ALL THINGS IRELAND

SPORTSMEN I HATE THE MOST # NO.2 MICHAEL SCHUMAKER

2012-02-23T02:55:00.001Z

Yes, okay, he has won seven World Titles as a Formula 1 driver with Ferrari but his mealy-mouth interviews and his win-at-all costs attitude down the years has made him a villian in my eyes.

I just don't like the guy, tough Michael.

SPORTSMEN I HATE THE MOST # NO.1 TIGER WOODS

2012-02-23T02:42:00.001Z

Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975)[4][5] is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No. 1, he is the highest-paid professional athlete in the world, having earned an estimated US$90.5 million from winnings and endorsements in 2010.

Woods has won 14 professional major golf championships, the second highest of any male player (Jack Nicklaus leads with 18), and 71 PGA Tour events, third all time behind Sam Snead and Nicklaus.[8] He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer does. He is the youngest player to achieve the career Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on tour. Additionally, Woods is only the second golfer, after Jack Nicklaus, to have achieved a career Grand Slam three times. Woods has won 16 World Golf Championships, and won at least one of those events in each of the first 11 years after they began in 1999.

The selish and petulant swinger of a club was found to be nothing but a serial wife-cheater and an absolute low-life who's only saving grace is that he is a great golfer but a creep as a human-being.

IRELAND FACE SEVERE EXAMINATION IN PARIS

2012-02-11T02:45:00.000Z

Brendan Cole reviews the history of Ireland v France, and the scale of the task facing Ireland on Saturday

France are heavy favourites going into this clash versus Ireland

It is true that these teams have played out some close encounters in recent seasons. France won two fairly loose Rugby World Cup warm-up clashes last August, and also took the last RBS 6 Nations encounter at Aviva Stadium, but all three of those wins were by one-score margins.

But Les Bleus are a different proposition at home in the 6 Nations, and that is particularly true against Ireland.

Two years ago, Ireland were beaten 33-10 in the latest of a long line of heavy defeats in Paris and in total, Ireland have won just twice away from home against France in 60 years.

Paris in the springtime is Ireland's toughest European assignment by far.

It is also worth taking note of where France are at. It seems strange to describe recent World Cup finalists as being about to start on an upward curve after a prolonged slump, but the circumstances of France's run to the decider make that appropriate.

Philippe Saint-Andre is far more capable of getting France to play to a high standard week on week than his predecessor was and that is bad news for the rest of the teams in this Championship.

It is also clearly in France's favour that Ireland have to cope with a six-day turnaround from a high-intensity clash with Wales whereas their opponents sauntered to an easy win over Italy the day before.

Ireland's scrum should survive with Ross at tighthead

There are some positives for Ireland. The scrum has often been the starting point for a Paris pasting - 2010 was no different - but this time, Ireland will have Mike Ross at tighthead, while France have opted to put William Servat aka the Log on the bench with Dmitri Szarzewksi starting.

In general play, the French wing-forwards Imanol Harinorduquy and Thierry Dusautoir are fearsome in attack and defence but number eight Louis Picamoles needs good go-forward ball to be effective and is no defensive workhorse.

Could he potentially be a luxury which France cannot afford? It is up to Ireland to make it play out that way.

In the centre, Wesley Fofana - nervous at times last week - is another player Ireland must ask questions of if they are to have a chance. Ireland should also get a break around the ruck, as Morgan Parra is no Mike Phillips. That can only improve things wider out.

But the key for Ireland must be the contest between the packs and everything possible must be done to test the fitness of the French up front, despite their extra day of rest.

Ireland cannot afford to spread the ball unless they have done the work up front - as Italy repeatedly found to their cost last week.

Pick and go could be key for Ireland

That means the main carriers in the tight five must seek a tempo that asks the fitness question. Ireland must also solve the mystery of the back-row carrying poorly over several games, especially the wing-forwards. The easiest solution may be to use the pick and go game that proved very effective when tried last week.

Obviously, that is a risk against defenders of the calibre of Dusautoir, but with Stephen Ferris and Sean O'Brien struggling to get on the same wave-length as Conor Murray at scrum-half, it may be a workable short-term solution.

The danger is that even if the pack does manage to upset the French , the backline will be unable to take advantage.

A massive test of the wide defence is in prospect with the 9-10-12 combination of Parra, Francois Trinh-Duc and Fofana set to spread the ball quickly to try to get Ireland scrambling at every opportunity.

As every 6 Nations side does now, France will also seek to target the centres with big carriers. Gordon D'Arcy's miss on Aurelien Rougerie in the lead up to the crucial French try last year will not have been forgotten and he can expect a difficult day with plenty of runners coming at him against the grain.

Outside him, Keith Earls decision making will be tested to the limit in the ultra demanding outside-centre position. French back-rowers can operate on a loose rein and the Munsterman may well have Harinorduquy to deal with at times, as well as Rougerie and the wide men.

Kicking and defence must get better

Ireland must also kick far better than they did in their directionless outings against the Welsh in their last two games. The lineout is a strength that must be brought into the equation, and the exceptional French back-three must be kept out of the game as much as possible.

Things may improve if Ireland restrict their attempts to go high for the choke tackle but it is not yet clear whether or not the Irish coaching group will decide that the technique is a busted flush.

On that front, there is a sense that this match will be a real test of the trust between the coaching group and the players, who will know better than anyone if there are genuine strategic or tactical shortcomings. Defence and kicking - the specialist areas of new attack committee Les Kiss and Mark Tainton - have been the main weaknesses of late.

It will also be a massive test of Ireland's belief and togetherness. O'Connell's leadership and captaincy are rarely found wanting in such circumstances and the likelihood is that Ireland will produce a much improved display.

History suggests a win is beyond them.

Prediction: France 28-14 Ireland

France v Ireland, RBS 6 Nations, Saturday 11 February, Stade de France, Paris, kick-off 8pm:

France: 15 Maxime Medard 14 Vincent Clerc 13 Aurelien Rougerie 12 Wesley Fofana 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc 9 Morgan Parra 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux 2 Dimitri Szarzewski 3 Nicolas Mas 4 Pascal Pape 5 Yoann Maestri 6 Thierry Dusautoir 7 Imanol Hardinorquy 8 Louis Picamoles

Replacements: 16 William Servat 17 Vincent Debaty 18 Lionel Nallet 19 Julien Bonnaire 20 Julien Dupuy 21 Lionel Beauxis 22 Maxime Mermoz

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney 14 Tommy Bowe 13 Keith Earls 12 Gordon D'Arcy 11 Andrew Trimble 10 Jonathan Sexton 9 Conor Murray 1 Cian Healy 2 Rory Best 3 Mike Ross 4 Donncha O'Callaghan 5 Paul O'Connell 6 Stephen Ferris 7 Sean O'Brien 8 Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin 17 Tom Court 18 Donnacha Ryan 19 Peter O'Mahony 20 Eoin Reddan 21 Ronan O'Gara 22 Fergus McFadden

RTE SPORT

IRELAND GIVE AWAY LATE PENALTY TO GIVE WALES VICTORY

2012-02-05T23:22:00.000Z

Leigh Halfpenny's last-minute penalty gave Wales a 23-21 win over Ireland in an enthralling Six Nations see-saw battle in Dublin.

The match looked to have turned in Ireland's favour after Wales were reduced to 14 men with Bradley Davies penalised for a dangerous spear tackle on Donnacha Ryan. Ireland made their man advantage count as Tommy Bowe latched onto Rob Kearney's precise pass to go over in the corner for a 21-15 home lead going into the final five minutes.

But a late George North try reduced the deficit to one and then a yellow card in the final minute for Stephen Ferris saw Halfpenny stroke home the penalty and give Wales the victory in a pulsating match.

After an early Jonathan Sexton penalty for an infringement in the ruck, Wales looked like the side who beat Ireland so convincingly in the World Cup, dominating possession and territory.

Following a sniping run from Mike Phillips from the base of the ruck, Ryan Jones bulldozed his way over the line, only for the TMO to adjudge him to have been held up on the line.

Following yet more phase play, Wales had their reward in the 13th minute, Rhys Priestland feeding Jonathan Davies down the left wing and the centre going over in the corner. Wales should have been further ahead moments later but the usually reliable Priestland missed a penalty right in front of the posts to let Ireland off the hook.

Sexton followed suit, missing a penalty to put Ireland ahead after a late hit from Phillips on Bowe. But despite more Welsh pressure, the hosts went ahead somewhat against the run of play minutes before the break. Slick passing through the backs found Bowe, who released Rory Best to go over in the corner for a 10-5 interval lead.

Ireland put clear daylight between themselves and Wales early in the second half, Sexton stroking over another penalty for an infringement by Rhys Gill in the scrum. But a Wales penalty moments later was followed by the move that put them ahead for the first time, North offloading brilliantly to send Jonathan Davies over.

Paul O'Connell then failed to get the ball away with a gaping overlap to his right but a further penalty edged Ireland back ahead at 16-15. And Ireland's chances of victory further increased when Bradley Davies was lucky to avoid a red card for a horrendous spear tackle on Ryan, the replays suggesting the offence to be far worse that Sam Warbuton's fateful tackle on Vincent Clerc in the World Cup.

Ireland made their advantage tell only three minutes later as Bowe scored in the corner but Sexton missed the conversion to give Wales hope at 21-15.

Halfpenny's conversion miss should have been decisive but with the clock ticking down, Ferris saw yellow for a dangerous tackle on Ian Evans and this time the full-back did not miss.

The place-kick by Leigh Halfpenny gave Wales a narrow victory at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin

KIDNEY NAMES TEAM V WALES IN SIX NATIONS OPENER

2012-02-01T18:54:00.000Z

The Ireland team to play Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Championship opener at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 3pm) has been named.

There are three changes to the side that lined out against the same opposition in Ireland's last game in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Keith Earls will start at outside centre alongside Gordon D'Arcy with Andrew Trimble coming into the team on the left wing.

In the half-backs Jonathan Sexton will win his 25th senior cap and he is partnered by RBS 6 Nations debutant Conor Murray.

The pack is unchanged from the last game with talismanic lock Paul O'Connell taking over the captaincy from the injured Brian O'Driscoll.

Meanwhile, the uncapped Peter O'Mahony receives his first call-up to the senior matchday squad. The 22-year-old has earned a spot on the replacements bench having impressed for Munster so far this season.

