The Bank Holiday weekend was a victorious one for Kerry, with Fionán Mackessy successfully defending the M Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada championship on Annaverna Mountain in Co Louth. Their win came just after Kerry’s All-Ireland women’s senior football team scored a resounding victory at Croke Park.
Despite extremely tempestuous weather conditions, including fierce winds and relentless rainfall on the Cooley Peninsula, Mackessy proved his mettle by outperforming his competitors, finishing ahead of Limerick’s Colin Ryan. The adverse climate forced a section of the track closure due to safety concerns, shortening the course to 75% of the regular distance. Mackessy completed the adjusted route in 40 pucks and 73.4 metres.
Fionán Mackessy’s triumphant performance continues as he prepares to play club hurling in Kilkenny this year, transferring to county champions O’Loughlin Gaels in April. He emerges as a significant addition to the current Leinster heavyweights preparing to defend their Kilkenny senior title.
Acknowledgeing Mackessy’s successful transition to the club, O’Loughlin Gaels’ manager, Brian Hogan, recently voiced his satisfaction to Kilkenny’s sports podcast. He noted the comfortable integration of Mackessy into the team, and the resulting healthy competition for positions it has ignited, which he views as an asset towards strengthening the management team. He is optimistic about Mackessy’s future potential within the club’s local Kilkenny framework.
GAA president Jarlath Burns was present to award Mackessy with his championship trophy. Finishing third was Offaly’s Cillian Kiely, who had previously emerged as the winner in the 2018-19 championships.
Peter Duggan and David Fitzgerald, two renowned hurlers from Clare, took part in the event on Annaverna Mountain this past Monday. Despite their recent victory in the Liam MacCarthy cup, neither Duggan, who came in eighth, nor Fitzgerald, who secured the 11th spot, were able to clinch the top positions.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny’s Killian Phelan secured fourth place, closely followed by Noel Fallon of Roscommon in fifth. Cork’s Molly Lynch maintained her winning streak by securing the senior camogie competition title for the fourth year in a row. Susan Earner, a Galway player who held the title in 2017 and 2018, was the runner-up.
Lynch, the Cork captain, is prepared for a hectic week ahead as she will lead her side against Galway in the All-Ireland senior camogie final at Croke Park the following Sunday.