“They can slaughter pigs for fun, but making pretty shapes with the bladder is a bit of a mystery.”

At the Telegraph’s sports blog, Kiwi Eric Janssen has a question about the weekend Six Nations rugby

Will Greenwood wrote on Saturday that he believed Brian O’Driscoll was Ireland’s defensive weak link. Did Paul O’Connell agree and therefore kick his captain in the head? We demand to know!

Heh.

Pete Baker @ 07:45 PM | Comments (2)

“As the slogan says: Citius, altius, slidius, positive discriminatius.”

I’d been looking for an excuse to link to Dara O’Briain’s Guardian Sports Blog.  And this is as good an excuse as any.  This week he’s cheering the Irish bobsleigh team’s kicking Antipodean arse at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver after the Australians’ bid for inclusion threatened the Irish duo’s place in the competition.  Over to you, Dara.

This isn’t the big story of these Games – Shaun White, Lindsey Vonn and what may be an incredible men’s hockey final between Canada and the USA tomorrow are – but beneath the hoopla and hype, it was a nice little victory. Gods make their own importance.

Pete Baker @ 11:46 AM | Comments (3)

Honours even in Intercontinental Cup as Under-19s prepare for plate QF

Ireland’s senior and under-19 cricket sides are both in action in warmer climes at the moment:  the 1st XI have resumed their ICC Intercontinental Cup schedule in Sri Lanka against a fast improving Afghanistan side while the juniors have been blooded against some of the best sides in the world in the Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.

The seniors have had a reasonable first day after winning the toss and electing to bat in Dambulla.  Porterfield, Wilson and Niall O’Brien all reached half centuries as the Irish cruised to 203-2 before losing 3 quick wickets to the leg-spin of Samiullah Shenwari.  Andrew White steadied the ship with the Northants wicketkeeper but both fell before the close to leave the favourites 324-7 at the close and hoping to push on to around 400 in the morning.

The Under-19s will be hoping to improve on the 13th place finish they achieved last time around in 2008.  After a predictable defeat against South Africa and a mauling at the hands of the Australians, Ireland scored their first win on Tuesday with a convincing defeat of the USA.  Senior cap Paul Stirling made 114 as the Irish chased down their target of 218 with 5 wickets and more than 6 overs to spare.  The side now face Zimbabwe in Napier on Sunday as the bottom 8 sides in the standings compete in the knockout plate championship.

Stumps: Dambulla, Day 1 of 4.  Ireland 324-7 (98 ov) Porterfield 78, N O’Brien 66, Wilson 53; Samiullah Shenwari 3-55

Dave Hartin @ 08:17 PM | Comments (1)

Harrington: No sympathy for Tiger…

Am I alone in being somewhat surprised at Padraig Harrington’s judgemental statement on Tiger Woods’s dilemma? Mr Harrington made it clear he had “no sympathy” for Tiger Woods. Speaking on RTE’s Late Late Show (30 mins in) he said Woods had chosen a ‘path’ clearly of which he is not approving.

He did qualify his position in drawing attention to the fact that the allegations against Mr. Woods had not resulted in the death of anyone. It is arguable that Harrington is just refreshingly honest. I wonder what Jesus would say?

Eamonn Mallie @ 09:39 PM

“the result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed”

RTÉ reports FIFA’s official response to the FAI request to replay their World Cup play-off match against France.  From the RTÉ report.

FIFA said in a statement: ‘FIFA has today 20 November 2009 replied to the request made by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to replay the 2010 FIFA World Cup play-off match held on 18 November 2009 between France and the Republic of Ireland in Paris. ‘In the reply, FIFA states that the result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed. As is clearly mentioned in the Laws of the Game, during matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final.’

Adds The BBC report the statement by the French Football Federation [FFF]

“The FFF understands the disappointment and bitterness of the Irish players, management and supporters,” read a statement. “The federation never sought to deny the refereeing error which saw the equalising French goal allowed. “At the end of the match and because French football itself has suffered in the past by events of a similar nature, the FFF management expressed their regrets and sympathy to their Irish counterparts. “During matches, decisions are taken by the referee and these decisions are final. As a result, the result of the match cannot be changed and the match cannot be replayed. “The Fifa decision is binding and applies to both federations.”