IRELAND Team & Replacements (v Wales, 2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship, Aviva Stadium, Sunday, February 5, kick-off 3pm):

15 - Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)
14 - Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)
13 - Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)
12 - Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11 - Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)
10 - Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
9 - Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
1 - Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)
3 - Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
4 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)
5 - Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) (capt)
6 - Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)
7 - Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)
8 - Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
17 - Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)
18 - Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)
19 - Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)
20 - Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
21 - Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)
22 - Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

IRELAND ANNOUNCE 6 NATIONS SQUAD

2012-01-30T16:03:00.000Z

Ireland management have named a 32-man squad as preparations reach their final stages for the team's opening match of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations against Wales next Sunday.

The majority of the squad that trained in the Limerick camp last week have been retained.

There are call-ups for O2 Ireland Wolfhound players Denis Hurley, Dan Tuohy, Chris Henry and Rhys Ruddock, all of whom have been capped previously for Ireland.

David Kearney, Eoin O'Malley, Peter O'Mahony, Simon Zebo and Brett Wilkinson are the uncapped players who make the step up to train with the senior Ireland squad this week.

IRELAND Training Squad (v Wales, 2012 RBS 6 Nations):

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)

Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)

Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)

Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)

Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)

Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) *

Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)

Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) *

Eoin O'Malley (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *

Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)

Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)

Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht) *

Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) *

* Denotes uncapped player

HEINEKEN CUP TIES ANNOUNCED

2012-01-22T19:51:00.001Z

Munster will host Ulster and Leinster will host Cardiff Blues in the quarter-final round of the Heineken Cup.

Munster ended the pool stage as top seed, with Leinster finishing as second seed, guaranteeing both provinces home quarter-finals.

Ulster secured the second-best pool runners-up spot and qualified for the quarters as the last seed.

Munster will host their quarter-final at Thomond Park, Limerick, while Leinster will most likely play their last eight tie with Cardiff Blues at the Aviva Stadium.

Edinburgh host Toulouse and Saracens host Clermont Auvergne in the other quarter-finals.

The winner of the Munster/Ulster quarter-final has been drawn to have home advantage in the semi-finals against the winner of the Edinburgh v Toulouse quarter.

The winner of the Leinster/Cardiff Blues quarter-final has been drawn to play away to the winner of the Saracens/Clermont Auvergne quarter-final in the last four stage.

HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS

HEINEKEN CUP	HOME	AWAY
1ST SEED	MUNSTER	ULSTER
2ND SEED	LEINSTER	CARDIFF
3RD SEED	EDINBURGH	TOULOUSE
4TH SEED	SARACENS	CLERMONT AUVERGNE

(Ties to be played the weekend of 6/7/8 April)

HEINEKEN CUP SEMI-FINALS

Saracens/Clermont Auvergne v Leinster/Cardiff Blues

Munster/Ulster v Edinburgh/Toulouse

(Ties to be played the weekend of 28/29 April)

CONNAUGHT DEFEAT HARLEQUINS

2012-01-21T00:04:00.000Z

In a famous night for Connaught rugby, Eric Elwood's side claimed their first win in their maiden Heineken Cup adventure on Friday evening by 9 points to 8 at the Sportsground in Galway.
Three penalties from the boot of Niall O'Connor was enough to earn the Westerners their first win in 15 games this Season.

Harlequins could only muster a Sam Smith try early in the first-half and one penalty was all they could produce in the second period.

Conor O' Shea's Premiership side knew that a victory was a must in order to qualify for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup but they came up short against a committed Connaught team who tackled with ferosity in numbers and finally gave their fans a win to cheer for on a wet and windy evening in Galway.

IRISH RUGBY SQUADS ANNOUNCED

2012-01-18T23:17:00.000Z

Head coach Declan Kidney has confirmed the squad for the upcoming RBS 6 Nations Championship which gets underway in a few weeks' time.

The Ireland team management have today announced two squads ahead of the 2012 RBS 6 Nations and the upcoming O2 Ireland Wolfhounds game against England Saxons.

There are 24 players named in the Ireland senior squad, with six additional up-and-coming players named who will join the first week of Ireland camp in Limerick to train with the squad.

The 22-man O2 Ireland Wolfhounds squad includes several uncapped players as well as full internationals. The Ireland squad, from which the team to play Wales will be selected, will be announced on Monday, January 30 after the Wolfhounds game against the England Saxons.

Commenting on the announcement, Ireland head coach Declan Kidney said: "The Wolfhounds game gives myself and the other coaches one final chance to give games to players to see possible options before we settle on our matchday 22 for the opening game of the Championship.
"It also gives us the opportunity to have a closer look in training at some of the younger players, rather than bringing in more experienced players, who are very much still in the frame for selection.
"There have been some strong performances by players with the provinces going really well. It always gives the squad a good boost when we have teams with players playing well in Europe before we step back up into the international scene."
Talking about the start of the RBS 6 Nations, Kidney added: "It's a new tournament for us and for everybody involved, so irrespective of the highs and lows of the World Cup, it is a fresh and exciting challenge for us.
"The tournament begins what is big year for us, with a three Test tour to New Zealand to come in June and ranking points all important for the Rugby World Cup in 2015, but the Six Nations always stands out as high point."

IRELAND Training Squad (2012 RBS 6 Nations):

Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster)

Tommy Bowe (Ospreys)

Tom Court (Malone/Ulster)

Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Leo Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster)

Stephen Ferris (Dungannon/Ulster)

Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)

Jamie Heaslip (Naas/Leinster)

Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster)

Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)

Sean O'Brien (Clontarf/Leinster)

Donncha O'Callaghan (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster)

Ronan O'Gara (Cork Constitution/Munster)

Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)

Donnacha Ryan (Shannon/Munster)

Jonathan Sexton (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Paddy Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster)

Additional Players -

Ian Nagle (Cork Constitution/Munster) *

Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) *

Tiernan O'Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht) *

Paddy McAllister (Ballynahinch/Ulster)*

Andrew Conway (Blackrock College/Leinster) *

Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster) *

O2 IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS Squad (v England Saxons):

Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster) *

Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)

Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)

Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster)

Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)

Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)

David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) *

Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)

Ronan Loughney (Galwegians/Connacht) *

Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster) *

Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht)

Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)

Eoin O'Malley (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *

Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster) *

Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster) *

Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)

Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)

Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)

Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht) *

IRELAND'S DARREN GIBSON SIGNS FOR EVERTON

2012-01-13T21:26:00.000Z

Ireland's Darren Gibson has joined Everton from Man Utd on a four and a half year deal today.

The fee is believed to be only £500,000 which is very low even though the Derryman had failed to make the breakthrough at Utd.

"I realised the time had come for a change", said the midfielder.
"I want to get into the Ireland team for the Euro's so I need regular football, which I will get here at Everton".

On hearing the news Giovanni Trapattoni said simply: "At last!".

Hope it works out for Gibson at his new club and he begins to show his true potential.

CONNACHT 13-15 LEINSTER

2012-01-02T22:05:00.000Z

Connacht let one slip at the Showgrounds last night as Isa Nacewa's 100% place-kicking return was the difference between the sides as Leinster squeezed past their provincial rivals Connacht in the RaboDirect PRO12.

Although Connacht had the better of a slow-burning first half, three penalties from man-of-the-match Nacewa nudged Leinster into a 9-3 lead at the break.
Connacht took advantage of sin-binnings for Isaac Boss and Leo Cullen as they created tries for Tiernan O'Halloran and South African Ethienne Reynecke.

But Matthew Jarvis and replacement Miah Nikora missed both conversions, with the latter also watching his last-gasp drop-goal fall under the crossbar in a dramatic finish.

Gunning for their first win in 12 outings, Connacht showed early signs of intent in front of a league-record crowd of 6,582 at the Sportsground.
The best move came when an in-form O'Halloran split open the Leinster defence on an eye-catching counter-attack.
Jarvis, a late inclusion in the starting line-up, missed his first shot at the posts in the sixth minute and was wayward from further out five minutes later.
But the young out-half was then successful with a 35-metre effort, punishing Leinster for bringing down a maul illegally.
Leinster were quick to respond, drawing a ruck infringement from John Muldoon which resulted in Nacewa slotting over his first penalty.
Another sweetly-struck kick into the wind from Nacewa, this time from 38 metres out, moved Joe Schmidt's men in front despite Connacht controlling much of the play.
Defences were on top in the period leading up to half-time and it took a muscular drive from Rhys Ruddock to tee up Nacewa's third penalty.
Backchat led to referee John Lacey moving the penalty into kickable range and the full-back managed to squeeze his attempt inside the left-hand post.
The Leinster pack built some momentum before the break, however an important steal by Ronan Loughney helped the home side clear the danger.
Connacht were back on the defensive in the early part of the second half, Nacewa maintaining his impressive form with a precise 49th-minute kick.
The arm wrestle up front continued, with a number of promising phases strangled into submission by the sheer force of the tackling.
The sin-binning of Boss for interfering with Frank Murphy's pass from a midfield ruck gave Connacht a chance to hit back - and they duly did with O'Halloran getting over.
A string of quick passes created the space on the right with Jarvis putting O'Halloran over just moments after fellow winger Brian Tuohy was stretchered off.
The try was unconverted though, and Nacewa soon struck his fifth penalty goal of the night to move the league leaders 15-8 clear.
But Connacht stuck doggedly to their task and with Cullen carded for taking out a lifter at a five-metre lineout, Reynecke charged over off a subsequent maul.
Nikora slipped as he tried to convert from a right-sided position and agonisingly the New Zealander had the accuracy but not the distance when attempting that drop-goal at the death.
So Connacht's woes continue, how they could have done with Ian Keatley's immaculate goal-kicking however, he is now doing it for Munster.
Still a good performances by the Westerners against the reigning Heineken Cup Champions.

MUNSTER BEAT THE SCARLETS 19-13 TO HEAD GROUP 4

2011-12-19T03:31:00.000Z

Munster remain top position of Pool 4 in the the Heineken Cup
with a win over Scarlets today in Thomand Park.10Share
The opening score came from a Ronan O’Gara penalty in the 4th minute wtih Stephen Jones levelling 8 minutes later.
A second successful penalty from O’Gara in the 34th minute put the home side 6-3 in front at the half time whistle.

O'Gara followed up with another penalty in the 43rd minute before James Coughlan scored the first try on the 51st minute, Ronan adding the convertion.

Priestland and O'Gara exchanged penalties before Scarlet's Ken Owens crossed the Munster line after 65 minutes. When Priestland added the convertion the visitors had reduced the gap to six points with 14 minutes remaining but Munster held on to secure their fourth victory in pool 4 of the Heineken Cup, winning 19-13 in Thomond Park.

