Sport
Nothing can overshadow something this big and this bright
by Adam Moynihan
As a footballing community, our happiest memories together have almost exclusively been narrated by RTÉ’s Belfast-born commentator George Hamilton.
From a nation holding its breath in Genoa to Ray Houghton doing the job for Jack in Giants Stadium, from getting no more than Ireland deserved in Kashima to Robbie Brady bringing us all to our feet in Lille. Hamilton has always been there, first to savour the moment and then to convert the pictures into words, at manic junctures when the best the rest of us can muster is a guttural, drawn-out ‘yes’.
Thankfully, and fittingly, Hamilton was on the mic in Glasgow on Tuesday night to once again lend his voice to another iconic moment in Irish football history.
“Fahey standing firm. Now it’s O’Sullivan. And there’s the run of Barrett… And Barrett’s given herself a chance here… Amber Barrett in on goal… Amber Barrett makes the breakthrough!
“That was sheer brilliance from Amber Barrett. The first touch to take her clear was absolutely terrific. And Amber Barrett kneels in celebration in honour of the Donegal folk who passed away in the disaster in Creeslough. What a moment for the Donegal girl.”
I’m not sure if anything I’ve ever written in my capacity as a sports journalist has brought a tear to someone’s eye; that transcription is probably as close as I’ll get.
The goal itself was superb. Niamh Fahey’s cushioned header scuppered a Scotland attack and regained possession for the Irish. Denise O’Sullivan’s turn and pass lit the fuse. Barrett’s first touch with her left was like something out of a video game. Inch perfect in its execution, it rapidly propelled the Potsdam striker from a threatening position into a deadly one. Amber Alert to Red Alert in an instant.
The second touch with the right improved the angle and settled things down. And then the finish… The finish was world class. An impudent toe poke that left the unsuspecting keeper flat-footed, a flash of brilliance that could easily grace any of Ronaldinho’s highlight reels.
From beginning to end, the move was perfect. Unstoppable. Unbelievable. Unforgettable.
Then came the celebration. A celebration not only of the joyous goal that preceded it, but also of the people represented by the armband around Barrett’s left bicep. The Donegal woman took a knee and bowed her head as she pointed to the black band. The 10 victims of last Friday’s tragic accident at Creeslough honoured amid the outpouring of emotion.
It took a brave defensive effort to keep the Scots at bay for the remaining 25 minutes or so. An assured display by goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan (the American-born granddaughter of a Kerryman, I hasten to add) was pivotal. Her first-half penalty save from the boot of Scotland striker Caroline Weir seemed to fill her and the players in front of her with confidence.
Beautiful scenes followed the final whistle as Vera Pauw and her players, many draped in tricolours, danced arm in arm and basked beneath the Hampden Park floodlights.
Misguided individuals would have you believe that singing an offensive-to-some pub song in the dressing room “overshadowed” what happened on the pitch. Nothing can overshadow something this big and this bright. It would be like trying to cast a shadow over the sun.
At last, Ireland’s dream of World Cup qualification has been realised. Now it’s time for another, larger dream to take its place: the World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand beckon for the girls in green.
With Katie McCabe on corners and Megan Campbell launching grenades from the sidelines, no team on Earth will fancy taking on the Irish.
More memories to be made. More moments for George to savour.
Sport
Jack O’Connor’s Kerry squad is looking deeper and stronger (but the proof will be in the eating)
As we reach the midway point of the 2025 season, Adam Moynihan takes a close look at Kerry’s strength in depth
As the Kerry players, management team and backroom staff huddled together for a photo with the Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Cup in front of the Hogan Stand, one of the photographers raised his fist in the air, trying to illicit something resembling a celebratory scene. No joy.
Victory over Mayo had been secured in convincing enough fashion but winning the league has never been grounds for buoyant celebrations as far as Kerry are concerned. Retaining Division 1 status and unearthing some new talent is generally enough to tick the springtime box ahead of the serious business of the championship. Once that has been achieved, anything else is gravy.
Going by the disappointing loss to Armagh in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final, the need for new blood was especially great heading into the 2025 season. The team faded badly down the stretch and into extra time against the Orchard County with overdependence on core players glaringly obvious. It wasn’t the only reason they lost but Kerry simply didn’t get enough from their supporting cast on the day.
