M. Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada finals: Glory again for Limerick's Colin Ryan
Senior Hurling winner Colin Ryan of Limerick with the trophy after the M. Donnelly GAA Poc Fada All-Ireland Finals at Annaverna Mountain in the Cooley Peninsula, Ravensdale, Louth. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Paul Keane
Limerick's Colin Ryan is king of the mountain again, braving the Cooley Peninsula's high winds to regain the M. Donnelly All-Ireland Poc Fada title.
A former All-Ireland SHC medallist with Limerick, Ryan previously won the national Poc Fada title in 2021 before finishing second in each of the next three seasons.
He bucked that trend impressively this time, getting around the shortened course in just 25 pucks with, crucially, 60.7 metres to be added on.
Kilkenny hurler Fionan Mackessy, chasing his third title in a row, and Offaly star Cillian Kiely, who claimed Poc Fada titles in 2018 and 2019, both took 25 pucks too.
But Kiely could only add on 47 metres, so finished second overall, while Mackessy finished third with 35 metres on top of his 25 pucks.
The additional metres are measured by how far the sliotar goes after it crosses the first turning point on the course, as well as how far it goes beyond the finish line.
The traditional 5km course is broken into four quarters, with several turning points, though the second and third quarters were deemed unplayable today due to strong, gusting winds.
Ryan's achievement was all the more impressive as he lined out for his club Pallasgreen at centre-back in the Limerick intermediate championship yesterday afternoon.
Tipperary great Brendan Cummins competed on an invitation from organisers though failed in his bid to secure a record 10th title, finishing seventh.
Mayo's Bobby Douglas finished fourth, ahead of Roscommon's Noel Fallon and 2022 winner Killian Phelan.
Cork's Molly Lynch completed a remarkable five-in-a-row of senior camogie titles on what was a regular, full course. She completed the course almost a full four pucks ahead of Down's Sara Louise Graffin.
Westmeath's Conor Raleigh won the U-16 boys title, narrowly edging out Galway's Oran Stratford while Offaly's Siofra Ginty was the outstanding U-16 camogie participant, taking the title with two pucks to spare.