Sport – Page 14 – Slugger O'Toole

Ireland look set to retain ICC Intercontinental Cup

Pete Baker on May 23, 2007, 12:51 am

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Thanks to regular commenter esmeraldavillalobos for reminding me that Ireland’s cricket team have been in action again, and in a city I used to know quite well. The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup, which Ireland currently hold, started at Leicester’s Grace Road ground today – the first day of a potential 4 day test against Canada. Ireland have one [or more – Ed] hand on the cup already having dismissed skittled Canada all out for 92 runs, they ended …

Sanchez leaves for Fulham…

Mick Fealty on May 11, 2007, 6:02 pm

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Blair and Hain were not the only ones to leave Northern Ireland this week. In what must be a blow to the Northern Ireland soccer team Lawrie Sanchez is quitting his job to take up a full time post with Fulham. He has clearly lost the argument with his new bosses that he could manage both at the same time. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and …

I’m with the rest of the world..

Pete Baker on April 28, 2007, 9:37 pm

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After a lengthy delay for rain, the final of the Cricket World Cup between Australia and Sri Lanka has just gotten underway and it will be a truncated 38 overs each. As the BBC blog suggests, most neutrals will be hoping that Sri Lanka can bring Australia’s unbeaten run of 28 World Cup games to an end even if it is Glenn McGrath’s last tournament. Usual options for coverage, overbyover, scorecard and live commentary. Australia won the toss and decided …

IFA sign up to Sky Sports

Pete Baker on April 27, 2007, 11:14 pm

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At £6million the Belfast Telegraph seem to have underestimated the deal between Sky Sports and the IFA, it does dwarf the previous £2.5million the BBC paid to cover the Euro 2008 qualifiers, but IFA president Jim Boyce has claimed the new deal is worth five times that [£2.5million] amount. BBC Northern Ireland’s head of sport, Mike Edgar gave his reaction here “We understand that football is now big business and that sports rights are in an increasingly competitive territory, but …

The latest from our sports department..

Pete Baker on April 23, 2007, 7:31 pm

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Would it be too much to expect the civil servants at the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure not to spend their time issuing statements on behalf of someone who has yet to take office? And on a related note.. Sinn Féin’s Paul Butler and Raymond McCartney have stated that “Sinn Fein will not agree to plans to build any stadium until we get agreement to open up the jail as a visitor attraction with an iconic building built to …

Particular tribute..?

Pete Baker on April 19, 2007, 3:44 pm

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The First and Deputy First Ministers-to-be seem very keen on joint statements at the moment.. despite not, officially, being in office yet. The latest is a congratulatory message, and an invitation to tea, to the Ireland Cricket team.. fresh from their adventure in the West Indies. But there’s something less than statesman-like about the manner of the congratulations.. Adds The statement is hereFrom the Belfast Telegraph report In the letter to the Irish World Cup cricket team Mr Paisley described …

Two Irelands whooshing up FIFA table…

Mick Fealty on April 18, 2007, 7:27 pm

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Both the Republic and Northern Ireland have made huge strides up the FIFA world rankings.. That will keeps Stan’s vociferous media critics pegged back for a game or two… But you get the impression Sanchez, having hauled his team of ‘also rans’ to the top of their group ahead of teams like Sweden, Denmark and Spain, will keep his eye on the difficult back end of the qualifiers… H/T JD Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written …

Ireland’s World Cup adventure in final stage

Pete Baker on April 18, 2007, 5:21 pm

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With South Africa’s demolition of England’s hopes of sneaking into the semi-finals yesterday the rest of the Super8 World Cup games will not affect the list of teams for the semi-finals. That said, Ireland’s final game, against Sri Lanka today, has the potential to cause a further sharp intake of breath.. however unlikely, a win today, against one of the confirmed semi-finalists, would lift Ireland further up the table. ANYhoo.. 2.30pm start, usual usual, OverByOver.. scorecard.. live commentary. Sri Lanka …

DUP preparing to come down the side of the Maze?

Mick Fealty on April 17, 2007, 2:55 pm

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As Pete noted yesterday, the DUP have now put all their (rolling) nominations into the public domain. Blogger Sarah Curran thinks there is something cooking out in the direction of the Maze, where the prospective Minister at DCAL has a strong local interest… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. …

Donegal through to league decider…

Mick Fealty on April 16, 2007, 2:23 am

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As if to cap a perfect day… a superlative campaign, and thorough to the end… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Ireland take on Bangladesh