LEINSTER & ULSTER WIN BIG AS UNLUCKY CONNACHT LOSE OUT

2011-12-17T22:35:00.001Z

Aironi 20-46 Ulster

Ulster's Heineken Cup ambitions remain alive and kicking after a bonus point victory over Aironi in Monza moved them to the top of Pool 4.
Brian McLaughlin's men scored six tries on their way to a well-merited win which puts them in pole position ahead of next month's crunch clashes with Leicester Tigers (home) and Clermont Auvergne (away).
Andrew Trimble, Tom Court, Craig Gilroy and replacements Robbie Diack and Adam Macklin were all on the mark for the visitors, while a first half penalty try added to Italian woes.

Gloucester 23-19 Connacht

Connacht 'fronted up magnificently', in the words of Eric Elwood, and were just minutes away from an historic first Heineken Cup victory when Jonny May struck for the match-winning try for Gloucester.

Jonny May's 75th-minute try kept alive Gloucester's faint Heineken Cup hopes and extended Connacht's frustrating run of defeats to 10 matches.

Niall O'Connor looked to have earned the westerners their first win of the competition when his 72nd minute penalty put the visitors 19-16 up, but replacement centre May then sailed past two defenders for the decisive score.

Tiernan O'Halloran, who had another impressive outing, and Tim Taylor had earlier traded first half tries, while O'Connor kicked four penalties and Taylor and Freddie Burns combined for three for the hosts.
May's late intervention was a bitter blow for Eric Elwood's supremely committed side, who were unlucky to lose after being the better team for much of the match against an out-of-sorts Gloucester.

Leinster 52-27 Bath

Leinster hold a six-point lead at the top of Heineken Cup Pool 3 after dispatching Bath with great aplomb at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday night.

Three first half tries - two of them scored while Leo Cullen was in the sin-bin - saw Leinster regain their ruthless streak amid a festive atmosphere at the home of Irish rugby.

A crowd of 46,365, the second largest ever for a Heineken Cup pool match, watched on as Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald and Jonathan Sexton all crossed the visitors' whitewash to give Joe Schmidt's charges a 24-6 half-time lead.
Fitzgerald darted over just 30 seconds into the second half to chalk up the bonus point, and there were further tries for Eoin Reddan and replacements Rhys Ruddock and Ian Madigan.
The hosts thrived in broken play, efficiently putting away the sort of chances they failed to convert at the Recreation Ground just six days ago.

SHAMROCK ROVERS LOSE 4-0 TO SPURS

2011-12-15T22:50:00.005Z

Michael O'Neill's successful tenure as boss of Shamrock Rovers manager came to an end this evening with a 4-0 defeat by high-flying Tottenham Hotspurs at a packed Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.

Rovers started brightly but first-half goals by Steven Pienaar, André Townsend and Jermain Defoe put the game to bed early on.
Shamrock Rovers were by no means outclassed and very much made a game of it but Spurs superior finishing was the difference in the half.

Rovers came out in the second half and gave it a good go, competing for every ball and having a few shots on goal themselves.
Steven O'Donnell shot just wide on 63 mins while Gary O'Sullivan had a good shot saved by Carlo Cudicini on 87 mins.

However, Tottenham had the final say with a goal by sub Harry Kane on full-time.

Despite the victory Harry Rednapp's team are out of the Europa League, I don't think he is too disappointed as the Premier League is his stated priority.

It is a shame that the Shamrock Rover's hierarchy have allowed Michael O'Neill to leave the club.
It is believed that the manager wanted the funds recieved from qualifying for the Europa League, €1 million, to be invested in new players.
It seems that the Rover's board were unwilling to acceed to his demands and he has now left the club having created history.
The vacant manager's job at Northern Ireland is now down to three people with O'Neill's name believed to be one of them.
O'Neill has said tonight that he: "would be honoured", to take the Northern Ireland job
Thanks Michael for all the success you delievered to Shamrock Rovers in such a short time.

GROUP A	WON	DRAWN	LOST	GOAL DIFF	POINTS
PAOK	3	3	0	4	12
RUBIN KAZIN	3	2	1	6	11
SPURS	3	3	2	5	10
SHAMROCK ROVERS	0	0	6	-15	0

FIONNUALA BRITTON WINS GOLD FOR IRELAND IN SLOVENIA

2011-12-12T23:31:00.000Z

Wicklow's Fionnuala Britton won gold at the 18th SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Velenje, Slovenia on Sunday.

The Kilcoole AC athlete ran a determined race from the front, shaking off the attention of all her challengers before pulling clear with a couple of laps to go.
Maintaining a smooth rhythm throughout, she raced to a wide-margin victory over Dulce Felix of Portugal, with Gemma Steel of Britain back in third.
The victory was Ireland's second gold medal in the race after Catherina McKiernan's success at the inaugural championships back in 1994.
In last year's race, Britton faded out of the medals to finish in a frustrating fourth place and that was very much in her thoughts going into today's race.
Speaking after the race, the new European Champion said:
"I can hardly believe it. That was the plan (to make the running) from that start and I knew I had to it. After last year, this is the only medal I wanted. In a ways, it's been on my mind for the whole year."
Lets hope our latest Champion can carry her onto further success in the London Olympics next year.

LEINSTER EDGE OUT BATH 18-13 IN THE HEINEKEN CUP

2011-12-11T20:37:00.005Z

Heineken Cup holders Leinster had to rely on the boot of Jonny Sexton to get the upper-hand over English-side Bath at The Rec on Sunday.

The young out-half kicked six penalties out of seven to ensure the away side a valuable and deserved victory by 18 points to 13.

However, Leinster were very wasteful with the ball and squandered three clear try-scoring chances in the game.
The worst of those came from the normally excellent Sean O'Brien when he was metres from the try-line and with a three-man overlap, he chose to go it alone instead of passing the ball outside for a certain try.

England wing Matt Banahan then barged over Leinster's line which put them in the lead with Ollie Barkley's conversion on 65 mins.
Luckily, Joe Smidt's team, especially Sexton, held their nerve to close out the win as Bath's captain, Francois Louw conceded loose penalties under pressure from the Leinster forwards.

Leinster top the Group with a home game against Ian McGeechan's side at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin next weekend.

TEAM	PLAYED	WON	LOST	POINTS
LEINSTER	3	2	0	11
GLASGOW	3	2	1	8
BATH	3	1	2	6
MONTPELLLIER	3	0	2	4

TRAPATTONI WINS IRISH MANAGER OF THE YEAR AWARD

2011-12-07T23:58:00.004Z

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has won the Philips Manager of the Year award after guiding the national team to their first major championship finals in 10 years.

The Italian was in competition with Dublin football manager Pat Gilroy, who led the capital side to their first All-Ireland title in 16 years, Brian Cody, who lifted the Liam McCarthy trophy with Kilkenny, and Leinster's Heineken Cup-winning coach Joe Schmidt.

But the award, which was announced at a ceremony in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon, was given to the 72-year-old in recognition of his achievement of guiding the Republic to second place in Group B and the subsequent 5-1 aggregate win over Estonia in the play-offs.
The last time the award went to an international football manager was in 2001 when Mick McCarthy brought Ireland to the 2002 World Cup finals.
The likable Italian has guided lowly Ireland to two play-off's in his tenure, cruelly losing out to France before he steered Ireland to a 5-1 over Estonia in the Euro play-offs and is a deserved winner of the award.

IRELAND FACE SPAIN & ITALY IN EURO FINALS

2011-12-02T23:10:00.004Z

So now we know.

Ireland have been drawn against Spain, the current World and European Champions.

Just for good measure, we also have to play three-time World Cup winner's Italy and add to that Slavan Bilic's Croatia.

Make no mistake, its a very tough draw.

But with two teams to qualify from the group we have a fighting chance.

Rest assured, Trapattoni and the Irish team will give it everything.

The good news is that we will be based in Poznan in Poland, which has better facilities and is much easier to get to than the Ukraine.

Also lets celebrate the fact that we are actually in the Euro Finals and its something to look forward to next Summer.

GROUP C

GROUP C FIXTURES	HOME		AWAY	VENUES
JUNE 10	IRELAND	V	CROATIA	POSNAN
JUNE14	SPAIN	V	IRELAND	GDANSK
JUNE 18	IRELAND	V	ITALY	POSNAN

SHAMROCK ROVERS BEATEN AGAIN BY RUBIN KAZAN IN EUROPE

2011-11-30T21:00:00.001Z

Shamrock Rovers brave journey in the Europa is fast-turning into something of a nightmare.
They were out-gunned 4-1 by Russian side Rubin Kazan at the Tsentralnyi Stadium in sub-zero conditions this evening.

The home side got off to the perfect start when Valdes scored in the tenth minute.
However, Rovers replied immediately with a goal from a Billy Dennehy free kick which Ken Oman headed home, to make it 1-1 after only 12 minutes.

Michael O'Neill's team were giving a good account of themselves in midfield and Chris Turner had a shot which went over the bar.
Mata then had a shot saved by Ryan Thompson.
Billy Dennehy had a run and his shot on goal was well saved by Ryzhikov.
Dan Murray then had to block a shot on his own goal line as the quality of the Russian team's forwards began to tell.
Kazan took the lead again on 36 mins when Natcho fired a shot past the despairing dive of Ryan Thompson, this was the Israeli's 9th goal in Europe this season.
Karl Sheppard had a shot just over on 42 minutes.

Coming out for the 2nd half, Shamrock Rovers were very much still in this game until another Valdes goal undid them, despite the suspicion of it being offside, the goal stood.
The dangerous Valdes had another shot minutes later but Thompson did well to save it.
Rovers defence was now their weakest link and Obafemi Martins made it 4-1 on 62 mins even though the ball looked to have gone out of play in the build-up to the goal, the 5th official didn't do his job right.

There was time for Rovers to try and get back into the match and Karl Sheppard saw his fine shot strike the crossbar with time running out.
Billy Dennehy had a free-kick in a good position in added time but he blazed it high and wide, he is better than that.

So, its a long journey home for the Rovers but they do have the visit of Tottenham Hotspur to look forward to in their last game of their season.

Teams:
Shamrock Rovers: Thompson, Sullivan, Oman, Murray, Stevens, Rice, Dennehy, Finn, Turner, Paterson, Sheppard.

Rubin Kazan: Ryzhikov, Kaleshin, Navas, Sharonov, Boccetti, Ryazantsev, Natcho, Noboa, Karadeniz, Martins, Valdez.

TRAPATTONI SET TO EXTEND IRELAND CONTRACT

2011-11-27T23:56:00.000Z

Giovanni Trapattoni is expected to renew his contract with the FAI this week.

Ireland's manager has confirmed that all the details of the new deal, believed to be €5 million for his management team over two years, have been agreed. "We have agreed in principle and everything is going forward but it is not signed," Trapattoni revealed.

