SIDELINE CUTS -35
Rep. Of Ireland…0
England…2
It had to happen, didn’t it? Not so much that England won, that much was a given before a ball was kicked. But, in another way, so too were the chances of Declan Rice and/or Jack Grealish – two Irishmen who jumped ship on a glory hunt which so far hasn’t delivered – would be among the scorers.
The difference between the two, though, was that while Rice showed a lot of class and restraint after scoring, Grealish did nothing to alter my view that he’s an overrated, overpaid lout. But then, one plays for Arsenal, the other for £chester City. Some pictures tell their own story.
Anyway, as for the actual football, predictably, England were several gears above the best this Irish ensemble could muster. That was without, you feel, the visitors even going half way with the gear lever.
The dreaded duo and Kobbe Mainoo and Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon were able to advance on the Irish goal at will. That Caoimhin Kelleher and Seamus Coleman were Ireland’s best probably tells it’s own tale.
That said, Heimir Halgrimmson’s debut as Ireland manager wasn’t totally doom-laden, by any means.
Between Kelleher looking ever-more at home on the international stage, to Jason Molumby putting himself about in midfield, Robbie Brady showing there was still some spark there and Ogbene, Idah and Sammie Szomodics buzzing around in attack.
However, that can’t mask the gulf in class between the sides or the magnitude of the task the new regime have taken on. Thankfully, Rome wasn’t built in a day, so there is a template to follow!
Be Afraid
Be very afraid. The GAA might finally have made a common sense decision. Albeit via the circuitous route. As in, leaving the Championship format as is for 2025. Although the doom mongers eventially their way with the euthanising of the pre season competitions.
There is a proposal for change going to congress but it looks more of a convoluted mess than what’s there already.
It’s who you are, not what you do
I can’t help feeling that Hugh Cahill of RTE came across some of the output in this space lately in relation to recent developments in horse racing. Specifically, the utter hypocrisy and double standards of the IHRB.
Presently, you have Luke Comer Snr and Jnr, Tony Martin and John Hanlon all suspended for what can only be declared bizarre reasoning. Now, I wasn’t going to comment on the Comer cases because the family are personal friends of mine and I firmly believe the power brokers have it in for them (and others).
Mind you, seeing Hugh call out the IHRB’s laughable dealings with two identical cases within days of each other gave my belief a whole lot more validity.
Luke Jnr losing his licence for having the remains of deceased horses buried on his property (twelve month ban), then, you have Shark suspended for 10 months for, you couldn’t make this sh*t up, taking the remains out of his yard!
So which is it lads and lassies? And all the while you have Tony Martin suspended for next to nothing*, but don’t even get me started on the Ronan McNally case. Hopefully, he will one day take a case against them.
Oh, and by the way, all these bans dolled out while cases involving at least three very high profile individuals swept under a carpet that must be so bulging now it would need a lick of a ring roller to keep it flat.
Changing gears of life in the fast lane
In no way would I claim to be an aficionado of F1 racing, but I do like to keep an eye on happenings therein. That said, especially since the reduction in potency of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes, it had all got a bit boring. Max Verstappen and Red Bull being able to do as they pleased. Literally and metaphorically.
Though it appears there has been a gear change to life in the fast line. The Bull has got its wings clipped. Whether that has been down to off-track distractions involving Christian Horner or driver disquiet or mechanical malfunction is unclear. Though what is crystally so is that eyes being taken off the ball has allowed Lando Norris to, in horse racing terms, ride a waiting race, stealthily making ground up the inside rail.
Overhauling Max might seem a tall order at this stage of the season, but at least there’s a contest again rather than a procession.
CHILL PILL FOR PAUL PLEASE
If anybody ever does find a means to everlasting life, can we have Con Houlihan and/or Hugh McIlvanny back here pronto please. Wordsmiths who not wrote joyously about sport, but also crafted about the joy in sport. Truth is, they could probably make a masterpiece out of a toilet being flushed!
In contrast, now, a lot of the so-called top brass in this trade are banal, boring and obsessed with negativity. Exhibits supporting this theory: Stephen Jones, David Walsh, Rod Liddle (enough said), Richie Sadlier (yawn) and, as far as I’m concerned, the daddy of them all, Paul Kimmage.
I’d be inclined to cut David Walsh a little slack, because (a) his crusade against doping in sport is admirable as it is unending and (b) he has also written reams of positive stuff too.
Kimmage though – and whether this is a recent thing or not I’m not sure – would make a Finance Minister delivering an austerity budget seem like Peter Kay!
A few examples to back up the theory:
This Week – Sceptic piece about the Paralympics.
Cheltenham Week – Dug up piece about an unheralded Willie Mullins horse
US Masters Week – Unnecessarily continuing to stir the pot over Scottie Schefflers arrest.
Come on Paul, take a chill pill, not everything has to have a negative side.
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