Sport – Page 8 – Slugger O'Toole

ICC World Twenty20 Final – Pakistan v Sri Lanka

Pete Baker on June 21, 2009, 6:49 pm

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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 …

ICC World Twenty20 Super8 – Ireland v Pakistan

Pete Baker on June 15, 2009, 5:27 pm

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Ireland face Pakistan today in what seems likely to be their final game in this year’s ICC World Twenty20 tournament. But Pakistan will remember what happened in 2007 over 50 overs.. Pakistan won the toss and will bat first. Usual coverage via BBC live text, Radio 5Live commentary [UK only RealPlayer] and the Cricinfo scoreboard. Live-blogging may be intermitment so feel free to add updates in comments if I seem to be flagging. Pakistan 159-5 off 20 overs. Solid performance …

Donegal fall as Antrim finally raises their game…

Mick Fealty on June 15, 2009, 1:45 pm

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For those of you who care, the Donegal Gaelic team put in one of their worst performances in a generation. I hate to make lame excuses, but a deteriorating economic situation in the Republic always has a tendency to hit the west first, and Donegal in particular pretty hard. Ten out of the current squad is unemployed (lack of professional status means that many are just sticking around for the sake of the Championship campaign. As Keith Duggan noted on …

ICC World Twenty20 Super8 – Ireland v Sri Lanka

Pete Baker on June 14, 2009, 5:45 pm

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In their second ICC World Twenty20 Super8 game Ireland are taking on Sri Lanka at Lords. Live text here. Radio 5Live coverage [UK only RealPlayer], and the Cricinfo scoreboard. And the recalled Boyd Rankin has made an impact in the first over dismissing opener Dilshan for no runs. Adds Or you can follow Dave’s live-blogging.. Sri Lanka 144-9 off 20 overs. Jayasuriya lbw b McCallan 27 from 27 balls (5×4). Jayawardene b Cusack 78 from 53 balls (9×4 1×6). Superb …

Is it to be cultural inclusion, or exclusion…

Mick Fealty on June 12, 2009, 8:50 pm

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I’m afraid it’s sport again. Specifically Gregory Campbell is making the reasonable plea to have the UK Olympics team drop the term Team GB, since it doesn’t encompass those people from Northern Ireland who legitimately compete for the team. But one sharp reader asks how does this stance sit with Nelson McCausland’s view that the word Irish should be dropped from British and Irish Lions? Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of …

ICC World Twenty20 Super8 – Ireland v New Zealand

Pete Baker on June 11, 2009, 5:45 pm

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With Dave unfortunately indisposed, it’s time for me to don my metaphorical whites and pad up for some live-ish cricket blogging. Yesterday’s match out of the way, at Trent Bridge today Ireland face New Zealand in their first Super8 game. They’ve won the toss and will bowl first. New Zealand are missing captain Vettori along with Ryder and Taylor, while Ireland seem to have left out Boyd Rankin and Jeremy Bray. BBC text coverage here. And, in the UK, Radio …

“Now let’s be clear about this”, indeed.

Pete Baker on May 7, 2009, 6:50 pm

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Unusually for something associated with Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Shaun Woodward, MP, the reception at Hillsborough Castle today, in honour of Ireland’s grand-slam winning rugby team, has the potential to provide a clear picture of where we’re actually at. Reportedly to be in attendance are, in no particular order, Shaun Woodward, NI Sports Minister Gregory Campbell, the Republic of Ireland’s President Mary McAleese [although her office only lists a “reception to mark the 30th anniversary of Co-operation Ireland”] and, …

A point of priniciple or just jumping up and down in muddy puddles?

Mick Fealty on May 6, 2009, 6:29 pm

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It’s been on Stephen Nolan’s show and TalkBack, and finally Slugger… One Unionist friend calls it ‘jumping up and down in muddy puddles’ (sorry, tried to get a Peppa Pig video to reference and failed)… For two parties banged up together in the Scottish Baronial style of Stormont Castle, it’s a perfect opportunity to have a good old fashioned faction fight… What’s the problem? Sinn Fein controlled Newry and Mourne Council have been playing ‘let’s wind up the local Prods’, …

Twittering the GAA…

Mick Fealty on April 18, 2009, 4:00 pm

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Gav Reilly is Twittering the GAA’s Annual Congress where they are currently discussing important rule changes…. 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

Cultural warfare or community development?

