Tag: European Cup Rugby
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Calculated gamble or demonstration of riches?
I made my confirmation in April 1994. On the same night, Dermot Morgan was finishing a run of shows at the Olympia Theatre. The old VHS tape thereof remains one of the best pieces of comedy the senses here have ever encountered. There are so many comedic gems therein it’s hard to nail down a…
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Irish eyes smiling for different reasons
It had to happen, didn’t it? Anytime they have been required to deliver big when it mattered most, Munster have answered the call. Against the All Blacks, 1978, The Miracle Match, then defeating Glasgow days after Axel Foley was laid to rest. And again on Sunday. Yet, in ways, for this observer at least, Sunday’s…
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Boylan Talks Podcast – Nov. 29th 2021
An absolutely packed show this time around. Documenting the latest chapter in the remarkable story that is Dunboyne Ladies GAA, a look back at an outstanding weekend’s National Hunt racing in Fairyhouse and the latest chaos with Manchester United and Rugby fixtures.
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Snyman comeback tops typical Thomond turnaround
Munster… 34 Stormers… 18 As debuts go, rupturing your ACL in the early stages thereof and missing the rest of the season thereafter fairly stinks. Yet the giant RG Snymann had shown enough in that maiden outing to leave Munster fans in no doubt as to what they’d be missing for the remainder of last…
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Zebo homecoming a timely boost for stagnant reds
Johnny Sexton’s early departure from Leinster’s victory over Exeter last weekend for yet another Head Injury Assessment (HIA) enabled Ross Byrne to deliver his best and most important performance yet in the blue jersey. Whilst not in any way seeking to construct the rugby obituary of the former World Player Of The Year just yet,…
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It’ll be up to the others to Stand Up And Fight
Every sport has its standout figures. Those who, to someone with no interest in or knowledge on a given discipline will still be recognisable. Think Tiger Woods in golf, Phil Taylor in times past relating to darts or Lewis Hamilton on the Formula 1 grid. Turn attention to rugby and ‘BOD’ and ‘Paulie’ and ‘ROG’…
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Two red corners on very different paths
Easter Saturday, 1993. The talented but luckless David Hirst gives Sheffield Wednesday a very early lead at Old Trafford. On a day that, if Manchester United won, they would virtually have one hand on their first League title in over a quarter of a century. Having blown a similarly promising position previously against Leeds United,…
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Red Alert! The Shannon tide is murmuring
In some ways, things in sport are cyclical. Unless of course there happens to be an all-dominating force at the head of affairs. Manchester United in the early years of the Premiership, Dublin currently in Gaelic football, Willie Mullins in National Hunt racing. Now read on… Examine rugby through that lens and you get both…