Pete Baker @ 04:28 PM

Extra time in Paris

Where in the 90 minutes Ireland scored the away goal required to level the aggregate score in the World Cup qualifier against France. Full Time France 0 - 1 Ireland (agg 1-1).  Live [radio] coverage here. Update A blatant hand-ball by Henri in 1st period of extra time, but the goal is given.  France 1 - 1 Ireland (agg 2 - 1) And That’s how it ends. “A travesty in Paris”. Adds The Guardian’s coverage includes this quote from Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern - “Millions of people worldwide saw it was a blatant double handball – not to mention a double offside – and we should put the powers that be in the cosy world of Fifa on the spot and demand a replay.”  More According to the BBC report - “The Football Association of Ireland has lodged a complaint with Fifa asking for their World Cup play-off against France to be replayed.”  But Republic manager Giovanni Trapattoni does not expect a replay, “When a referee decides a game has finished I know it is impossible to replay the game”.  Indeed. Finally Must read Mark Devenport.

Following swiftly on from the Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern’s demand for a replay, the Strangford intervention will surely tip the balance with Sepp Blatter.

Heh.

Pete Baker @ 08:56 PM

“We recognise that the actions of the club board have compromised the integrity of the league”

After Derry City Football Club’s ejection from the League of Ireland, over allegations of undisclosed secondary contracts for players, the club’s directors held a news conference.  They denounced the FAI hearing as “a witch hunt”, declared that “a hidden agenda exists within the FAI in relation to Derry City Football Club”, and that they were “currently exploring any possibility of any type of appeal procedure within the FAI or via a court of law in Dublin or Belfast.”  Last night the chairman of the club resigned, along with three board members, leaving the Professional Footballers’ Association of Ireland to explain on behalf of the club’s players.

The position is that at the beginning of the contract period, each player was presented with a document on Derry City headed paper which contained income amounts which we each individually agreed with the club.  With only one exception, no player knowingly signed a second document. It now appears that, what the club had misrepresented to us as a blank registration form containing no figures, terms or conditions was, in fact, a second document upon which different figures were subsequently entered and lodged with the league.  The full terms of this contract were never made available to the players and we fully believed that the wages which we were being paid were disclosed to the league in accordance with normal practice.

Pete Baker @ 01:40 PM

“A sense of stunned bewilderment suffused Air Force One and the White House.”

After Chicago got knocked out of the race to host the 2016 Olympics in the first round of voting yesterday - Rio won - it’s interesting to read a more robust defence of “superstar” US President Barack Obama’s involvement from a BBC journalist than in the NY Times editorial.

We like having an articulate, fiercely competitive president, especially one with such a strong moral compass. But guys, if you’re going to roll the dice, next time make sure the stakes are worth it.

A second NY Times report notes that, “[President Obama] learned Chicago lost in the first round while watching a CNN transmission whose signal cut in and out as Air Force One passed over Cabot Strait between Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.”  Would that be this CNN transmission?  Via the Professor.

Pete Baker @ 01:53 PM

State Primaries not taking up the Minister’s kind offer on Irish…

Simon Doyle writing in today’s Irish News notes that not one of the 76 schools using the Primary Languages Programme to fund language teaching of Irish come from that sector comes from the state sector. The initiative is described as intended (presumably amongst other things) ‘to promote the Irish language amongst Protestant children’. Perhaps it is a ‘problem’ that needs a little more than money thrown at it..?

Mick Fealty @ 04:38 AM

Cricket: It takes an Irishman…

Just on a final note to yesterday’s One Day International at Stormont, whilst some England fans are whingeing about the pointlessness of such matches (it’s presumably because of Ireland’s impressive run in the World Cup), we only lost by 3 runs, and had a target of 17 runs to make off the last over (scorecard here). Impressive enough you might say. Then read the detail in the Irish Times this morning:

Mick Fealty @ 05:47 PM

Ireland v England ODI

There was a brief rain delay at Stormont, where England won the toss and elected to bat in the one day international against Ireland [50 overs].  But not before Trent Johnston, on his 100th cap, picked up two early wickets, Bopara and Trott.  Cricinfo scorecard. Wicket! MJ Prior c West b Botha 29 (52b 3x4 0x6). Wicket! PD Collingwood c †NJ O’Brien b West 9 (23b 0x4 0x6). Wicket! OA Shah c KJ O’Brien b Cusack 21 (32b 0x4 1x6). Wicket! JL Denly lbw b Johnston 67 (111b 3x4 0x6). Crucial wicket taken by a reintroduced Johnston. Another wicket for Johnston! LJ Wright c Mooney b Johnston 36 (26b 3x4 2x6). Wicket! AU Rashid c KJ O’Brien b Cusack 7 (17b 0x4 0x6). Wicket! GP Swann b Botha 5 (7b 0x4 0x6). England in danger of being bowled out. England 203 for 9 off 50 overs. Target 204. That should be get-able.. But, with the weather threatening to intervene, Ireland will need to keep an eye on the run rate [4.08 runs per over required]. Update After a rain delay, the match will restart at 5.36pm. It’s now a 20 over game and Duckworth/Lewis decrees Ireland’s new target to be 116 to win. Now Porterfield out 2nd over for 4 runs. Niall O’Brien out 4th over for 12 runs. Botha out in 9th over for 15 runs. Don’t throw this one away guys. Stirling goes in the 10th for a solid 30 runs. A couple of low scoring overs. Need to watch that run rate. Kevin O’Brien goes in the 15th over for just 4 runs. Mooney stumped in the 16th for 9 runs. It could be slipping away. White run out for 1 run in 17th. West goes in 18th. And Cusack follows. Final Ireland 113 for 9 off 20 overs. England win by 2 runs (D/L method). Close, but not close enough. Disappointing collapse let the run rate get away. Trent Johnston, deservedly, man of the match.

Pete Baker @ 08:25 AM

BBC’s weird sporting scheduling last Sunday….

David McNarry’s not the only one hacked off with the strange meandering of the BBC’s sports agenda. Dependent up satellite version of BBC2 NI, I missed the whole of Beeb’s All Ireland Championship campaign… Apparently the Radio Times had billed GAA Analogue and the Finals day of the World Athletics Championship to be available on Digital.  A transparently fair compromise, which the BBC did not follow through on. It’s not as though it’s not happened before... Meanwhile, on Sundays, those of us elsewhere on Sky will have to continue to get a BBC2 NI that’s not BBC2 NI…

Adds: it seems the GAA sold the rights to their games outside of Ireland to another broadcaster… so you have to pay ‘through the nose’ to watch the GAA in Britain…

Mick Fealty @ 01:04 PM

Lance’s Dublin group cycle ride

In Dublin today?  As I may have mentioned.. 7 time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is organising an impromptu group cycle ride

Good morning Dublin. Who wants to ride this afternoon? I do. 5:30 pm @ the roundabout of Fountain Rd and Chesterfield Ave. See you there..

And as he also says

Need a bike for our 5:30 ride? http://www.phoenixparkbikehire.com

Update Heh.

I’ve decided it’s too nice and sunny (perfect) to ride. I think I’ll just sit around. Kidding!! On my way to phoenix park. Hell yeah.

And RTÉ reports - “Gardai said more than 1,000 people on bikes joined in.”

Reacting to the thousand-plus turnout, [Lance Armstrong] warned that the craze he started in Scotland last week will not be repeated in every city he visits. ‘I don’t think anyone can top Dublin now after this,’ he said.

Adds From Lance

Thanks Dublin!! What a great park and a cool ride w/ all of you. I heard a 1000+ came out. I’m speechless. Gotta love a good bike ride!!

Pete Baker @ 07:58 AM

GAA and inclusion: “Let them come in on our terms and if they don’t let them stay out”

Whatever you make of last week’s Sinn Fein sponsored rally at Galbally GAC, it leaves the GAA in a sticky position. Despite trenchant denials that there was any breach of rule 7a, the incident will have set back the image of association in Northern Ireland. Our Friend in the North lays out the problem, with some precision:

Mick Fealty @ 05:36 AM

Largest urban park in Europe..?  Hmm…

With the Tour of Ireland over, 7 times winner of the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong, is now in Dublin for a three day global cancer summit organised by his charity Livestrong.  As I mentioned previously, when he was in Scotland he organised an impromptu group cycle ride in Paisley via twitter.  And he might be thinking of doing the same thing again.. From Lance Armstrong’s twitter feed.

“Largest urban park in Europe is Dublin’s Phoenix Park at nearly 1800 acres. I sure would like to go for a ride there….”

Update From Lance

Long yet awesome day at the LS summit. Thx to all who attended and contributed. Too tired to ride this afternoon. Maybe tomorrow….??