Pete Baker on April 13, 2009, 4:12 pm

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The Irish Times reports protests at the GAA headquarters in Kerry yesterday in response to the organisation’s authorisation of the night-time ploughing up of a five-and-a-half-acre field in Castlemaine two weeks ago that had been used by the local community for a variety of other sports for decades. From the Irish Times The organisation says it is investing €750,000 in improving the facility for the community but cannot allow soccer and rugby to be played there. The ploughing up of …

4 out of 4 in qualifiers

Dave Hartin on April 7, 2009, 1:30 am

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Entries come thick and fast in Irish cricket at the moment due to the compact nature of the CWC 2011 qualifying tournament. Ireland are now the only undefeated side in South Africa after another comfortable victory against Canada. The Maple Leaf’s were going nicely at 174-4 before some injudicious running and good work in the field from Ireland sparked a collapse and Canada subsided to 220 all out. Ireland’s top order struggled to 42-4 before an unbeaten partnership of 181 …

Favourites prosper as others struggle in South Africa

Dave Hartin on April 4, 2009, 5:16 pm

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Ireland continued their serene progress through the group stage of the CWC 2011 qualifiers with a win that was comfortable in the end against Oman. Having been 46-4 at one point an unbeaten 101 from Kevin O’Brien (pictured left, supported by 70 from Andrew White) set a challenging target of 285. The Omani openers had the Irish worried for a time, adding 98 for the first wicket before being removed by MOTM spinner Regan West who returned match figures of …

Trouble before the Northern Ireland Poland match…

Mick Fealty on March 28, 2009, 8:14 pm

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Gettinging early reports of trouble at the Village end of Tates Avenue, and one unconfirmed reports of trouble at Sandy Row. We understand it kicked off about an hour ago, nearly two hours before the official kick off… Update: It’s understood that the trouble may have followed a fracas in Weatherspoons in Bradbury Place. We have another unconfirmed report of a stabbing… Update 2 No confirmation on the stab story. Seems low key. Windsor Park opened early to let Polish …

The journey to CWC 2011 starts here

Dave Hartin on March 28, 2009, 7:27 pm

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It’s always an exciting time of year to be a cricketer with the clocks about to go forward. Digging out last years whites to see if they’ll get through another season, throwing away the mephitic, mouldy inners, the smell of linseed oil on willow and putting creaking joints through indoor nets. Ireland’s cricketers are currently in the much sunnier climes of South Africa as they prepare for the qualifying tournament for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Ireland go into …

Paul O’Connell, a load a balls, and that manky drop goal…

Mick Fealty on March 27, 2009, 1:56 pm

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Via Gerry… 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

Grand Slam Rugby Tee Shirts…

Mick Fealty on March 25, 2009, 9:49 pm

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The excellent Philosophy Football site have rushed out a celebratory tee shirt to celebrate Ireland’s first Grand Slam in 61 years last Saturday. It has the scores from all the Six Nations games printed across the front, with the national flags of each of the countries we defeated along the way, and in the order of their dispatch. From past experience they sell a quality product, so it deserves to sell like hot cakes. But I imagine the choice of …

Economic tragedy is London GAA’s gain…

Mick Fealty on March 21, 2009, 4:31 pm

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http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2009/0321/1224243190799.htmlAccording to the Irish Times: GAA clubs across London, some of which were struggling to field teams in recent years, are reporting a major surge in the numbers of young Irish men and women joining. National insurance figures compiled by UK authorities indicate that thousands of Irish-born people have registered to work in recent months. And, for the first time in years, support groups such as the London-Irish Centre in Camden are being contacted by young economic migrants in need …

Six Nations – Final Round

Pete Baker on March 21, 2009, 4:17 pm

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There’s only one game that really matters today and it kicks off in Cardiff at 5.30pm. [Adds Jack Kyle interview] Before that Italy will hope to retain some pride against a French side stung by last week’s defeat – kick off 1.15pm – while at Twickenham England host Scotland in the annual battle for the Calcutta Cup. RTÉ’s Brendan Cole has a bold prediction – Ireland by 10 points. The Guardian’s Robert Kitson is more cautious, Ireland by a single …

Six Nations – Round 4b

Pete Baker on March 15, 2009, 6:19 pm

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If the notoriously unpredictable French can replicate their performance against Wales they should prove too strong for an equally notoriously ill-disciplined England at Twickenham today. If they do, they will keep alive an outside chance of taking the championship ‘against the head’ in their final match against Italy. Eddie Butler is hoping for something dramatic – “Don’t expect subtlety to be the order of the day when two jumbo teams collide.” England v France – Kick-off 3pm. Half-Time England 29 …

Six Nations – Round 4

Pete Baker on March 14, 2009, 5:49 pm

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Ireland travel to Murrayfield today to take on Scotland – kick-off 5pm. As RTÉ’s Brendan Cole puts it, “this clash is probably best viewed as the first act in a two-part drama that could end with Ireland picking up the most significant prize in its rugby history – the Grand Slam”. Bryn Palmer adds some useful background detail and Eddie Butler picks out five points in Ireland’s favour.. this time. First up though, even away from home, a much changed …