Life And Sport From An Armchair View
The year cannot be recalled, but the image will be forever etched in the memory bank. Wild-eyed, manic looking Ian Poulter in that zone that only the Ryder Cup could put the colourful Englishman. From memory, Europe were well adrift of their American adversaries in the biennial team golfing event when 'Poults' almost single-handedly set... Continue Reading →
Ireland... 29 England... 16 The phrase 'Impressionable kids' is one you often hear in use. Then there's the fact that it's said first impressions are lasting ones. Now read on... Andy Farrell's grandkids obviously copped on fairly quick that his team was better than that of their dad - England fly half Owen. Hence their... Continue Reading →
Ireland... 22 Scotland... 7 Sometimes in sport you'll see things that scarcely seem credible at the time, never mind when the thing that waits for no man or woman or child or beast rolls on. Devon Loch putting down on Dick Francis with the Grand National on a plate, Kevin Foley ghosting up the field... Continue Reading →
No matter what sport it may be, there will be competitors who stand out like a lighthouse. More than that, in a team environment, there will be players who will set pulses racing that bit faster than their contemporaries. In basketball you have Stephen Curry and LeBron James. Switch to soccer and you're talking Lionel... Continue Reading →
Ireland... 32 France... 19 There are few more satisfying things in sport than earning a statement victory with the cordite of controversy left wafting in the air. Now read on... That's exactly where Ireland found themselves on Saturday evening following their second win from as many outings in this season's Guinness Six Nations Championship. With... Continue Reading →
Tadhg Furlong has been ruled out of Ireland's Six Nations Championship opener against Wales on Saturday at the 11th hour due to an ongoing calf muscle injury. The Wexford colossus hasn't played since December, but was considered to be on track for a return before this latest setback. Connacht's Finlay Bealham will replace his Leinster... Continue Reading →
The inclusion of Leinster's uncapped centre Jamie Osborne is the only occurrence of note in Andy Farrell's Ireland squad for the forthcoming Six Nations Championship announced this morning. Some would no doubt lament the exclusion of Joey Carbery as equally newsworthy but, in the opinion of this writer, sooner rather than later the Athy man... Continue Reading →
Ireland... 35 Fiji... 17 Anybody with the slightest knowledge about rugby for the four decades this writer has been on the go - at the very least - will surely know of the efficiency of those from the Pacific island of Fiji in the 7s format of the game. Therefore, you'd have thought that a... Continue Reading →
Ireland...19 South Africa...16 How much store do you place on the Autumn Internationals? A passive observer would probably deem them no more than puffed up friendlies. The aficionado, though, sees them as the laying foundations and building something as the nuts and bolts of the day job kicks off for International players. My own view... Continue Reading →
I've been lucky to have legendary former Meath football manager Sean Boylan central to my life for as long as there's been a pulse here. There's hardly a superlative in the English language which hasn't been used in praise of the man. Of the numerous articles, interviews, television programmes and books produced about this mosy... Continue Reading →