Heartbreak at Croke
Irish hopes of a Grand Slam and a winning debut at Croke Park were shattered with a last minute French try giving the visitors a 17-20 victory Michael Robinson
Sport
On mixing politics and sport..
Peter Hain attended Ireland’s previous rugby match.. in Cardiff.. and since Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was also there it’s likely he had his Welsh Secretary’s hat on for the match. But in two weeks time Peter Hain is due to watch the game against England, in Croke Park. And, while the question of which team he will be supporting this time isn’t exactly clear, there may be another issue to guarantee a headline or two for our, shared, campaigning Secretary. In …
“nothing could be more distinctively Irish in the 21st century”
Ahead of tomorrow’s historic game, of rugby, between Ireland and France at Croke Park several papers comment and/or editorialise on its significance, but probably the most astute analysis is by Fintan O’Toole in the Irish Times, where he comments on the evolution of a complex and sophisticated system of sporting allegiances.. and identity [subs req] The truth is that nothing could be more distinctively Irish in the 21st century than rugby and soccer at Croke Park, with all the conflicting …
Princes not to attend Croker international…
Apparently, Prince’s Harry and William are great fans of English rugby, and follow them all over the world. But, as the Belfast Telegraph reports, they will not be coming to Dublin for the big England match. Other committments have been cited, but Ashleigh Wallace speculates that their attendance looked likely to spark a major controversy.
Croke Park and the transformation of relations…
Kevin Connolly with some thoughts of the longer term context of Sinn Fein’s tentative decision to support the PSNI… He contrasts the Croke Park of 21 November 1920 to the one later this month when England play Ireland in the 6 Nations Championship…
Wales 9 – Ireland 19
Much more robust in the second half than the first, Ireland will need to allay the nerves before next week’s historic match against France in Croke Park and start playing their game from the beginning (a long term feature of O’Sullivan’s teams). Still starting as a favourite has to be got over sooner rather than later. His new additions of the last few seasons now playing their way into the team (not least Ulster’s Andy Trimble!!), and sterling performances from …
Ooh…ahh.. Trevor Brennan?
Ulster Rugby had its own Cantona moment when Trevor Brennan, the Toulouse player and former Irish international assaulted an Ulster fan during the Heineken European Cup tie between Ulster and Toulouse. Reports from fan websites claim that banter between Brennan and the fans involved nothing more than disparaging comments regarding Brennan’s pub in Toulouse however there are also claims that there were more insulting remarks. Ulster lost a bad tempered game 28-13. Michael Robinson
How rugby lessons are building bridges
With Irish rugby (currently) on the up with [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6186068.stm]3 wins[/url] in the Autumn International series, yesterday’s Observer reported how one school in County Armagh is beginning to [url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1957368,00.html]break down the barriers[/url] existing between GAA and rugby in Northern Ireland. (My thanks to Aaron S for pointing out the story) Michael Robinson
Blues pay peaceful visit to West Belfast
Linfield’s visit to Suffolk Road seemed to pass off peacefully in their first visit to West Belfast since they played Belfast Celtic on 2nd April 1949. The score was 1-0 to Linfield on that occasion too. 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
McCartney will not play for Northern Ireland again…
The Newsletter has an interesting story concerning a bust up concerning West Ham defender George McCartney. And no, it has nothing to do with the sectarian divide! 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
Big run on George Best banknotes…
Clare Regan with a particular brand of Ulster Bank fivers that are in world wide demand. It seems to be doing a roaring trade, though the asking price seems to have dropped radically since Clare put the piece together. 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
Waning support for a shared Stadium?
Is this an interesting switchplay in the offing. Mairtin O’Muilleoir is apparently coming out against (though not for a two sport stadium in Belfast) the placing of an international stadium at the former site of the Maze Prison, just outside Belfast. In some respects Mairtin is simply echoing concerns expressed elsewhere that the investment would make poor returns in terms of regeneration benefits. If it were to be built in Belfast it will likely be sited in Ormeau Park: on …
Future of International Rules in doubt?
Ireland’s attempt to win back some dignity in the international rules series ended in a rout by Australia: 69-31. It was all a far cry from the perhaps too civilised first leg. One Irish player, Graham Geraghty, ended up unconscious for half an hour and was eventually taken to hospital. Three others were ‘taken out’ by another ‘physical performance’ by Australia. Even the Australian coach Kevin Sheedy seemed to recognise this time that a seam has opened up in the …
Good start for Irish provinces in Heineken Cup rugby
A winning start for all 3 Irish provinces in first round of the Heineken European Cup. Ulster [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/irish/6073066.stm]beat 3 times winners Toulouse[/url], Leinster [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6073746.stm]beat Guinness Premiership side Gloucester[/url] and the holders Munster [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/leicester/6058294.stm]beat twice winners Leicester.[/url] Munster out-half Ronan O’Gara caused some controversy during the week when he was reported to say that the English Guinness Premiership and players were [url=http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyunion/comment/0,,1924002,00.html]over-hyped and over-rated[/url]. With 7 out of 8 Magners Celtic League teams winning and 5 out of 6 Guinness Premiership …
GAA: Asian Championships…
My brother once played Gaelic Football for Thailand. The sevens team he played for only had five players. The slack was taken up by two English girls who got a crash course in what to do and what not to do. Nowadays it seems they’re taking it more seriously in China. 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 …
Ulster go top, Leinster revenge
[url=http://www.ulsterrugby.com]Ulster[/url] went top of rugby’s [url=http://www.magnersleague.com]Magners Celtic League[/url] with a [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ulster/5397002.stm]17-24 victory over Connacht[/url] while in the other Irish inter-provincial clash, Leinster gained some revenge for last season’s Heineken European Cup semi-final defeat with a [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/leinster/5406318.stm]27-20 victory[/url] over the current European Champions, Munster. The Leinster-Munster game had a record Magners League attendance of 27,252. There is one more week of Magners League games before the first round of the European competitions. Michael Robinson
“I give them instructions on a subconscious level.”
While our local players continue posturing preparations for the St Andrews showdown.. in another corner of the globe, a corner that is in fact a very strange state of mind, the less-glamorous sounding cottage 15 of City Chess is being prepared. However, with Kalmykia being Europe’s only Buddhist republic, as well as being under the spell of President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who happens to be President of FIDE, that’s likely to be a rather grand cottage. In keeping with the history, …
Derry’s Duddy IBA’s World Middleweight Champ
All that sledgehammer training pays off as Derry-born pugilist John Duddy wins IBA World middleweight title in a unanimous points decision against Yori Boy Campas last night in NY’s Madison Square Gardens, despite being cut above both eyes in the second round. Pete Baker
“They will play with one team but it is up to them how they do it.”
As Gonzo noted back in July, Tony Blair had said he thought “it would be a good idea” to have a Great Britain [and NI – Ed] football team at the 2012 London Olympics, the difficulty would be getting the four football associations to agree. Today’s Guardian reports that at a meeting on Thursday two of the four did agree – the Scottish and Welsh FAs did not attend. A British women’s football team will compete in Beijing 2008, and …
Sporting ecumenism in action…
Nice bit of ‘sporting ecumenism’ as the Connacht Rugby Team get behind the Mayo Gaelic Football team. Come to think of it, they could even turn out for the Mayo team, and few would notice!! Thanks to Tochais Siorai for the heads up! 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. …