He is expected to arrive in Dublin on Wednesday to complete the deal which will extend his contract until 2014 at a slightly reduced salary.

The FAI established last week that Denis O' Brien's support would continue and once they received that assurance, there was no difficulty in negotiating a package, especially as they weren't looking to reduce significantly the salaries of Trapattoni, Marco Tardelli and fitness coach Fausto Rossi.

Ireland's successful International Manager will be in Poland for the Euro 2012 Finals draw on Friday evening and all of Ireland will be anxiously awaiting the outcome of the pairings for the finals.

Good to see The Ireland Manager Trapattoni given the chance he deserves to continue at the helm for a further two years.

FAI supremo John Delany has stated today that Ireland will be given 6,000 tickets per game and that priority will be given to the fans who own Corporate boxes at the Aviva and the loyal fans who went to our away games in Armenia, Andorra and Russia will also be given priority, fair policy.

RIP Gary Speed

LEINSTER & MUNSTER WIN AS CONNACHT LOSE AGAIN IN THE PRO12 LEAGUE

2011-11-27T00:37:00.000Z

EDINBURGH 17-34 MUNSTER

Centre Danny Barnes, 22, crossed for his fourth try in this season's RaboDirect PRO12 and 21-year-old wing duo Simon Zebo and Luke O'Dea also touched down.

Edinburgh could not survive after having props Jack Gilding and Kyle Traynor sin-binned in the second half, conceding a penalty try as Munster went on to claim a deserved bonus point.

CONNACHT 6-17 0SPREYS

With seven minutes left before half-time, Webb blitzed past Brett Wilkinson and up into the Connacht 22, offloading for Morgan to brilliantly dance around Gavin Duffy and race in behind the posts.

He comfortably converted his own try and although Nikora replied shortly afterwards, Hibbard fumbled a pass out wide when the Ospreys looked set to add a second try late on.

The visitors' scrum was growing in influence with prop Duncan Jones, celebrating his 150th appearance for the region, putting Rodney Ah You under a good deal of pressure.

Connacht were the aggressors when the second half got under way, a series of penalties getting them into try-scoring range before Ian Gough was yellow carded after infringing at a maul.

But Eric Elwood's men had nothing to show for their period of dominance and Morgan failed with a long range penalty as the Ospreys finally got out of their own half.

TREVISO 20-30 LEINSTER

Fergus McFadden claimed a 15-point haul as Leinster beat Treviso 30-20 in a hard-fought clash at the Stadio Monigo.

Wing McFadden kicked three penalties and three conversions as the reigning Heineken Cup champions gained revenge for last year's shock defeat in Italy.

GLASGOW 17-9 ULSTER

2011-11-25T23:38:00.002Z

Ulster suffered defeat at the hands of Glasgow Warriors in Edinborough in the RaboDirect Pro 12 League.

A poor game played in poor weather conditions made for a dull game.The game was scrappy viewing with very little attacking play by either side.

It was reduced to a kicking contest between Ulster's Ian Humphries and Glasgow's Duncan Weir who landed nine points apiece from place-kicks in the first-half.

The turning point in the game came from a break in midfield by Glasgow's Duncan Weir who showed some good inter-play with Troy Nathan, formaly of Connacht, who touched down for the deciding try and Duncan Weir sealed the win for the Scottish outfit with a drop goal in the dying minutes to deny Ulster a bonus point.

Man of the Match: Duncan Weir

IRELAND MOVE UP TO 21ST IN FIFA RANKINGS

2011-11-24T02:18:00.001Z

After Ireland's qualification for the 2012 Euro's this month in which they beat Estonia 5-1 on aggregate,
Trapattoni's Ireland have moved up to 21st in the FIFA world rankings.
No mean achievement by Ireland, maybe if we had also beaten Estonia at home we would be higher up the World Team Table.
Nonetheless, its a further vindication of Irish Manager Giovanni Trapottini's approach to his team.

RANKING	COUNTRY
1	SPAIN
2	HOLLAND
3	GERMANY
4	URAGUAY
5	ENGLAND
6	BRAZIL
21	IRELAND
49	SCOTLAND
50	WALES
89	N. IRELAND

ROBBIE KEANE WINS THE MLS CUP WITH LA GALAXY

2011-11-22T23:09:00.001Z

Robbie Keane secured another medal to add to his collection following LA Galaxy's win against Houston, Texas in the MLS Cup last weekend.

Robbie played a key part in the victory, firstly he had a great goal wrongly ruled out for offside before he set up Landon Donovan for the only goal of the game with a great slide rule pass into the stricker's feet.
Keane admitted that traveling to Estonia and Dublin for Euro 2012 playoffs took it out of him, but was pleased to add another medal to his collection. “It was a tiring week, to be honest,” Keane said after the match. “The travelling got to me a little bit towards the end. Six games in two weeks, it’s a bit tough, but we won and that’s the main thing.

“I wasn’t quite sure whether I was offside for my goal and I had another shot and should have hit the target, but I set Landon up for the goal that won the championship and that’s the most important thing. They made it hard for us. We dominated the game to be honest with you but we just didn’t get through. I just dropped off and I saw Landon running through. It was sort of a reverse pass to him and Landon did the rest, it was a great finish. From then on, we knew we were going to win.”

English superstar David Beckham looks set to leave the MLS Cup winners after his contract expires, and has been heavily linked with a move to Paris St Germain. Keane admitted that he would like the winger to stay, but that it’s unlikely that the Galaxy will keep hold of their marquee signing. “I’ve loved playing with David Beckham and hopefully we will continue to play together,” Keane said. “I’ve played against David over the years and I got a taste of how good he is when he trained with Spurs last winter. But it has been a pleasure to play with him for the Galaxy.”

Well done Robbie see you at the Euros.

LEINSTER WALLOP GLASGOW WARRIORS

2011-11-21T01:04:00.001Z

Leinster 38-13 Glasgow

Leinster showed glimpses of their ruthless best as they dealt Glasgow Warriors a 38-13 Heineken Cup defeat at the RDS.

Cruising to their first Pool Three win, the defending champions notched two tries while Devin Toner was in the sin-bin, with Eoin O'Malley, Brian O'Driscoll's deputy in the number 13 jersey, scoring both.
Rob Kearney and Gordon D'Arcy also touched down as the bonus point was secured by the 40th minute, the Warriors' cause not being helped by a high error count.
Duncan Weir kicked two first-half penalties for the visitors, who had snatched a shock win here in the RaboDirect PRO12 in September.

Man-of-the-match Jamie Heaslip led Leinster's command of the collisions and they continued to be efficient in all facets after the break, weathering an early storm from the Scots.
Glasgow gained some consolation with a late try from replacement scrum half Henry Pyrgos, but Isaac Boss had the final say for Leinster in injury-time.

Duncan Weir, Glasgow's man-of-the-match in last weekend's win over Bath, banged over a long-range penalty in the third minute to nudge them ahead.

But right from the restart, Leinster capitalised on an error from the visitors to put Kearney over in the right corner. Showing great vision, Sexton hung up a cross-field kick for Isa Nacewa and he drew the tackle before feeding Kearney for the score.
The conversion was expertly added from wide out by Sexton, whose half-back partner Eoin Reddan was to the forefront of a bright opening spell.

Stuart Hogg rampaged downfield to bring the Warriors into the hosts' 22 but the home defence held firm and Nacewa's kick chase on the right led to Sexton hammering over a penalty, having earlier missed one from the other side.

Glasgow replied through the boot of Weir, who split the posts after Leinster's Toner was sin-binned for pulling down a player at a lineout.

However, Leinster were beginning to find their rhythm in attack and they went for the jugular when Sexton took a quick tap. Having been pulled to the left and right, Glasgow were caught out by their posts as Heaslip powered into contact and O'Malley snuck over from the ruck.
Six minutes later, Heaslip broke from a scrum in the Scots' 22 and when play was swept back into midfield, D'Arcy's superb short pass sent O'Malley darting through for his second seven-pointer.
Glasgow's share of possession dwindled as half-time approached and some neat interplay between Sean O'Brien and Nacewa sent D'Arcy over to the right of the posts.
Sexton tagged on his fourth successful conversion, giving Glasgow a mountain to climb at 31-6 down. They pressed early in the second half, with Ryan Wilson being brought down just inches short of the try-line.
Al Kellock and Richie Gray were prominent as Sean Lineen's side raised the tempo, with winger Tommy Seymour unfortunate to knock on in plenty of space.

Glasgow were the aggressors for much of the closing half hour, Leinster seemingly content to empty their bench and trust their defence.

They were caught out when Troy Nathan thundered straight through a 74th-minute ruck and passed for fellow replacement Pyrgos to touch down, with Weir converting.

But Leinster finished the game on the attack, a half-break from Ian Madigan, new deputy for Jonny Sexton and Shane Jennings' deft one-handed flick creating the opening for Boss to round off a satisfying Sunday afternoon for the province who like like Championship contenders again, despite the loss of Captain Brian O'Driscoll for six months.

HEINEKEN CUP: MUNSTER WIN, CONNACHT & ULSTER LOSE

2011-11-19T23:34:00.001Z

CONNACHT LOSE AT THE SHOWGROUNDS

Connacht 10-36 Toulouse:
The men from the West were hoping to earn a victory in their first home game at the re-vamped Galway Showgrounds.
With a neat new stand and a capacity crowd of over 9,000 including new President Michael D. Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny from Castlebar, the scene was set for another famous night for Connacht rugby.

Sadly, it didn't go to plan as French powerhouses, Toulouse raced to an early lead with a try by Bouilhou and 3 penalties by Beauxis forced Connacht onto the backfoot in the first-half.
The referree awarded Toulouse a controversial penalty-try when a scrum on the ten-metre line was wheeled by Connacht, which usually means a penalty to the home team.
However, the ref gave an inexplicable penalty-try to Toulouse.

Despite this, Connacht were second-best in the half, poor in the scrum, turning over ball at the breakdown and conceeding alot of territory.

Eric Elwood must have had some choice words to say at half-time as Connacht came out all fired up, first to the breakdown, on the front foot, excellent at line-outs and it all resulted in a penalty-try of their own to make it a more even and exciting match.

However, Toulouse, experienced warriors in this competion, came back with a try close in by Nyangya with time almost up.

So Connacht on a steep learning-curve in the Heineken Cup, but they will make their mark on the competition.

Castres 24-27 Munster

The Irish province had trailed for most of the game but battled back with tries by Doug Howlett, Peter O'Mahony and replacement winger Will Chambers.

