again like we did this year and we'll go again. We're not finished yet."