Tag: Wales

  • A Lim and a prayer proves there’s always hope!

    A Lim and a prayer proves there’s always hope!

    Is there one sport in the world at which absolutely anybody, able-bodied or otherwise, can have a go? If pressed to nominate an answer, yours truly would probably plump for darts. The cruel irony being that, from a personal perspective, the singed wires in the engine department up top mean that one’s attempts at pegging…

  • One Racecourse I definitely want to visit

    One Racecourse I definitely want to visit

    In a different sporting world long ago, though some would scarcely believe it, this corner absolutely detested horse racing. Alteration to that first probably came about due to what somebody described to me the other day as ‘Exposure Therapy’. Put in simpler terms, if you’re around them long enough you’ll become like them. In the…

  • Strength in numbers lets the dragons torch the rest

    Strength in numbers lets the dragons torch the rest

    One of the blessings, or curses depending on what way you’re looking at it, of being liable to watch nearly any sport on the planet is that there’s very seldom a shortage of something to occupy the mind with. Be that as it may, I would always be a great believer in ‘A place for…

  • Ferret shows the fluctuating fortunes of rapidly changing picture

    Ferret shows the fluctuating fortunes of rapidly changing picture

    How in the name of who or whatever runs the world is it April already? It only seems like last week one was brimming with giddy optimism for Colm O’Rourke’s stewardship of the Meath team, the upturn in Manchester United’s fortunes under Erik ten Hag and the, as it was then, forthcoming Cheltenham Festival. Now…

  • He’ll make sure we keep talking about him

    He’ll make sure we keep talking about him

    The prospect of Eamon Dunphy, John Giles and even, Lord help us, the most boring man alive, Liam Brady, in conversation is always worth a listen. Though it will never be quite the same without Bill in the chair. Now read on… Recently, the latest edition of Dunphy’s excellent podcast, The Stand was happened upon…

  • Furlong pulls up as preparations enter the home straight

    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…

  • No major surprises in Ireland Six Nations squad

    No major surprises in Ireland Six Nations squad

    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…

  • Green Machine needs a date with the mechanics

    Michael Van Gerwen faces a spell off the oche after the conclusion of the Cazoo Premier League as he will undergo treatment for a long standing ailment in his throwing arm. The ‘Green Machine’ qualified for the league play offs in Germany by coming second in the table after the ‘regulation’ fixtures. Defending champion Jonny…

  • Too much of a good thing devalues it

    Too much of a good thing devalues it

    There are people, and you can count yours truly firmly among them, who, from the moment the Martin Pipe Hurdle is concluded, begin the countdown to the following season’s incarnation of the Cheltenham Festival. That will probably and hopefully eternally be the case. Forget about the trainers and jockeys and even the owners for a…

  • Mack puts the knife into Wales on impressive debut

    Mack puts the knife into Wales on impressive debut

    Ireland…29 Wales…7 A very short time into his Championship debut against Dublin, Ollie Murphy palmed the ball into an empty net in front a packed Canal End. For any Meath player it can’t get much better than that. Well, at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon, shy of scoring a try, if there is such a…