User:rorynoonanDate:20/03/2013Time:08:20:41Edition:20/03/2013Wedwedecho200313Page:56Color:
EE - V0
User:johnroycroftDate:19/03/2013Time:12:04:54Edition:20/03/2013Wedwedecho200313Page:50Color:
50
Evening Echo
SPORT
SPORT
OPINION
Wednesday,
EE - V0
March 20, 2013
THERE were several ing games played overexcitpast weekend, the and a great deal more them in that written about the Bank papers on Holiday Monday followed this. I was particularly taken by games. Ireland three England against against Italy and Wales in the tions series, Six NaRoscommon, and St Bridgid’s, from against Kickhams, Ballymun Dublin, in the All-Ireland club football final. There are many clichés sporting performances, about games gave these three the sporting fans an opportunity press and to use almost every one of them. Ireland lacked the bit between leadership; Italy got their teeth; bottled it; England cometh the the man – hour, cometh in this case Frankie Dolan of St Brigid’s; Ballymun team who are a young are capable from this of learning experience back again. and coming That’s just pick any other for starters, cliché you will fit one like and it or more games. of the three Clichés can be great. dramatise They can an also hide the event, but they can St Brigid’s Frankie truth, or aspects truth, that Dolan of the All-Ireland may Senior Football and Damien Kelleher teresting script reveal a far more inClub Championship celebrate with during a game. that was played final at Croke their manager Kevin out Park, Dublin McStay after Take the two on St Patrick’s victory over rugby games. have been Dublin’s Ballymun Day. Ireland castigated for formance Kickhams in against Italy. their perthe AIB England are Picture: SPORTSFILE so dumbstruckSimilarly, thrashing after the Wales handed battle’ but that, 48 hours out to them I think part later, their of Ballymun’s problem was still only media were that the two coming to two points goals and grips with result. they got in the minutes of the first six For all that the game went wrong was too good start. Ireland performance with the a I am pretty however, team at least sure that the stuck to approach Ballymun’s half-time to the game Ireland were its task. By was a toe-to-toe many gaps plugging struggle from to expect so with players ning to the of position end. For them the beginthat a team playing out such a good to get off to of lesser tude would start must have completely fortithem off their have thrown lated in the capitugameplan. second half. The seven-point England, on the other lead after minutes seemed to Wales to hand, came six to become collect the en-point lead the cliché) cup (pardon with 54 minutes“a sevbut when in the Ballymun they were with a ferocious to faced heads. There go” huge psychological and determined Welsh challenge is a difference that knocked these two out of their in statements. them stride, they “after six The first folded. completely minutes” is an attacking frame of Leaving aside mind; the minutes to second, “54 that may have all the other issues go” is a defensive contributed deeply involved And so Ballymun being so one. to Ireland in the were knocked out of their against Italy, badly understrength of the game. The first, commentary stride and The first which set Joe Brolly it spot on they were statement Ireland or of players, got nise with his in the same found that fails to recogEngland, the fact that comments England; how to deal showed best Twitter during an injured on St Brigid’s not prepared position as with adversity? player, like teams’ willingnessthe game. ‘Both not have had to would Dermot for the way they did with the game unfolded The Irish rely on point from Flanagan players did. to kick the and not being ball into able to adjust Frankie Dolana last-gasp 1996, than versus Meath long not Neither would the square quickly put the best if he in new circumstances. made thrilling spectacle’. is making enough to idea that because I go along with players on the a previous such a mess of the had field. the the three He was right. Italy may passages of Meanwhile, ferior side Or, when Mayo be an inplay he was volved in. It was a St Brigid’s to Wales, it game. It was forced to in- side they did pick their was Ireland to were take the a game that thrilling TG4’s co-commentator best the folded like remain within easier for coming the forthIreland rugby same position as England distance of Wales All-Ireland striking them. team; Jarleth Kerry — in All-Irelands against trying to championship Burns summed up will find hard Ireland dealt do the correct dig in, keep Dolan’s to against in 2004 and ror in this better with and claw The second, match. thing and 2006 — rather loose translation.worst er- fight ation they try the team against adversity Kevin McStay, bad enough than game. found themselvesthe situ- was part back into that he (Dolan) “It was Brigid’s are in a better who session, of the management the like St in and St did last lost posbut he Brigid’s, went This worked team of building projectmental place for a McStay glossesSunday. side and didn’t then sat on his backfor them even for the drama re- moment than England. it didn’t for over the fact of though while Cork and said even try and Speaking Ireland. that of a better things like the back.” and Kerry chase All-Ireland It is definitely and dealing mental place, wanted to have anyone “If I As true that games, with titles more may win pecially on to St Brigid’s it, brings me neatly with 20 to 30 seconds have the ball ment for Kevin McStay’s than Mayo important esregularly second and many about Liam Frankie to go, it was and Ballymun games, are other