Castres started strongly and grabbed first-half tries by hooker Brice Mach and winger Pierre-Gilles Lakafia.

The match was tied at 24-24, with the clock in red numbers, when the Munster pack set up O'Gara's winning kick.

It leaves Munster second in Pool One, the Scarlets leading by one thanks to their bonus point against Northampton on Friday night.

Castres, playing on the ground of their great rivals Toulouse, may feel unlucky to have taken just a bonus point from the closely-fought encounter.

However, Munster's experience proved decisive yet again as the two-time winners secured a valuable victory in the south of France.
It was Castres who started brightest, with Bernard's long-range penalty from the left putting them 3-0 ahead in the third minute.

The fly-half then quickly landed another wind-assisted penalty from inside his own half.
The French side got their first try in the 13th minute when captain Chris Masoe burst his way into the Munster 22. The ball was quickly moved from left to right, for Mach - on for the injured Marc Andreu - to get over in the right corner for 11-0.
Munster's forwards gradually started to make an impression and they were finally rewarded after 23 minutes.
When the strong-running Wian du Preez was held up in front of the posts, some good handling by scrum-half Conor Murray and number eight James Coughlan allowed 33-year-old former All Black Howlett to score on the right.
The Heineken Cup's record points scorer O'Gara nailed the conversion from the right corner of the 22.
But Castres scored another try three minutes before half-time after Paul O'Connell surrendered possession deep in his own half.
Castres took full advantage, sweeping the ball swiftly across the 22 and Lakafia stepped inside the exposed Howlett to touch down in the right corner.
Bernard added the extras and Castres led 18-7, before O'Gara scored a penalty with the last kick of the half after a succession of five-metre scrums.
The Irish side drew to within one point five minutes into the second half when O'Mahony burst through a huge gap in the home defence for a try which O'Gara converted.
Bernard responded with a penalty to stretch Castres' advantage to 21-17 but the hosts handed Munster a try just moments later.
As replacement Remi Tales tried to clear on his own line, O'Gara charged his kick down and Denis Leamy fed fellow replacement Chambers for an easy score.
O'Gara converted as Munster found themselves in front for the first time but Bernard levelled things with 10 minutes left, setting up a thrilling climax.
Munster battered Castres for the final few minutes, and Tomas O'Leary's pinpoint pass gave O'Gara just enough time to rifle over the match-winning drop goal from the 10-metre line.

Leicester 20-9 Ulster

Matt Smith scored the only try late on as Leicester beat Ulster 20-9 to top Pool 4 of the Heineken Cup.
Leicester's Toby Flood and Ulster's Ian Humphreys dominated most of the game with their kicking but the Tigers eventually pulled away to win.

For most of the game the Irish province looked more than capable of causing an upset and will be disappointed not to have come away with at least a deserved bonus point.

Ulster took a second-minute lead when Humphreys kicked a 55-metre penalty as the Tigers were penalised for offside following a poor up and under from Geordan Murphy, who, sadly is now past his best.
The visitors continued to have the better of the opening exchanges but when Chris Henry was penalised for not releasing, Flood levelled the scores with a 50 metre penalty.
Within minutes Ulster were back ahead with another penalty from Humphreys and remained so as Flood missed with his next attempt.
However, this setback was the forerunner for Leicester to produce the first sustained period of pressure.
The Ulster defence was softened up by some good driving runs from Thomas Waldrom and Marcos Ayerza resulting in a Leicester penalty which Flood converted.
Neither side was able to produce any continuity to their play with constant disruption due to penalty awards.
Humphreys made it 9-6 after 20 minutes with another sweetly struck kick but once again Flood tied the scores after the Irish were penalised at a scrum.
There continued to be very little between the teams and Ulster were showing no signs of being overawed.
Their pack were meeting the Tigers head on with halfbacks Paul Marshall and Humphreys kicking astutely to pin back the hosts.
Roman Poite's whistle continued to be the dominant feature of a desperately poor first half which was briefly enlivened by one powerful run from Alesana Tuilagi, who was the first to threaten the try line.
The wing was hauled down by the combined efforts of Andrew Trimble and Simon Danielli and when Flood booted the ball into touch the half-time whistle was met with a chorus of boos.
The boo's continued into the second half when early on Nevin Spence was penalised for taking Murphy as he was airborne.
There was little in it but a penalty was awarded which secured a platform for the Tigers.
Flood's penalty put his side ahead for the first time in the match and it should have been 12-12 but surprisingly Humphreys missed with by far his easiest kick.
An excellent kick and chase from the lively Marshall was the prelude for Ulster's best period of the match and a couple of strong runs from Darren Cave put the Tigers' line under threat.
The home defence held firm and a penalty for not releasing relieved the pressure.
Ben Youngs was introduced in an attempt to put some spark into the Tigers' game but the visitors looked the more likely try scorers as the game entered the final quarter.
Leicester raised their game to score the crucial try with 12 minutes to go.
From a ruck inside the Ulster 22, Flood gained possession to put in a clever grubber kick and Smith won the race for the touchdown.
Then with the final kick of the match the fly-half was successful with his fifth penalty.

So thats a roundup of Ireland's involvment in this weekend's Heineken Cup.

IRELAND ANNOUNCE DATES FOR WORLD CUP 2014 QUALIFIERS

2011-11-18T23:58:00.000Z

With qualification for the Euro's secured, Trapattoni's Ireland have announced their fixture schedule for the World Cup to be held in Brazil in 2014.

Ireland begin their campaign against lowly Kazakhstan in far-flung Eastern-Europe in September, followed by a home-game against Group favourites, Germany in October.

Ireland Manager Giovanni Trapattoni said: "This is a good fixture schedule for us with a good balance to the matches."

Realistically, Germany start as favourites to win Group C with Ireland, Sweden and Austria fighting it out over second-place.

WORLD CUP GROUP C	HOME	AWAY
7 SEP 2012	KAZAKHSTAN	IRELAND
12 OCT 2012	IRELAND	GERMANY
16 OCT 2012	FAROES	IRELAND
22 MAR 2013	SWEDEN	IRELAND
26 MAR 2013	IRELAND	AUSTRIA
7 JUNE 2013	IRELAND	FAROES
6 SEP 2013	IRELAND	SWEDEN
10 SEPT 2013	AUSTRIA	IRELAND
11 OCT 2013	GERMANY	IRELAND
15 OCT 2013	IRELAND	KAZAKHSTAN

EURO 2012 SEEDINGS ANNOUNCED

2011-11-16T23:55:00.003Z

UEFA today announced the seedings for Euro 2012.

As expected, Spain & Holland top the seedings with Spain the current European and World Cup winners.

Holland are also there as losing World Cup finalists last year to Spain.

Co-hosts: Poland and the Ukraine also join the first-ranked teams.

England have to be content with being second seeds along with Germany, Italy and Russia.

Meanwhile, Ireland are in Group four having failed up until now to qualify for a major Finals event since the 2002 World Cup in South Korea & Japan.



SEEDINGS
POT ONE	SPAIN	NETHERLANDS	POLAND	UKRAINE
POT TWO	GERMANY	ITALY	ENGLAND	RUSSIA
POT THREE	CROATIA	GREECE	PORTUGAL	SWEDEN
POT FOUR	IRELAND	DENMARK	CZECHS	FRANCE

All eyes are now being focused on Friday, Dec 2nd when the groups will be announced.

Lets hope Ireland avoid Spain, Portugal, Croatia and Germany, its going to be a tough tournament but its great to be there again.

IRELAND QUALIFY FOR EURO 2012 WITH 1-1 DRAW V ESTONIA

2011-11-15T23:21:00.005Z

The Republic of Ireland have qualified for their first major tournament in ten years by drawing with Estonia 1-1 at a sell-out Aviva Stadium to go through 5-1 on aggregate.

It wasn't a brilliant performance by Trapattoni's team, indeed it felt like a bit of an anti-climax after Friday's heroics in Tallinn in defeating Estonia 4-0.

All Ireland had to do, like the supporters, was to show up.

Ireland began the brighter and sharper and they did with both Robbie Keane and Damian Duff had several shots blocked in the first five minutes.

It was left to Steven Ward to score after a Londak save from a corner for the Wolves full-back to score his 2nd goal for Ireland in nine starts on 31 minutes.

Ireland played some nice football in the first-half with some good passing and movement, obviously under instruction from Manager Giovanni Trapatton pass the ball to feet, instead of the usual long-ball approach evident during his reign to date.

While it was certainly more attractive to watch, it was less effective to behold.

Ireland had ten shots on target in the game yet only scored one goal.

As half- time approached, the capacity-crowd of 51,151 engaged in the Mexican-Wave which must have proved distracting for the players.

Tarmo Ruuti's Estonia sensing a result went at Ireland in the 2nd-half and despite alot of wayward shooting, eventually got a goal they scarcely deserved when Vasselijev beat Shay Given with a dipping shot on 57mins to make it 1-1 on the night and 5-1 over two legs for Ireland.

Ireland had several shots saved from Richard Dunne from a corner and a McGeady cross was well gathered by Londak, Kevin Doyle headed a Fahey free-kick wide in injury-time.

But it was all immaterial as Ireland coasted through to Euro 2012 next Summer.

The players did a lap of honour after the game as this is the first time an Irish team had qualified for a major final on home soil.

Well done to Trapattoni and the players on this significent achievement.

The actual draw for the finals takes place on the 2nd of December, we qualify as fourth seeds in the draw, so we are in for a tough group, still, its great to be there again.

Man of the Match: Glenn Whelan

Ireland: Shay Given, John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger, Stephen Ward, Stephen Hunt, Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan, Damien Duff, Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane (captain).

Estonia: Londak, Jaager, Rahn, Klavan, Kruglov, Saag, Teniste, Vassiljev, Vunk, Lindpere, Voskoboinikov.

DOYLE RETURNS TO IRELAND TEAM FOR PLAY-OFF 2ND LEG

2011-11-14T23:54:00.002Z

Ireland Manager Giovanni Trapattoni has made the minimum of changes to his team to face Estonia at the Aviva Stadium this evening.

Kevin Doyle returns from suspension to win his 46th cap for Ireland during which time he has scored 10 goals for his country.
The 28 year old replaces unlucky Jonathon Walters of Stoke who scored a goal and was a major presence in the Irish victory last Friday.

Stephen Kelly has been ruled out at right-back due to a groin strain, so his place goes to Sunderland's John O'Shea who returns from a hamstring problem.

The one optional change that Trap has made is introducing the all-action Stephen Hunt in place of Aidan McGeady on the wing, a choice I entirely agree with.

