Tag: IRFU
-

O’Brien shines brightest as dull Ireland stumble to win
IRELAND… 41 JAPAN… 10 It might be something to do with the lunchtime kick off. Because it certainly tends to be the case in souccer that, the lunchtime kick off in the Premier League tends to have faded from memory by the time Match Of The Day comes on a Saturday night. I’m not sure…
-

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…
-

Few surprises as the Easterby era kicks off
Well, it doesn’t actually kick off for a couple of weeks yet, but you get my drift. Simon Easterby has officially taken charge of the Irish men’s senior team with Andy Farrell having jumped ship – temporarily at least – to scout for talent for the British And Irish Lions team he will take on…
-

Rowntree’s shock departure leaves a sour taste
A deceased Irish rugby legend once said to yours truly in a tent at the Punchestown Festival “Rugby, my friend, is a game for thugs played by gentlemen, whereas soccer is a game for gentlemen played by roughens”. Whether you agree with the actual nuts and bolts of his views or not is immaterial. At…
-

Brave Rathkenny undone by cruelty of the modern world
There was something strangely apt about Ireland putting in another abomination of a performance against The Netherlands just hours after Meath’s Rathkenny exited the Leinster Club IFC at the penultimate hurdle via penalty shootout as Scoill Ui Chonaill of Dublin advanced. Now read on… During his 1994 show ‘Live At The Olympia’ the late, great…
-

J. Lowe calls the tune as Ireland make big statement
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…
-

Furlong pulls up as preparations enter the home straight
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…
-

It always means something
There are several words and phrases often deployed in this trade to which yours truly has an intense dislike. The word ‘veteran’ being one of them. If a competitor in any sport has something to offer, it shouldn’t matter whether they are 16 or 36 or even beyond that. Neither Sean Boylan nor Sir Alex…