counties, played with the hams. Dolan,” or McHale, Corkcom- no player is Kick- Liam’s guaranteed “today was Kerry players. To and a Cork What my threehead. (McHale’s) There was his place on my mind or Kerry games of the 10th All-Ireland, more about his the eating it says for end showed team. Competition of lessons and drinking his first one to win dislike of weekplaces on is that the Kerry than in as a coach the inter-county professional, highly paid it gives praise Cork and of Cork football, and this game for Gaelic player. That’s a and a McHale’s panels teams and Kerry international real sign for Liam resilience. is fierce. of somelooked becauseit all has been over- body. are no less rugby Those who The main susceptible win an of the excitement chological “It’s easy the finish. to psyfor Kerrymen miscalculation has not won reason Liam McHale sider every title won All-Ireland con- parish of men to and Corkan All-Ireland to be precious. than a be coming If the Mayos Two of GAA team fore now RTE’s panellists back here two or three contesting of this world All-Ireland every enough — and I think he title be- stood that, an club years because underwere an they might was good to win one All-Ireland The late John final. they get win Your heart or two — to sustain cause he Kid Cronin, would have more. is be- Ballymun them.” has been former to go out to masseur to the Cork involved Mayo sides Kickhams teams, had with own cliché, who would his rather pick epic game to a last for losing an perspective, or truism, to put second point. They say that “There’s nothing this in a ‘good start with their wrong is half the legs, it’s their heads should be rubbing.” I
FOOTBALL
By PETER McNAMARA CORK senior football selector Ronan McCarthy revealed Eoin Cadogan is extremely doubtful to feature in Sunday’s NFL Division 1 clash with Kerry, while fears were confirmed yesterday that Colm O’Neill (below) has suffered a third long-term cruciate ligament injury. Cadogan was one of Cork’s best performers last Saturday evening against All-Ireland champions Donegal. However, McCarthy explained he had actually incurred an injury to his lower leg that is feared to be a recurrence of an ankle problem during the encounter. Yet, Cadogan is extremely unlikely now to be available for selection for the Old Firm tussle in Tralee and may not feature again for up to three weeks. “Unfortunately, Eoin (Cadogan) is very likely to miss the Kerry match,” McCarthy stated. “He went down during the Donegal game with a problem in the lower leg which might well be a recurrence of an ankle issue but we will know more later in the week in relation to the extent of that problem. “He most likely won’t be available to us this weekend and might even be on the sidelines for three weeks if it is the same ankle problem but we are
Clichés are suitable at certain times
DON’T MISS
Diarmuid Donovan: Sometimes sport clichés are suitable: P50
Peter McNamara: Cork football’s strength in depth is its big asset: P52
Cadogan a doubt for Old Firm tie
PAUDIE PALMER ’S VIEW ON
ALL THINGS
GAA TOMORR OW
Rebels’ worst fear about O’Neill’s injury confirmed hopeful he can recover quickly.” News of Cadogan’s injury is the very latest in an unfortunate run and came on top of the devastating blow that O’Neill has suffered another cruciate ligament injury. O’Neill took to Twitter yesterday afternoon to confirm the extent of the damage: “My worst fears just confirmed today. Cruciate gone again. #disaster #gutted”.
Already, of course, they are without Ciarán Sheehan and Patrick Kelly while Donncha O’Connor continues to be troubled by his Achilles. “Losing Colm is a massive blow to us. Ciarán (Sheehan) will be out for another three to five weeks as well, Donncha (O’Connor) has an ongoing Achilles problem which will take two to three weeks more to get right and it will probably be early May before Patrick Kelly is available,” McCarthy added. ● See page 49 for more.
Eoin Cadogan is extremely doubtful he will face Kerry.
John Coughlan: Christ King just miss out on All-Ireland basketball glory: P48
City left with tab after Bray cancellation CORK CITY have no recourse to compensation from the league after their Premier Division clash with Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds was called off last night. City manager Tommy Dunne and his squad were already in Portlaoise when they got wind of a mid-afternoon pitch inspection and just before five o’clock word came through that the game had indeed been called off. Referee, Richie Winter carried out the pitch inspection at 4.30pm and deemed the playing surface unplayable due to water-logging in parts of the ground. It had been raining with sleet and snow showers in the capital for up to three hours and City were critical of the league last night saying they could have been saved a trip if the pitch inspection had been ordered at lunchtime instead. “It’s a joke as far as we
CORK CITY
By NOEL SPILLANE are concerned and a wasted journey,” blasted the City boss. “We have no recourse to compensation and there’s no avenue open to us to try and recoup our losses in terms of bus hire, meals and so on. “And the galling thing is that we will have to make the trip to Bray all over again now on a Monday or Tuesday night. “We already have a congested fixture list coming into April with a two-legged Setanta Cup, semi-final date with Shamrock Rovers on April 16 and 22 and now we have a back league game as well away to Bray. “We could have done with getting the game on last night,” said Dunne whose side are back in action on Sunday afternoon (3.30pm) when Derry City come to Turner’s Cross.