Tommy Murphy Cup

cruiserweight

The draw for the quarter finals of the Tommy Cup has been made

Longford v Waterford
Wexford v Fermanagh
Tipperary v Antrim
Roscommon v London

The tie of the round being Wexford vs Fermanagh, arguably the two best teams in the competition! I can see victories for Longford, Roscommon and Tipperary in the others games!

Much better participation this year (with a little bit of persuasion) except for Carlow at the weekend!

Lemlin

I think the Murphy cup is great. It gives the weaker teams a chance to give their players some much-needed Championship experience.

I'd say Fermanagh will beat Wexford. Interesting to see though that London are playing Roscommon again.

cruiserweight

Unfortunately I would say you are right about Fermanagh versus Wexford! Wexford have no manager at the moment and I don't know how interested they are in the competiton!

cruiserweight

The final 4 for the Tommy Murphy cup have been determined, they are
Wexford
Longford
Tipperary
Roscommon

As Antrim have decided to pull out of the competition at the last minute

Antrim's senior footballers could face the wrath of the GAA following their decision to withdraw from this weekend's Tommy Murphy Cup second round clash with Tipperary.

The Antrim County Board took the regrettable decision to withdraw from this Saturday's clash in Thurles due to a full club hurling fixture list, injuries and players on holidays.

A statement from the Antrim County Board confirmed: "Due to club hurling championships this weekend, injuries and players on holidays, Antrim are unable to field a team against Tipperary in the Tommy Murphy Cup this coming Saturday."

Antrim spokesman Terry Cormican, speaking to www.hoganstand.com, revealed that Antrim were prepared to play the original fixture which was scheduled for last month, but following Tipperary's successful appeal to have the game deferred, they were now unable to fulfil the new date.

Cormican also revealed that the Antrim County Board would contest any sanction imposed upon them.

The GAA could withhold their share of revenue from this year's Championship qualifiers, which could be somewhere in the region of €30,000.

Depending on the draw I would like to see a Wexford v Tipperary final! With Wexford to win! But it would be nice to see Declan Browne get to play in Croke Park again!

Waylander

Wexford should win this but then they should have beaten Monaghon as well.

Flukey

Wexford look like the best bet for the cup alright.

cruiserweight

So the final is now decided, Wexford versus Tipperary playing each other in football in Croke Park :eek:

I will be there anyway to see Wexford footballers finally win some silverware hopefully?

WEXFORD 3-19

LONGFORD 2-13

NO MANAGER. Absolutely no preparation. Apparently no interest. No bother.

Despite showing little enthusiasm for the competition, the Wexford footballers cruised into the final of the Tommy Murphy Cup when they outclassed poor Longford before a meagre crowd of just 200 onlookers at Wexford Park on Saturday.

Wexford, who hadn't trained together in advance of the game, got off to a flying start with a tremendous goal from Paddy Colfer goal after 90 seconds. Matty Forde crashed home another superb goal just before the break to give Wexford a 2-8 to 0-9 lead.

Longford suffered another body blow within minutes of the restart when Wexford captain John Hudson rattled home a third goal.

Longford finished with late goals from substitute Willie Murray and Liam Keenan to give the scoreline a rather flattering look, but it's Wexford who now look forward to a Croke Park final meeting with Tipperary or Roscommon, who meet in the other semi-final tomorrow.

SCORERS - Wexford: M Forde 1-6 (0-3f, 0-1 '45'), J Hudson 1-4, P Colfer 1-2, D Foran 0-3, P Curtis 0-2, R Barry, PJ Banville 0-1. Longford: J Martin 0-5, B Kavanagh 0-5 (5f), L Keenan 1-1, W Murray 1-0, P Barden, K Mulligan 0-1.

WEXFORD - A Masterson; C Morris, D Breen, P Curtis; S Cullen, D Murphy, K Kennedy; D Fogarty, B Doyle; J Hegarty, R Barry, J Hudson; PJ Banville, P Colfer, M Forde. Subs: D Foran for Hegarty; N Murphy for D Murphy; G Sunderland for N Murphy; A Kavanagh for Hudson.

LONGFORD - D Sheridan; D Brady, A O'Connor, E Ledwith; S Mulligan, M Lennon, S Lynch; P Barden, L Keenan; K Smith, K Mulligan, D Reilly; J Martin, B Kavanagh, T Smullen. Subs: P O'Hara for Lynch; F McGee for Lennon; D Masterson for Ledwith; W Murray for Mulligan.

TIPPERARY 0-15

ROSCOMMON 0-11

Tommy Murphy Cup

DECLAN BROWNE turned in a top-drawer performance to inspire Tipperary to victory over Roscommon in a keenly contested Tommy Murphy Cup SF semi-final at Thurles last night.

