Category: CHRONICLE COLUMNS
-
So near but yet so proud – 15/5/24
Inches. Eventually that’s what I boiled down to. That was all that came between Meath and taking Saturday’s All Ireland U-20 FC semi final to extra time. They would have deserved the additional 20 minutes by all means, but, deep down, all concerned will know this was one that got away. This time round, the…
-
Our most important win since 1990 – 8/5/24
1990 was an extraordinary year. The World Cup in Italy, my first time in both Croke Park and Pairc Tailteann and Cork winning the All Ireland double. There are personal stories attached to all of the above which will offer context to the main body of what appears hereafter. If taking them in chronological order,…
-
How much is too much? – 1/5/24
Does a match, in any sport, have to be of pristine quality to be considered good? Not for this observer. Two teams of similar ilk engaging in honesty of endeavour is every bit as enthralling. I think of the ‘mudbath’ Ulster Final of 1993, when Derry survived the ultimate Clones endurance test and dethroned All…
-
Rude awakening with a few morsels of positivity – 20/4/24
With utmost regret, a nadir is about to be crossed pertaining to which there is almost as much anger as upset. The mere thought of even talking about moral victories, never mind looking for them, is abhorrent to me. So, rather than that, let’s say the task in the wake of another chastening evening at…
-
Live in hope or hoist the white flag? I know what wagon I’m hitching to – 6/4/24
I have no doubt that when Longford registered their two late goals on Sunday last, the naysayers and doom mongers went into overdrive. Along the lines of “if Longford scored 3-12 against them, what will Dublin do?” Right, the same thought did dock here for a while, but before pondering that, answer me this, which…
-
A measure of consolidation with a dash of optimism – 30/3/24
Sometimes it is just as simple as it looks. Before there was a ball kicked in Div. 2 of the NFL, it would have been fairly widely accepted that Armagh and Donegal were considerably ahead of their fellow competitors. In fact, both of the Ulster sides were only masquerading as residents of the second tier.…
-
The ups and downs of a week watching sport – 16/3/24
About half way through the second half of Saturday’s match in Pairc Tailteann, safely tucked away from the vile weather conditions, a young lad of what I’m guessing was about 10 was heard to opine “If we don’t win this has been a complete waste of my time”! A word of advice kid… don’t go…
-
Disappointment is best measured by expectation – 9/3/24
Yours truly wasn’t old enough to be properly attuned to the comings and goings of the world when Meath beat Dublin in the Leinster SFC Final of 1986. Though time would decree it was quite the sensation at the time. Yes, we had lifted the Centenary Cup in 1984 and given the boys in blue…
-
An ounce of breeding is worth a tonne of feeding 2/3/24
The words in the above headline were first imparted in this direction in relation to cattle. Inference being that you will spend the same money feeding an animal of poor quality as you will one of better pedigree. But though the latter might have cost a bit more to buy in, it is almost certain…
-
What’s in a name? Plenty if you’ve the right one… 25/2/2024
“Did you hear the latest about (named jockey)? He was banned for 16 days, appealed it, was, more or less, told to go and… He was then fined €2,000, but it appears status told and there’s quite a pile of stuff brushed under a carpet somewhere ” That scenario was relayed to yours truly whilst…