Further update group cycle ride 5.30pm today

Pete Baker @ 08:17 AM

Tour of Ireland 2009

The big draw of cycling’s Tour of Ireland this year is undoubtedly the 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, as the BBC report notes.  But amongst the team lists competing in Ireland’s 3-day tour, shortened due to the “very tough economic climate”, are a number of recognisable names.  Australian veteran Stuart O’Grady for example, and the Isle of Man’s Mark Cavendish who won 6 stages in this year’s Tour de France including an impressive final stage victory on the Champs-Élysées.  Russell Downing of the Candi TV - Marshalls Pasta Team won the first stage today.  Meanwhile Lance is, of course, twittering away.  He may even go for an impromptu ride about town..

Pete Baker @ 05:05 PM

“Sport has tremendous potential to bring communities together..”

What had previously been a personal opinion would now appear to be the ministerial view as the Northern Ireland Sports Minister, officially, “encourage[s] the GAA to carry out a full investigation into the activities of 16 August at Galbally and to make a full statement as soon as possible.”  That would be the activities noted here and not necessarily the activities noted here.. ANYhoo.. [Adds BBC report].  The Irish Times report adds

When contacted GAA headquarters referred the matter of the commemoration at its ground in Galbally to the organisation’s Ulster Council which said it had no comment to make on the matter at this time. GAA sources acknowledged, however, that holding the commemoration on its ground in Galbally is contrary to rule 7 (a) of the organisation.

A similar situation arose in 2006 when a major commemoration was held in Casement Park in Belfast on the 25th anniversary of the hunger strikes. The instruction from Croke Park not to hold the commemoration in Casement Park was ignored. Subsequently, the GAA refused to make tickets available to senior Sinn Féin members for the 2006 hurling and football All-Ireland finals, a decision Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness described as “childish”.

Updated below the fold.

Pete Baker @ 12:04 PM

Ireland poised for victory over Scotland in ICC Intercontinental Cup match

After a shaky start which saw Scotland take a narrow first innings lead, and 6 bonus points, Ireland now look set for victory in Aberdeen tomorrow on the final day of their ICC Intercontinental Cup 4-day match.  William Porterfield, who was only available for Ireland because Gloucester left him out of their side for the County Championship match against Leicestershire, notched up a second innings 118 to add to his first innings 77 leaving Scotland a target of 298 to win.  By the end of play today Ireland had reduced Scotland to 72 for 5.  From the Cricinfo scorecard - Ireland 202 & 303 Scotland 208 & 72/5 (31.0 ov). Scotland require another 226 runs with 5 wickets remaining. Ball by ball commentary here. Update Rain delay.. Bah Match drawn.

Pete Baker @ 06:54 PM

That GAA thread rides again… in the Irish Post…

Or at least the potted highlights (including one cracking little satirical riposte from a very naughty boy who I’ve banned too many times to remember - eh, William?)... Here ya go… Go check and see if you’re there… (Oh yes, and the Strand’s in Down Latch!)

Mick Fealty @ 01:47 PM

“The financial advice we are getting at the minute is that we could borrow as much as £5m”

Not sure what to make of the opening line from this BBC report

Councillors in Londonderry have voted to ask the local authority to take over the project to redevelop the Brandywell stadium.

Who exactly are they asking?  Apparently, after the “bit of a ruck” Mick noted, they’ve decided that Brandywell Properties, who manage the site’s development on behalf of the Council, aren’t making sufficient progress.  Still, after the wonderful job the Council made of managing City of Derry Airport, what could go wrong?

Pete Baker @ 08:36 AM

Gaelic Athletic Association 1884 - 2009: 1 In Ulster…

A few years back I remember talking to a senior DUP politician about the fact that the two populations (despite a considerable amount of Peace Processing that’s what they substantially remain) in Northern Ireland each seem to have quite separate public lives that essentially remain locked to one another… it was that thought which prompted me to suggest to the Newsletter’s Sam McBride the small scale inert character of the Twelfth at the hub of many rural Protestant populations may have be obvious to those with family in the Orange Order, but little of it comes across to those of us on the outside… To a large extent, the GAA is an equivalent ‘private public life’ for Northern Irish Catholic society… Reviewing: The Gaelic Athletic Association, 1884-2009...

Mick Fealty @ 02:48 PM

“and will bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK.”

The Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Minister, Paul Goggins, MP, has launched a 19 week long consultation on proposed new laws “to tackle unacceptable behaviour at sports grounds and events.”  NI Sports Minister, Nelson McCausland, MLA, was also at the launch. Consultation document here, and “easy to read” summary [both pdf files]. From the NIO statement.

Paul Goggins said: “Our purpose is to help clubs and sporting bodies address unacceptable behaviour by a small minority of spectators who attend events only to cause trouble.  “The proposed powers focus on issues including offensive chanting at games, missile throwing and pitch invasions, powers to tackle alcohol related problems around sporting events and ticket touting.

“The powers will include a soccer banning order regime that would prevent trouble makers from attending matches at home and abroad and will bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK.”

Pete Baker @ 12:17 PM

138th Open Championship play-off

If you’re a golf fan you’ll already know that a bogey on the 18th hole has left 59 year-old 5-times former champion Tom Watson in a 4 hole play-off against fellow American Stewart Cink for the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry.  Watson has been amongst the leaders since the first round.  Online live video here. Adds Cink takes an early lead with a par to Watson’s +1 on the 1st play-off hole. Great save for par by Watson on 2nd. No Change.  Another 2 shots dropped by Watson on 3rd to Cink’s birdie. Cink clinches it on the final hole with another birdie to Watson’s bogey. A tremendous effort by Watson throughout the week, but it wasn’t to be.  Adds From today’s Irish Times

YOU FELT it last evening, a cold chill passing over the grand links of Turnberry as the ghosts of Old Tom Morris, Willie Park, Harry Vardon and all those other greats of bygone times accepted it was not to be and returned to their spiritual resting places.

Pete Baker @ 03:40 PM

Ireland in control against Kenya

Quick update for Slugger’s cricket fans (I’m working all weekend so it’s a little tardy).  After Paul Stirling‘s maiden first class ton yesterday and a welcome return to form for Bray, Ireland pushed on this morning on day two of their opening ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Kenya in Eglinton with West and McCallen adding 43 for the 9th wicket as Ireland posted a competitive 404 in their first innings.  West also picked up a couple of wickets as the Kenyans have stuttered in reply posting 239-6 after rain brought proceedings to an early close.  With further showers forecast over the next couple of days, Ireland must look to push the game forward quickly as interruptions are likely.  Scotland have beaten Canada in a low scoring affair in their first game of the tournament.

Stumps Day 2 of 4, Eglinton: Kenya trail Ireland by 164 runs with 4 first innings wickets remaining. Toss: Ireland
Ireland 403 (111.3 ov) P Stirling 100, Bray 89, Cusack 63; Tikolo 6-80 Kenya 239-6 (76 ov) Kamande 65*, D Obuya 64, Ouma 52; West 2-57

Dave Hartin @ 09:32 PM

ICC World Twenty20 Final - Pakistan v Sri Lanka

Ireland’s honourable performance in this year’s ICC World Twenty20 tournament gained them a mention in the Guardian’s Vic Marks’ “Twenty reasons to be cheerful” list [I’ll add a link if I can find one], but not a place in the final.  Instead, with England’s women already convincing winners over New Zealand, the men’s final sees two of Ireland’s earlier opponents in the Super8s vying for the title - Pakistan v Sri Lanka [3pm start]. From the archive - Ireland v Sri Lanka and Ireland v Pakistan. You can follow the game via the BBC live text commentary or the Guardian’s alternative version.  Radio 5Live here [Realplayer UK only].  Or the Cricinfo scoreboard. Sri Lanka won toss and will bat first. Sri Lanka 138-6 from 20 overs. Sri Lankan dangerman Dilshan out in first over - an opening wicket maiden over by Mohammad Aamer. Sri Lankan wickets tumbling in early overs. After 10 overs Sri Lanka 54-4. A captain’s innings from Sangakkara [64 not out off 52 balls], assisted by Mathews [35 off 24], sets Pakistan a testing target of 139 to win with 17 runs off the final over. Pakistan 139-2 from 18.4 overs. Akmal st Sangakkara b Jayasuriya 37 off 28 balls [2x4 2x6]. After 10 overs Pakistan 65-2. Pakistan win by 8 wickets. Comfortably in the end. Man of the match, Shahid Afridi 54 not out off 40 balls [2x4 2x6] and bowling figures of 20-1 from 4 overs.

Pete Baker @ 11:49 AM