Browne scored five points from play as outsiders Tipperary surprised the fancied Roscommon outfit to qualify to meet Wexford in the final.

After a tight first half, the sides were level 0-8 apiece at the interval.

Tipperary enjoyed the better of the exchanges after the break and, with Browne leading the way, they went 0-12 to 0-9 clear at the end of the third quarter. Roscommon tried hard to get back on terms but Tipp finished the stronger.

While Browne was the star of the show for Tipperary, Benny Hickey, Brian Lacey, Brian Mulvihill, Damien O'Brien and Niall Fitzgerald were others to shine.

SCORERS - Tipperary: D Browne 0-7, B Hickey 0-5, B Mulvihill, B Lacey, A Fitzgerald 0-1 each. Roscommon: S Lohan 0-7, K Mannion 0-2, B Higgins, D Hoey 0-1 each.

TIPPERARY - P Fitzgerald; D Byrne, N Curran, P King; P Morrissey, B Lacey, R Costigan; K. Mulryan, N Fitzgerald; S Murphy, B Hickey, B Hahessy; B Mulvihill, D Browne, D O'Brien. Subs: A Fitzgerald for Murphy, E Hanrahan for N Fitzgerald.

ROSCOMMON - G Claffey; J Nolan, J White, G Aherne; J Rodgers, D Casey, S McDermott; S O'Neill, M Finneran; K Mannion, M O'Carroll, D Hoey; B Higgins, S Lohan, J Dunning. Subs: J Tiernan for O'Neill, J Callery for O'Carroll, S Daly for Rodgers, J Egan for Dunning.

Flukey

Wexford have to be favourites for this. As to silverware Cruiserweight, don't forget that Wexford were the first county to win four All-Ireland Senior Football Finals in a row. They have plenty of silverware, although it is a while since they got some. This should end that.

cruiserweight

Flukey wrote:

Wexford have to be favourites for this. As to silverware Cruiserweight, don't forget that Wexford were the first county to win four All-Ireland Senior Football Finals in a row. They have plenty of silverware, although it is a while since they got some. This should end that.

I am well aware of my counties history, but the last of that 4 in a row was in 1918, the last time the won the All-Ireland! They have not been in a Leinster final since the 40's, but came close this year!

You can never have to many trophies! It is just a shame that the football team is not as well supported as the hurling team!

I would not write off Tipp though, any team with Declan Browne has a chance he scored 5 points from play against Roscommon and in IMHO is one of (if not) the best forward in the country!

Flukey

I know you are aware of your history Cruiserweight, but other viewers of the thread might not. 1945 was their last Leinster Football title win and since the coming of the hurlers in the 1950s football has taken a back seat. It is only older people and those that know about the game, that regard Wexford as being a traditional football power too. It would be great to see them win and get something for the progress they have made in recent years.

Declan Browne, a former All-Star as you'd know, is past his best by now. He has slipped down the rankings. There are far better forwards ahead of him, like Mattie Forde. Tipperary need more than him because Wexford have more than Mattie Forde. On that basis, you'd have to fancy Wexford.

Mighty_Mouse

Dunno if Declan Browne has slipped down any rankings. Hasnt he just been plagued by injury for the last couple of years.

Culchie

It's a pity the football fraternty didn't embrace this competition with the same gusto as the Hurling minnows did..... a la London and Westmeath, isn't it?

cruiserweight

Flukey wrote:

I know you are aware of your history Cruiserweight, but other viewers of the thread might not. 1945 was their last Leinster Football title win and since the coming of the hurlers in the 1950s football has taken a back seat. It is only older people and those that know about the game, that regard Wexford as being a traditional football power too. It would be great to see them win and get something for the progress they have made in recent years.

Declan Browne, a former All-Star as you'd know, is past his best by now. He has slipped down the rankings. There are far better forwards ahead of him, like Mattie Forde. Tipperary need more than him because Wexford have more than Mattie Forde. On that basis, you'd have to fancy Wexford.

As I have said in other threads I think that Mattie Forde is over-rated, but anyway! An interesting point to note in relation to Wexford football is that the great Nicky Rackard played in a Leinster football final before he ever played in a Leinster hurling final! :eek:

KevIRL

Culchie wrote:

It's a pity the football fraternty didn't embrace this competition with the same gusto as the Hurling minnows did..... a la London and Westmeath, isn't it?

Well the big diff is that the hurling competitons have promotion to a higher tier at stake for the winners.

Culchie

I take your point, but it's more of a 'Worthington/worthless Cup' attitude being taken.

Wexford hadn't trained at all, I know that Roscommon have been on the beer since about July 2001, Sligo didn't want to field a team last year, Antrim pulled out this year.

It doesn't augur well.