Pete Baker on April 15, 2007, 6:56 pm

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Running a bit late on this.. but you can catch up with Ireland’s latest Super-8 match in the Cricket World Cup against Bangladesh via the usual suspects – overbyover.. scorecard.. and live commentary. It’s probably their only best chance to grab some points. Ireland won the toss and will bat first Ireland 243-7 from 50 overs. Solid opening partnership with Bray out for 31 and Porterfield going on to make 85. Competitive total set. The bowlers will need to keep …

“Stranger things have happened…”

Pete Baker on April 13, 2007, 4:41 pm

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Another day, another Super 8 game in Ireland’s Cricket World Cup adventure. Today they face an Australian side who have proven ruthlessly efficient in the competition so far.. I wonder if they’re superstitious at all.. The Irish captain gives his thoughts here. Your choices for coverage for the 2.30pm start include, as usual, over by over, scorecard, or live commentary. Adds Australia win the toss and will bowl first. How many overs do you reckon we’ll withstand? Ireland all out …

Laurie to bow out of NI job?

Mick Fealty on April 12, 2007, 1:56 pm

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As George was very quick to note, Laurie Sanchez has been offered a job with Fulham. The Belfast Telegraph reports that if he can keep them in the Premiership, he will net more than £1 million a year in salary. A tall order, worth pulling off. But if he does, the Tele reckons the European campaign will certain signal the end of his incredibly productive time at Northern Ireland. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers …

Ireland v New Zealand

Pete Baker on April 9, 2007, 4:20 pm

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At the Guardian, Mike Selvey is weeping “for the ghosts of calypsos past”.. but the cricket goes on. Ireland face New Zealand today hoping to emulate Bangladesh’s win against South Africa – cabin fever was to blame apparently – and move away from the bottom of the table. They’ve also received a surprise donation. 2.30pm start, coverage via the usual suspects, either over by over, or scorecard, or radio commentary. Adds NZ win toss, will bat first. Then NZ 263-8 …

“the kind of penalty that only a goalkeeper could have invented”

Pete Baker on April 4, 2007, 4:05 pm

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The BBC reports that planning permission has been granted to erect a memorial in Milford, County Armagh, to William McCrum aka “Master Willie”, son of linen millionaire Robert Garmany McCrum, great-grandfather of the Observer’s literary editor Robert McCrum, member of the Irish Football Association, goalkeeper for Milford Football Club.. and, in 1890, inventor of the penalty kick.From the Wikipedia entry The original proposal read: If any player shall intentionally trip or hold an opposing player, or deliberately handle the ball …

Ireland take on South Africa

Pete Baker on April 3, 2007, 4:51 pm

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Ireland’s Cricket World Cup adventure continues today with a match against South Africa who, wobbles aside, have only lost to Australia in the competition so far. There’s some advice here and some encouraging words from Ireland’s next coach. Coverage, 2.30pm 2.45pm start, can be found via the usual suspects.. and there’s radio commentary again. Update South Africa win the toss and will bowl first Another rain delay And they’re back, game reduced to 46 overs Back after more rain. Match …

Cancel any afternoon meetings..

Pete Baker on March 30, 2007, 3:02 pm

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As you’d expect there’s been a lot of media interest in today’s clash in the Cricket World Cup between Ireland and England – 2.30pm start – including some tongue-in-cheek references to Ed Joyce. As for the match itself, as well as RTÉ updates, there’s the cricinfo scoreboard, the Guardian’s usual over-by-over coverage can be followed here, and, for once, we’re promised live radio commentary. Adds Spotted by merrie, the Guardian says, “The tournament’s plucky minnows are taking on Ireland.” Heh. …

Northern Ireland go top: Stan to get reprieve?

Mick Fealty on March 29, 2007, 1:51 am

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Yep, heard the cheering from down below, now it’s all quiet because it’s all over… (till the pubs get out)… They just expect Healy to score and he does… Meanwhile, with a 1-0 against Slovakia, maybe some of the blatantly pernicious salami slicing of Stan will stop… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, …

Ireland face West Indies.. again..

Pete Baker on March 23, 2007, 5:39 pm

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With the investigation ongoing into the murder of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer Ireland face World Cup hosts West Indies this afternoon, 2.30pm start, as the cricket continues. The West Indies are not taking anything for granted, what with 2 points at stake for the Super Eight round, and they know that the Ireland squad have beaten them before, and not just in 1969. The Irish skipper Trent Johnston, however, has been ruled out of the side with an injury. You …

Bob Woolmer was murdered

Pete Baker on March 23, 2007, 3:52 am

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The Ireland cricket team may have won through to the Super Eight round of the Cricket World Cup, but a huge shadow has just been thrown over the entire competition as the Jamaican police have just comfirmed one area of the speculation around the sudden death of Pakistan coach on March 18th, announcing that Bob Woolmer died “as a result of manual strangulation” and that a murder investigation has been launched. Adds ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed has said that …