It appears that LA Galaxy wanted Ireland Captain to rejoin them ahead of the 2nd leg in Dublin but that Robbie Keane refused along with the FAI to release oue Captain ahead of our final match of the campaign.

Lets hope for a 2-0 win at the Aviva this evening and as Richard Dunne said today; "..give the Manager a new contract for the World Cup".

Team: Shay Given, John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Sean St Ledger, Stephen Ward, Stephen Hunt, Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan, Damien Duff, Kevin Doyle, Robbie Keane (captain).

HOW DOES TRAPATTONI APPROACH TUESDAY'S GAME?

2011-11-14T00:02:00.000Z

After Ireland's historic away victory in Estonia by 4-0 and with Euro qualification seemingly, all but assured for the finals next Summer, how will Giovanni Trapattoni approach Tuesday's second-leg against Estonia?

With qualifaction in sight, will the Ireland Manager opt to experiment with squad players such as Keith Fahey, Seamus Coleman or Andy Keogh.

I suggest that the Italian will stick to his tried and trusted methods that have got us this far by picking much the same team that trounced Estonia in Tallinn so convincingly.

The only issue is that of Kevin Doyle who is returning from suspension who has a major battle on his hands to take Jonathon Walters place in the starting team.
It will be interesting to see who wins that particular duel.

Steven Kelly at right back has injured his groin while John O'Shea has been declared fit for the match on Tuesday evening, so he will, most likely start at right-back against the hapless Estonians.

Lets hope for a full house at the Aviva with fireworks, a win and a good performance and a long-overdue new contract for Trapattoni.

HEINEKEN CUP RESULTS

2011-11-12T23:50:00.000Z

Pool 1: Munster 23-21 Northampton

Munster - Tries: Varley (4), Howlett (40) Con: O'Gara (5, 40, 42) Pen: O'Gara (39) Drop goal: O'Gara (80+3)
Northampton - Tries: Ashton (9), Downey (57) Con: Lamb (10) Pen: Lamb (13, 21, 45)

Pool 3: Montpellier 16-16 Leinster,
Monpelier - Try: Ouedraogo (22) Con: Paillaugue (23) Pens: Paillaugue (2, 27), Trinh-Duc (56)
Leinster - Try: Cronin (66) Con: Sexton (67) Pens: Sexton (5,17, 80)

Pool 4 Ulster 16-11 Clermont Auvergne
Ulster - Try: Humphreys (70) Con: Humphreys (71) Pens: Humphreys (13, 40, 51)
CA - Try: Nakaitaci (7) Pens: Skrela (13, 39)

FRIDAY'S RESULTS
Pool 6: Harlequins 25-17 Connacht

Estonia v Republic of Ireland Goals Video

2011-11-12T04:02:00.003Z

Estonia v Republic of Ireland Goals Video
Sorry bout the commentary.

IRELAND THRASH ESTONIA 4-0 IN PLAY-OFF 1ST LEG

2011-11-11T22:52:00.003Z

Ireland surely booked their place in next year's Euro 2012 finals with this trouncing of Estonia in Talinn.

Goals from Keith Andrews, Jon Walters and Robbie Keane twice all-but ensured qualification for a major Final for the first time since 2002.

Ireland took the lead on 13 mins when Aidan McGeady crossed for Keith Andrews to head home.
The teams were evenly matched on the pitch until Stepanov was sent off for a tackle on 35 minutes.
Thereafter, Ireland began to dominate play, although they persisted with the use of the long-ball when playing it on the ground would have been much the better option.
Jon Walters, winning his third cap for Ireland, had three shots on goal in the first-half.
Estonia's danger-man Vassiljev was a thorn throughout and he struck a shot just wide midway through the half.

Estonia started the second half needing to get back in the game, being the home team, and they put Trapattoni's Ireland under pressure at times with some neat passing and running.

However, it was Ireland who scored again when Robbie Keane collected the loose ball from a McGeady shot to loop the ball over to Jonathan Walters who headed the ball over the line for Ireland's 2nd goal.

Four minutes later Robbie Keane tapped in a fierce Keith Andrews shot which was palmed out by Sergei Parieko to the onrushing Keane on 71 mins.

Estonia then self-imploded when Piiroja was also sent off for a deliberate handball to reduce the home team to nine men.

To compound their miserable night, sub Steven Hunt was felled in the box to give Ireland a penalty and Captain, Robbie Keane scored his second on the night, his 53rd in 113 games, to make it 4-0 to Ireland in the 88th minute.
Sub Simon Cox even managed a shot on goal in injury-time, the game ended with Ireland victorious and Estonia demoralised.

Dreamland for Trap's team and Ireland as we are surely almost through to Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine next Summer.

Man of the Match: Robbie Keane

Rep of Ireland: Given, Kelly, St. Ledger, Dunne, Ward, Duff,

Whelan, Andrews, McGeady, Keane, Walters.
Subs: Westwood, Hunt, Keogh, Cox, Fahey, McShane, O'Dea.

Estonia: Pareiko, Jaager, Stepanov, Piiroja, Klavan, Dmitrijev, Vassiljev, Vunk, Kruglov, Kink, Ahjupera.

Subs: Londak, Rahn, Voskoboinikov, Lindpere, Purje, Saag, Teniste.

Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

TRAP NAMES MOST OF HIS TEAM IN ESTONIA

2011-11-11T01:12:00.000Z

Ireland Manager, Giovanni Trapattoni has unusually named a ten-man team for the first-leg play-offs with Estonia.

With Kevin Doyle suspended and Shane Long injured, the major concern was who would play upfront.

Thankfully, Captain Robbie Keane has returned to form from injury with LA Galaxy to lead the side, the only question remains, who will start alongside him upfront.

Its a straight fight between West Brom's Simon Cox and Stoke's Jon Walters.

Both forwards are worth a starting place upfront but only one of them will get their name on the teamsheet.

Cox was Man of the Match against Armenia last month but it appears that Stoke's leading man Jonathon Walters is favourite with El Trapp due to his holding-up of the ball from defence to attack, his energy and physicality and prowess in front of goal, leading everyone to believe that he will today be handed a starting role against Estonia in Talinn at 7:45pm.

Trapattoni also suggested that Robbie Keane maybe withdrawn in the second-half due to his lack of match-sharpness in favour of Cox.

You have to say one thing about this Ireland Manager, he has provided options for this team in almost every position and the fact that we are favourites to win this play-off speaks volumns for the players & the Manager.

BRIAN O'DRISCOLL OUT FOR SIX MONTHS

2011-11-07T23:03:00.001Z

Ireland's record try-scorer and talismatic Captain Brian O'Driscoll is to undergo surgery on his troublesome shoulder.

Sadly, this will mean he will be absent for the Six Nations, the Heineken Cup and the Rabodirect Pro-12 series of matches.

He will be fit in time for Ireland's Summer Test Series against World Cup winners New Zealand, that's ironic since it was down there in the British & Irish Lions in the 2005 tour that he was 'spear-tackled' early in the First Test where his shoulder was first badly damaged.

Its arguable that he has never been the same explosive player ever since and with Father Time not on his side I for one hope that he has a successful operation and is back playing and pain-free for the remainder of his playing days with Leinster and Ireland.

SLIGO EDGE OUT SHELBOURNE IN FAI CUP ON PENALTIES

2011-11-07T01:04:00.003Z

Sligo Rovers did it the hard way to retain the FAI Cup at the Aviva Stadium against a spirited Shelbourne side.
With a crowd of over 21,000 at the revamped Lansdowne Road in glorious early-winter sunshine, newly-promoted Shelbourne, under Manager Alan Matthews took the lead in this frenetic Cup Final when Philly Hughes scored his 20th goal of the season to give the Dublin side the lead on the half-hour mark.

The pivotal moment of the came six minutes later when Shel's Barry Clancy was sent off for diving in the box by referee after having been previously booked for a foul on John Russell,
It was a very harsh decision in a cup-final to send a lad off when he was impeded in going towards goal.

That changed the nature of the Cup Final as Shelbourne was put on the defensive for the remainder of the game.

Sligo Rovers, under Manager Paul Cooke, failed to make the advantage count until Galwayman, Iarlaith Davoren scored a good goal in stopage-time at the end of the 1st half.

So it was 1-1 at half-time, tough on Shelbourne, who twarthed most of Sligo's attacks from midfield until Dean Delany had to save an Owen Doyle shot for Sligo on 53 mins.

However, Alan Matthews Shelbourne side heroically held out for penalties after full-time & extra-time was played out.

Paul Cook,the Liverpudlien Manager of Sligo Rovers brought on Ciaran Kelly to stand between the posts for the penalty shoot-out to try and retain the Cup for Sligo and it paid dividends as he again saved penalties from the Shelbourne team with Karl Bermingham scoring for Shels while Eoin Doyle, Richie Ryan and Alan Keane score. from the spot for Sligo to ensure they retained the FAI Cup for a second year after pushing Shamrock Rovers so close in the League all Season.

At least Shelbourne have the satisfaction of being promoted to the Premier League and maybe a chance at the Europa League next season.

LEINSTER EDGE OUT MUNSTER AT THE AVIVA

2011-11-05T00:57:00.002Z

Leinster and Munster squared up to each other at a packed Aviva Stadium in the Pro 12 League, formally known as the Magners League this evening.

Of course it was going to be an unusual game after the exertions of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, however the traditional rivalries of Ireland's most successful provinces ensured that it was a full-blooded encounter.

It was a kicking game with both Ronan O'Gara and Jonny Sexton taking the three point option after every infringement.

Indeed, both players were in fine shooting form with the boot, Jonathon Sexton scored seven from seven while O'Gara scored with four penalties and a conversion from a penalty-try in the second-half as Munster were chasing the game.

In the end a fiercely faught encounter between Leinster & Munster has helped to dust away the cobwebs of an unfulfilled World Cup & will prepare both Provinces for the Heineken Cup, which starts again next weekend.

Final Score: Leinster 24-19 Munster

IRELAND WIN AGAIN DOWN-UNDER

2011-11-05T00:08:00.000Z

IRISH coach Anthony Tohill says he feared his players would be injured in Friday night's fiery International Rules Series win over Australia at Metricon Stadium.

A total of six players - three from each team - were yellow carded in a match that threatened to boil over with a number of off-the-ball scuffles at Metricon Stadium.

The Irish kept their cool and ran out convincing 21-point victors to wrap up the series 2-0, but Tohill said he was relieved to finish the match with no injuries.