I think the development of the ladies football piggybacking on the Mens Football (curtain raisers etc...) would be of more benefit in the long run ... bring families to matches etc....

Nothing worse than watching a match when neither teams really cares whether they win or lose.

cruiserweight

Culchie wrote:

Wexford hadn't trained at all, I know that Roscommon have been on the beer since about July 2001, Sligo didn't want to field a team last year, Antrim pulled out this year.
.

I take that point that maybe teams don't care as much as they should! But on they other hand how often do teams like Tipp or Clare (last year) get to play football at Croke Park! Maybe now that the competition has gotten to this stage teams may care more! The teams that did well in the competition last year (ie Clare and Sligo) have done better this year than last year!

It is a new competition and may take a while to get up and running, but who knows in 10 years time it may be taken more seriously! If you were a player from a so called weaker county and you had a chance to win a trophy in Croke Park playing football in August wouldn't you want to? Give it time!

Who knows Culchie maybe Mayo will win it next year

Culchie

Cruiserweight, it's not me that needs to be convinced of the merits of the Tommy Murphy, it's most of the competing counties !


My point is that if they should no interest or committment to these competition, the GAA could better to spend their time and money on those who will grab the opportunity, like the hurlers did.

Mayo might indeed win it, as long as they don't play Kerry en route


Should be something the Rossies should be up for, but it would mean missing out on a drinking session on a Sunday. That counties footballers are a disgrace, they should be challenging for last 8 every year.

Lemlin

I've great respect for the Murphy Cup. It ensures that county players from weaker teams don't train all year for just two games.

That said, I'd far prefer Cavan's run to the fourth round of the quarter finals this year than if they won the Tommy Murphy cup.

For players like Wexford, who probably fancied themselves to win Leinster, I'd imagine that a Murphy cup medal from this year would just be a cruel reminder that they missed out on their aspirations. You could say at least they won something but highly motivated county footballers don't look at it that way.

Culchie

Lemlin wrote:

I've great respect for the Murphy Cup. It ensures that county players from weaker teams don't train all year for just two games.

That said, I'd far prefer Cavan's run to the fourth round of the quarter finals this year than if they won the Tommy Murphy cup.

For players like Wexford, who probably fancied themselves to win Leinster, I'd imagine that a Murphy cup medal from this year would just be a cruel reminder that they missed out on their aspirations. You could say at least they won something but highly motivated county footballers don't look at it that way.

Lemlin, the problem is that the Tommy Murphy cup is not motivating the players. Wexford didn't train once since their Championship exit, Antrim didn't bother to field a team as the players wanted to go on holiday, and Roscommon, well , Roscommon players :rolleyes:

Lemlin

That was exactly my point. Highly motivated county players don't want a medal that reminds them that they weren't good enough to cut it in the All-Ireland.

cruiserweight

Lemlin wrote:

For players like Wexford, who probably fancied themselves to win Leinster, I'd imagine that a Murphy cup medal from this year would just be a cruel reminder that they missed out on their aspirations. You could say at least they won something but highly motivated county footballers don't look at it that way.

Well it will be a reminder to them not to underestimate teams like Monaghan again! This Wexford team are on a learning curve and are learning some tough lessons like from Armagh in the league final, Dublin in the Leinster semi-final and Monaghan in the qualifiers! Hopefully it will stand to them in the coming years! Also we got to learn what players actually want to play football for Wexford and who don't (Philip Wallace aside)

Culchie

Lemlin said

"That was exactly my point. Highly motivated county players don't want a medal that reminds them that they weren't good enough to cut it in the All-Ireland."




Well they are not highly motivated then are they?

Pride in the Jersey, and of their county folk should be enough.

cruiserweight

Wexford have named their team for the Tommy Murphy Cup final! Anybody here from Tipp going to the game on Sunday?

Wexford have named an unchanged fifteen for Sunday's Tommy Murphy Cup final against Tipperary on Sunday.

Following a disappointing exit to Monaghan in the second round of the championship qualifiers, the Model County will look to end the year on a high by taking glory at Croke Park, after losing out to Armagh in the Division 1 final earlier in the year.

All eyes will be on lethal front man Matty Forde, but P. J. Banville and dual star Redmond Barry will offer a serious threat to the Premier County as well.

Paddy Colfer and John Hudson both found goals in the semi-final win over Longford, and Tipp will have to be on their guard to stop the Model County men.

Goalkeeper Anthony Masterson of Castletown keeps his place after a commanding performance, when he came in for the Longford game.

Wexford - A Masterson; P Curtis, D Murphy, C Morris; S Cullen, D Breen, K Kennedy; B Doyle, D Fogarty; J Hudson, R Barry, J Hegarty; P.J. Banville. P Colfer, M Forde.