With that in mind, Jack O’Connor knew he had to work on the depth of his squad during this league campaign, and you’d have to say he made a pretty good fist of it.
Starting in goal, the situation here is clear with Shane Murphy providing back-up to Shane Ryan.
Moving out the field, in recent years Kerry have generally gone with Jason Foley at full back, Tom O’Sullivan at left corner back, and one of Paul Murphy or Graham O’Sullivan at right corner back.
After making his debut in the league in 2024, Damien Bourke has emerged as a genuine right corner back alternative with some strong performances that have vastly enhanced his reputation. Not many Kerry players came out of the Dublin defeat with extra credit to their name but Bourke was brave and tenacious, bursting out of defence and using the ball wisely. He was replaced as a starter by the experienced Murphy in later rounds but the Tralee man capped his league with a goal off the bench against Galway in Salthill.
Dylan Casey also got extended game time in the absence of Tom O’Sullivan and he acquitted himself professionally. He has a solid head on his shoulders and you get the impression that Jack O’Connor would now be comfortable throwing him into any given situation without hesitation.
The versatile Graham O’Sullivan is also an option at corner back and it looks like he’ll need to slot in somewhere other than his natural position of half back as Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Gavin White are nailed on starters at 5 and 7. O’Sullivan lined out at half forward against Galway and Mayo, underlining his flexibility and importance to the team.
There could be a changing of the guard taking place at centre back with Mike Breen seemingly shaking off the injury woes that have held back his progress with Kerry to date. With regular number 6 Tadhg Morley unavailable for selection for most of the league, Breen slotted seamlessly into that crucial central role, and he looked really confident against Mayo on Sunday. As things stand, Morley will be doing well to displace Breen but either way Kerry should have two good centre back options heading into the summer months.
Midfield has been a head scratcher for Kerry for a number of years but in Diarmuid O’Connor and Joe O’Connor they appear to have found a winning combination. Diarmuid was playing the best football of his career up to his injury against Armagh in Round 6 so getting his shoulder right for championship is of paramount importance to Kerry’s chances.
Joe is a guaranteed starter too but his assured display at wing forward against Armagh was interesting in that it opens the door for a third midfielder to start. Seán O’Brien and Barry Dan O’Sullivan both applied themselves admirably when called upon in the league and the manager should feel like he can trust them more now than he did 12 months ago.
Joe O’Connor’s arrival as a half forward candidate has improved Kerry’s options to the extent that it’s difficult to predict how they will line out from 10 to 12 in the Munster Championship. Micheál Burns has done quite well upon his reintroduction to the team after being dropped from the panel in 2024, and Paudie Clifford is looking sharp at centre forward. Tony Brosnan and Dylan Geaney are options along this line too, although Dylan has been operating as a withdrawn inside forward to date – a role Tony is also capable of playing.
Of course, Seánie O’Shea will have to fit in somewhere in this department when he fully recuperates from his knee ligament injury, so it will be interesting to see how Jack O’Connor works this conundrum out. File under ‘good problems’.
Dara Moynihan is still recovering from a hip injury and has not yet featured in 2025. He would naturally be an option at 10 if he can get back up to speed. Meanwhile, Darragh Lyne, Ruairí Murphy and Cathal Ó Beaglaoich all featured at half forward in the league.
David Clifford and Paul Geaney will play at 13 and 14 with Dylan Geaney in pole position to start at 15 on the back of a really good run of form, perhaps excepting the league final in which he was relatively quiet. Tony Brosnan is a prime candidate to challenge Dylan for that spot; the Dr Crokes player has kicked some fantastic scores in each of his last three appearances as a substitute.
As for out-and-out inside forwards, Conor Geaney and Killian Spillane are likely to be used as impact subs.
All told Kerry do appear to have better depth than they had last year, particularly with the emergence of second season players like Bourke, O’Brien and Dylan Geaney as legitimate options, and with Breen beginning to fulfil his potential. Burns’ comeback and Joe O’Connor’s newfound ability to play the 12 position also help.
As always, though, the proof will be in the eating. We will have to wait for the suffocating heat of do-or-die championship matches to find out if this squad is as deep and dependable as it looks on paper.
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