He said the Australians had walked a tightrope with the officials.
"It's a very, very fine line. For a while tonight I thought it was going to boil over," Tohill said.
"I must say I'm relieved to get all my players off that pitch with no injuries. There was a time there tonight I was concerned with where that game was going. I'm just glad that it settled down and that we got the game finished with no injuries."

Angus Monfries, Mark Nicoski and Robbie Gray all spent time on the sidelines with yellow cards for Australia, while captain Brad Green and Mitch Robinson were never too far from the action.

Tohill said it was important the series continued to be played in a sporting manner.
"We welcome the physical side of the game. We don't get it in our own game, so we welcome it here, but it has to be within the rules," he said.

Green said it was not a pre-meditated plan from the Australians.
"It was more we had to show some fight - not literally - but show a bit of what you're playing for and standing for," Green said.
"It's not only your family and your teammates and your friends, the whole AFL was looking at us and watching this game."

Tohill said he was delighted with the way his players had stood up in the face of the physicality and praised them for a professional two Test thumping of Australia.
"They've been a pleasure to work with and their execution again tonight was very good and I can't say enough praise for the lads and what they've achieved here," he said.
"Our target before we came out here was to win the series two nil. We did half of that job last Friday night and finished it tonight. We're relieved and very satisfied with our victory."

ROVERS LOSE TO PAOK AT TALLAGHT STADIUM

2011-11-03T20:21:00.002Z

Shamrock Rovers lost their fourth game in the group stages of the Europa Cup, going down 3-1 to PAOK of Greece.

Rovers got off to the worst possible start when Salpingidis scored after only 7 minutes.

Michael O'Neill's men were playing poorly, missing tackles, misplacing passes and they were punished again when a Conor Mc Cormack slip allowed Fotakis in for PAOK's second on 35 minutes.

Worse was to follow for the Hoops 3 minutes later when Salpingidis scored his second of the night to make it 3-0, half-time could not come quickly enough for the home side as this was their worst performance in Europe this Season.

Gary Twigg and Stephen Rice came on for the second-half and Shamrock Rovers upped the tempo straight away causing PAOK all sorts of problems with wave after wave of attacks and Billy Dennehy scored with a great shot from a free-kick on 51 minutes.

Suddenly it was game-on as Rovers pushed and probed for more goals, sadly, the closest they came to adding a second was a Steven Rice shot which was kicked off the line by the visitors defence near the end.

But well done to the Airtricity League Champions who showed their opponents what the were made of with a very good comeback which was a credit to the Irish outfit.

Man of the Match: Billy Dennehy

EUROPA LEAGUE TABLE

GROUP A	PLD	POINTS
PAOK	4	8
RUBIN KAZAN	4	7
SPURS	4	7
SHAMROCK ROVERS	4	0

HEINEKEN CUP TIES ANNOUNCED

2011-11-01T23:23:00.002Z

The opening round matches of the European Heineken cup have been announced with Connacht making their debut in the competition against Harlequins away on Friday 11th of November.

Reigning Champions Leinster, take on French side Montpellier in France, while Munster host formidable Northampton at Thomand Park.
Ulster take on another French side in Clermont-Auverne at home in Ravenhill, Belfast.

Good luck to all the Irish Provinces taking part in this year's Heineken Cup,

HEINEKEN CUP	11/12 NOV	HOME TEAM	AWAY TEAM	VENUE
8pm	11 NOV	HARLEQUINS	CONNACHT	THE STOOP
2:30pm	12 NOV	MONTPELLIER	LEINSTER	LA MOSSON
3:40pm	12 NOV	ULSTER	CLERMONT	RAVENHILL
6pm	12 NOV	MUNSTER	NORTHAMPTON	THOMOND PARK

INTERNATIONAL RULES: IRELAND 80 AUSTRLIA 36

2011-10-29T01:17:00.000+01:00

Ireland took a huge step towards regaining the Cormac McAnallen Cup with a comprehensive 44-point victory over Australia in the 2011 International Rules Series first Test in Melbourne.

Goals from Michael Murphy, Eamonn Callaghan, Leighton Glynn and Steven McDonnell helped the Irish to an almost unassailable lead ahead of next week's second Test.

Aussie-based trio Tadhg Kennelly, Tommy Walsh and Zac Tuohy controlled the game from the start and the young and inexperienced home side had no answer, with captain Brad Green scoring the only goal for Rodney Eade's team.

Having chased the series from the beginning last year, Ireland got off to a flying start in the first-quarter and Sydney Swan Walsh didn't need to be asked twice when presented with a 40-metre shot in front of the posts after three minutes.

Leighton Glynn doubled the lead just a minute later with another over from 20 metres. It was clear that the Irish had brought their shooting boots and the Aussies hadn't as they notched up three bad wides in the opening quarter in addition to Zac Smith dropping a handy free into Stephen Cluxton's arms.

Michael Murphy then added another over after marking Kennelly's cross before the home side opened their scoring through Mark Nicoski's behind. But that only fired the Irish up more and Kennelly shot over on the run and Murphy ran unhindered through the middle to lash the ball past Matthew Suckling in the Aussie goal.

Stephen Milne got Australia's first over with three minutes left in the quarter, but Steven McDonnell had the last say with a magnificent kick from the sideline that sailed between the posts to give Ireland a 22-4 lead.

Ireland were far more composed in possession than in previous years, showing great judgment in marking and moving when appropriate. They also had the upper hand in contact with the AFL trio of Walsh, Tuohy and Kennelly tackling hard, much to the surprise of the home players in the covered Etihad Stadium.

The second quarter offered little respite for the Aussies. Kevin McKernan added an over either side of one-pointers from Tuohy and Donaghy. Eamonn Callaghan scored Ireland's second goal midway through the second quarter, lobbing the ball into an empty net after Suckling had come off his line.

Robin Nahas did manage an over off a mark but McDonnell and Walsh did the same down the other end. Needing to stop the flow of scores, Mitch Robinson landed an over and captain Brad Green slid in for a goal after an uncharacteristic, risky pass from Cluxton.

But it was left to McDonnell to finish the first half with an over from a free-kick that gave Anthony Tohill's side a 24-point lead.

Australia looked to reduce the margin after the break with Green and Gray adding overs but, after Emmet Bolton was stretchered off and a minor melee, Donaghy, Glynn and McKeever all scored three-pointers before Gray slotted over to finish the quarter. Ireland still led by 33 points.

St Kilda's Milne got the first score of the last period but after that the Aussies seemed to lose all interest and Glynn was left alone to smash home a goal from 20 yards. Donaghy added an over and McDonnell got Ireland's fourth six-pointer from an acute angle with ten minutes to play.

Green and Angus Monfries reduced the margin with overs but McDonnell and Aidan Walsh were also on target to put the series beyond doubt ahead of the second Test in Queensland next week.

SHAMROCK ROVERS BEAT GALWAY TO CLINCH TITLE

2011-10-28T22:16:00.002+01:00

Shamrock Rovers set the seal on a title-winning Season when they beat Galway United 4-0 at Tallaght Stadium tonight.

Chris Turner opened the scoring for the Hoops on 31minutes with a good shot from twenty yards out.
Six minutes later, a Billy Dennehy free-kick eluded everyone, including the Galway goal-keeper Colin Wynne to make it 2-0 going into the break.

Former Galway United native, Karl Shepperd got booked for diving in the box on 60 mins, however Rovers soon got a penalty six minutes later when Rory Gartlan was sent-off for a foul on the Rover's man.
Shepperd slotted home the penalty for his 17th goal of the Season.

With Galway down to ten men it was a rear-guard approach by them to see out the match, care-taker boss John Brennan must have been disappointed to see Shamrock Rovers score again when Ronan Finn scored from just inside the box to make it 100 goals at the Tallaght Stadium for Michael O'Neill's men in two seasons at the new venue.

So for Galway its the relegation play-offs while Shamrock Rovers host PAOK in Tallaght in the Europa League next Thursday evening.

Man of the Match: Chris Turner

ROVERS BEAT UCD TO WIN THE LEAGUE

2011-10-25T21:20:00.001+01:00

Shamrock Rovers scored a late injury-time winner against UCD to dramaticaly win the Airtricity League at Belfield tonight, 2-1.

A dull first-half was quickly forgotten and the game only sprang into life when rovers defender, Gary Sives was sent off for a 2nd yellow card on 60 minutes.
Michael O'Neill's side then upped the tempo and substitute Ken Oman headed home a Rover's corner to give the Champion's-elect a vital lead.

However, the lead was only to last two minutes as UCD scored from a corner of their own with Robbie Benson heading in to level the game again 1-1.

The Hoops kept pushing forward and when Darren Meenan was sent off for the Students, the sides were both down to ten men.
With time ticking away, the game seemed to be heading for a draw, but Rovers had other ideas and Dean Kelly swept the ball home for a goal deep into injury-time to win Rovers the game and the League Championship for the second year in a row and 17 titles in total.

GOLD AGAIN FOR KATIE TAYLOR

2011-10-24T22:43:00.001+01:00

Irish women's boxing heroine Katie Taylor claimed Gold again on Saturday night after she claimed her fifth European senior title in a row with her fifth win in six days in Rotterdam.

A 10-5 decision over Russia's two-time World champion Sofya Ochigava secured a 12th major international gold medal for the Bray woman, who is also the reigning World and EU lightweight champion.

Saturday's verdict was sweet revenge for the 25-year-old, who was controversially adjudged to have lost to the Russian southpaw at the Usti nad Labem Grand Prix in the Czech Republic in March 2010

"Sofya is one of the best opponents I have ever met and I'm absolutely thrilled with the win. I can't believe it really.

"Obviously, we are rivals inside the ring, but we really get on very well outside the ring. She's a lovely person as well as fantastic boxer.

"It's always a great feeling to win. In fact, it gets better every time. There was a lot of pressure on me going into this tournament and that pressure was there all week.

Lets hope that she continues her consistent brilliance into next year's Olympics in London.

PLUCKY ROVERS LOSE IN GREECE 2-1

2011-10-20T22:22:00.000+01:00

The Pan-Thessalonian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans or PAOK for short, just about did enough to beat a competent Shamrock Rovers side in Salonika 2-1.

Michael O' Neill's side got off to a bad start when Lazar scored with a shot from 12 yards that Ryan Thompson couldn't keep out.

However, Rovers grew into the game and were a match for PAOK , a James Patterson cross into the box on 32 mins evaded everybody, then Karl Sheppard had a shot well saved on 46 mins.

Early in the second-half, Rovers equalised when Billy Dennehy floated in a free-kick for Karl Sheppard to head home 4 minutes into the half.

