Tag: Josh Van Der Flier
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Byrne keeps it in the genes as old menu tastes best for Leinster
LEINSTER… 25 LA ROCHELLE… 24 For the Byrne brothers, it must have felt two vessels passing in the night. Ross, who departed the home paddock looking for greener pastures but found himself outside the grazing platform on the day in question. Meanwhile, brother Harry was summoned from the bench after both Ciaran Frawley and his…
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Casualties likely to be Cullen’s main concern
Leinster… 43 Stade Francais… 7 Just how far does Leinster’s strength in depth actually run? Is a question I’m sure many of their adversaries have long pondered. Well, unfortunately for Leo Cullen et al, they might be getting a bit closer to finding out. Certainly at fly half anyway. Obviously, the retirement of Johnny Sexton…
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A game for the ages but ‘only’ an ordinary win
Ireland… 13 South Africa… 8 One of the strange curiosities of the four match saga between Meath and Dublin in the Leinster SFC of 1991 was, after all the hype and coverage had subsided, it was only a first round encounter. The victors still had several hurdles to cross before they could even contemplate silverware.…
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They do it however they have to
Leinster… 53 Leicester Tigers… 24 When the Dublin football team were in peak unbeatable mode under Jim Gavin, the manager repeatedly spoke about everyone in the camp ‘trusting the processes’. Watch their matches during that era and you can see it playing out. There was one signal in particular – where the player in possesion…
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When you win the ones you shouldn’t you know you’re in a good place
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…
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The Tank could’ve been spreading the gospel about himself
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…
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Grand designs not the finished article yet
Ireland… 34 Italy… 20 In assignments like Saturday’s at the Stadio Olympico in Rome, teams like Ireland are on a hiding to nothing. Win by a big score and you’re only doing what you’re supposed and expected to do. Don’t, and there’s obviously something fairly drastically wrong. On this occasion, Ireland probably fell between the…
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Progress can mean different things to different people
In the overall annals of GAA history, one wonders where the Centenary Cup resides. For Meath however, it was without doubt the spring board for the greatest era in the county’s football history. Fast forward to the present day and Westmeath will be hoping that last year’s Tailteann Cup success will similarly set them on…
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Sideline Cuts – 15
Does anybody else remember 7/11 Supermarkets? Whoever was behind the business was certainly well tuned in from a marketing perspective. Not only do the numbers rhyme, in a sporting context at least, they are and for a long time have been seminal digits. Most notably at Manchester United, where the almost inevitable – and merited…
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Strength in depth trumps bravery and faith any day
Munster…… 10 Leinster…… 13 It was another case of shoulda, woulda, coulda for Munster last night as their wait to eclipse their great rivals has now reached a half dozen games. In this typically attritional arm wrestle, the outcome boiled down to the fact that Leinster’s strength in depth was always going to trump their…