Irish Rugby on the Precipice?

 

The Irish rugby team produced some great performances in the World Cup in defeating Australia and Italy. They flattered to decieve in the quarter-final defeat to Wales as the “golden generations” last chance to make their mark on the world stage disappeared in bitter disappointment. But has anyone considered how Ireland will do when the two genuine world-class players, captain Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell retire? Maybe we should be grateful we did reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup. It might not happen next time!

Will Rugby be Coming Home?

And so after 24 years of waiting, New Zealands date with destiny is almost upon them when they clash with France in the rugby World Cup final on Sunday. With home advantage just like in 1987 and facing the same opposition, surely the William Webb Ellis trophy will be the Kiwis for the next four years?

Caught in a Trap!

How the luck changes! The Republic of Ireland soccer team are looking a gift horse in the mouth after drawing Estonia, the lowest ranked side in the European Championship qualification play-offs. The Baltic nation have never been at this stage of the competition before so opportunity knocks for Giovanni Trappatonis sluggers.

Case for the Defence

Manchester United have made a slightly surreal start to the new football season even by their standards. Goals galore from an offensive point of view but a soft defensive core have given up numerous chances to the opposition, none of whom exploited this until Basle in the Champions League last Tuesday. Basle are an average European outfit who overturned a two nil deficit with 3 second-half goals at Old Trafford before Ashley Young rescued a point with a late equaliser. Will this sloppiness spell trouble for United this season?

Sky Blue Heaven

Another football season over and what have we learned? The Dubs are back on top after 16 years of life without Sam Maguire while Kerry are hurting badly about the nature of the defeat in the All-Ireland final. This is not the way of things in the so-called ‘rivalry’ between Dublin and Kerry as usually the Kingdom come out on top in clashes between the two counties. Dublin have saved Gaelic football, let the country rejoice!

Noisy Neighbours making a racket!

 
Six games into the Premier League season and Manchester City are repaying the faith many pundits displayed in them in pre-season by challenging nieghbours Manchester United for the title. Both sides are level on 16 points with one draw apiece and 5 wins. United have a superior goal difference at the moment but it looks like City will contend with United every step of the way.

The Capital or the Kingdom for Sam?

The Gaelic football romantics and nostalgists finally have their dream final again after a 26 year gap when the connoisseurs of football, Kerry clash with the glamour boys from the capital city, Dublin in the All-Ireland final this weekend. While some of the naval-glazing and love-ins between the management and players of the seventies and eighties is a bit nauseating, it is still a mouth-watering clash between a Kerry side looking to win their 5th title in 8 years and  a Dublin team desperate to reclaim Sam Maguire for the first time since 1995.

Rugby World Cup Preview

              

The 7th Rugby World Cup is just a week ago and the 20 teams are touching down in the land of the silver fern, New Zealand ready to wage war. Only 5 countries have a realistic chance of winning the William Webb Ellis trophy but there will be twists and turns before the victor is decided in October. Ireland had high hopes of excelling in this tournament but four defeats in four warm-up games and some serious injuries have left a cloud over the camp and a possible repeat of the disastrous 2007 competition. All the pressure is on hosts Newz Zealand to win their holy grail so what can we expect from the World in Union?

3 of a Kind!

This Sundays All-Ireland hurling final has a monumental feel to it. For the first time in history, the same two counties will battle for Liam McCarthy for the third year in a row in the decider. Its one apiece results wise so which of Kilkenny or Tipperary will claim the spoils at Croke Park?

Here We Go Again!

                  

With no major International tournament having taken place this summer, there is much anticipation for the impending Premiership season. It feels like no time since Barcelona trumped Manchester United at Wembley in the Champions League at the end of May. What can we expect for the 2011/12 campaign?