The Rovers continued to match their opponents on the field and were playing quite well until they were undone by a goal out of the blue.
A Vierinha shot flew past Thompson in goal on 64 mins and the home side were in front again.

Shamrock Rovers tried to chase the game after that but failed to find a way past the Greek's defence.

However, it was a courageous display by the League of Ireland leaders and they did themselves and the League proud.

Man of the match: Karl Sheppard

TIME FOR WARREN GATLAND TO SHUT-UP ABOUT SENDING OFF

2011-10-18T23:27:00.000+01:00

It is high-time for Wales coach to stop critisising the decision by respected Irish referee, Alain Rolland to send Simon Warburton off for his 'spear-tackle' on Frances' Vincent Clerc.
Yes, it did alter the course of the game and Wales lost by a single point to France 9-8, but the offence was a serious one and constitutes an automatic sending off in any game for any player.

There can be no softening of the rule which was amended after Ireland's Captain, Brian O'Driscoll's Lions tour was cruelly ended by a Spear- tackle against New Zealand a few years ago.
It is a highly dangerous tackle that could potentially paralyse a rugby player.

In any case, Wales missed many kicks on goal to have won the match regardless of the sending-off and the Warburton himself has admitted he was guilty of a dangerous tackle.

Hard luck to Wales in losing the semi-final to France, but get over it Warren.

RONNIE WHELAN'S BOOK A MUST READ

2011-10-17T17:57:00.001+01:00

Liverpool legend, Ronnie Whelan has brought out his autobiography: "Walk On: My Life in Red".

Its a very good piece of work, from his humble beginnings in Dublin to having a glittering career with the Reds from 1979-1994.
During that time he won six League Titles, one European Cup, three League Cups and two FA Cups.

In an honest and open manner, he describes what it was like as a player during both the Heysel Stadium and the Hillsborough tragedies.
He states that the players were so traumatised by Hillsborough, that, to this day, they are unable to mention it or talk about it in any way.

Ronnie played 362 times for Liverpool, scoring 46 goals along the way.
He was voted the thirtieth best player in the club's illustrious history on the Official Liverpool website.

He also had a sucessful International career with Ireland from 1981 to 1995.
He played in Euro 88, scoring a spectacular diving volley against Russia.
He also featured in Italia 90, but his International career was dogged with injuries and a lack of playing time under then manager Jack Charlton.
Ronnie Whelan's book is a revealing insight into life at Anfield in the Eighties and early Nineties.

A must-read for all Ireland and Liverpool fans.

TRAPATTONI THREATENS TO WALK AWAY

2011-10-17T02:43:00.001+01:00

Ireland Manager Giovanni Trapattoni has threatened to walk-away from the Ireland set-up even if we beat Estonia in the Euro play-offs, next month.

It is believed that the spritely 72 year-old manager of the Republic's team is not happy with the FAI's reluctance to offer him a new contract despite the fact that Ireland have now got a great chance of gettting through the play-offs by beating Estonia next month:
"Yes, I could go without a new contract...We can either go to the finals and say our job is done."
What does that mean, is it that Trap is annoyed with the FAI and John Delaney in particuler in not awarding Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli new contracts.

Despite the dire football, I really hope that the impish Italian is kept on for two more years at least, he is a winner.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI'S SUCCESS RATE WITH IRELAND

2011-10-13T00:25:00.002+01:00

With Ireland through to another play-off under Italian Manager Giovanni Trapattoni, it is worthwhile in taking a look at his record in nearly four years in charge of our National Team.
He has a good CV and that has continued with Ireland:

TRAPATTONI	PLAYED	WON	DRAWN	LOST	FOR	AGAINST	WIN RATIO
GAMES	40	18	14	8	54	35	45%

That is our Manager's record since he took over in 2008.
It is worth pointing out that off the 8 defeats we have suffered in his time as Manager, only 2 of those have been in a qualifier game in two campaigns, that was the 3-2 defeat at home to Russia this term and the1-0 defeat to France at Croke Park in the 2010 play-off for the World Cup.
End of season friendlies with only a few first-team players on show inevitably lead to some defeats, like the 1-0 loss to Argentina in August of last year or the 3-1 defeat by Uruguay in March this year, no disgrace, they are the current Copa America Champions.

Fact is, under Trapattoni, we have lost only two competitive games in two qualifying campaigns.
We actually won the play-off in France in normal time, 1-0 thanks to a fine Robbie Keane goal, it was the extra-time Gallas equaliser from Henry's handball that levelled the game.

Although, we are not always good to watch, we get results, so John Delaney, give him a new contract asap before he goes elsewhere.

IRELAND BEAT ARMENIA TO QUALIFY FOR PLAY-OFFS

2011-10-11T22:57:00.006+01:00

Ireland qualified for the play-offs by beating plucky Armenia at the Aviva Stadium 2-1 this evening.
Needing only a draw to secure 2nd place in Group B,
Ireland were handed a piece of good fortune when Armenia's goalkeeper Berezovsky was sent off after 25 minutes when he handled a Simon Cox shot outside his box.
The free-kick came to nothing but Armenia were forced to bring off Malaqyan from midfield and bring on a young keeper in Armanek Petrosyan.

Ireland peppered Armenia's defence with a shot by Simon Cox saved and a McGeady shot just wide, then a Damian Duff cross was flicked on by Kevin Doyle in the six yard box only for Aleksanyan to poke the ball into his own net, 1-0 to Ireland.

With ten-man Armenia now needing two goals to go through, the expected improvement in their game never materialised with a shot by Movisyan their only attempt on target in the first-half, while Cox had another shot saved before the whistle blew for half-time.
Ireland were in control without really making their man advantage count.

Giovanni Trapattoni's team began the second-half in much better fashion, pressing high up the pitch and playing some neat, intricate football, another shot for the impressive Simon Cox was blocked before an Aidan McGeady cross was touched in by Richard Dunne to give Ireland a 2-0 lead and gave Armenia a mountain to climb, the 45,300 crowd at the Aviva Stadium were in raptures.

However, Ireland were guilty of an unusual lapse in concentration at the back to allow Mikrtcharyan to beat Shay Given three minutes later.
McGeady was replaced by Stephen Hunt on 68 mins, while a minute later Kevin Doyle got sent off for an elbow on an Armenian defender, he will now miss at least one of the play-off matches.

Trap also brought on Keith Fahey for Glenn Whelan and Jon Walters for Simon Cox on 79 mins,
Walters also looked very lively when he came on, the Stoke City player held the ball up very well every time and had a couple of shots saved by Petrosyan.

So the four minutes of injury time ticked down and as the referee blew the whistle, the Stadium erupted and the players embraced each other for finishing second in the group on 21 points and on reaching the play-offs.

The Republic may be seeded in the top-tier of the draw on Thursday following France's draw with Bosnia, lets hope so, well done Ireland.

Man of the Match: Simon Cox

GROUP B	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Goal Diff	Points
Russia	10	7	2	1	17	4	13	23
IRELAND	10	6	3	1	15	7	8	21
Armenia	10	5	2	3	22	10	12	17
Slovakia	10	4	3	3	7	10	-3	15
Macedonia	10	2	2	6	8	14	-6	8
Andorra	10	0	0	10	1	25	-24	0

KEANE OUT, COX IN FOR CRUNCH ARMENIA GAME

2011-10-10T20:14:00.007+01:00

As expected, Robbie Keane will miss Ireland's make-or-break match against Armenia on Tuesday evening.
The Irish Captain and record goal-scorer (51) has a groin injury that will take up to a month to heal.

Perhaps, surprisingly, Simon Cox has been preferred ahead of his West Brom team-mate Shane Long to partner Kevin Doyle upfront.
Richard Dunne returns in defence after suspension, replacing Darren O'Dea who has a very promising career ahead of him.
John O'Shea goes to left back as cover for Steven Ward who is banned for this match.
With Ireland ahead of Armenia by a point in Group B, a draw will be enough to book a place in the play-offs in November.
However, Trapattoni added a note of caution at the press conference:
"Our fans are very important, but we must not think about 'Go, go, go!' to score a goal.

"In the past we have tried to score a goal, not scored a goal and conceded on the counter-attack.
"This is a test of or maturity. With maturity, we will look to win, but we have to think always about not conceding a goal.
"When I came here, I saw a DVD of the Irish team which was leading and attacked with eight players.
"It was the same when I was at Benfica, the people shouting 'Go, go, go!' and there were 18 players in the final 30 metres of the pitch.
"That means 80 metres of the ground is free, and that is very, very dangerous.
"We must do what we want to do, that's maturity. For our team, for our players, this is a good test to show that with this maturity, we can achieve the result we want.
"All that matters is the result."
Expect a typically conservative approach by Trapottoni then.

Armenia have made a late charge in the group scoring goals aplenty.
They scored four goals against both Macedonia and Slovakia and 3 against Andorra to leave them currently in 3rd place in the group on 17 points.

While Ireland boast a mean defence having kept 8 clean sheets in a row against Italy and Russia among others.
It is a potential banana-skin for the Republic of Ireland, but I am going for a 1-1 draw, hopefully.

Team: Given(capt), Kelly, Dunne, St. Ledger, O'Shea, McGeady, Andrews, Whelan, Duff, Cox, Doyle.

DOLAN LOSES TO TAYLOR IN WORLD DARTS FINAL

2011-10-09T22:11:00.000+01:00

Irishman Brendan Dolan's fairytale finally came to an end this evening when he was beaten 6 sets to three by World number one, Phil Taylor.
Playing to a packed audience with vocal Irish support at the CityWest Hotel in Dublin 24, it was Phil 'The Power' Taylor who got off to the best possible start winning the first two sets.
Indeed nerves seemed to affect Brendan Dolan, especially in the 3rd leg when he was white-washed by Taylor, as Dolan failed to get off the mark with a double to lose the leg by 501.

Dolan found his feet in the 3rd set which he won 3-1.
Taylor won the fourth set 3 legs to 2, but Dolan struck back again to make it 3-2 in sets.
The atmosphere at the venue seemed to be affecting both players as neither of them really played to their potential, Dolan in particular, was wayward with his doubles and trebles, but he did earn the distinction of having ten 180's in the match.

Phil Taylor raced to a 5-2 lead however and the game seemed to be nearly up for Dolan, but he did put up a fight to win another set before Taylor finally won the match by six sets to three.

So, although he did not play to the high standards he set all week, Fermanagh's Brendan Dolan can be proud of his achievements in this Tournament which earns him £45,000 as a finalist and £5,000 for the infamous nine-dart finish against James Wade.

Well done Brendan Dolan.

IRELAND STUNNED BY WALES 22-10

2011-10-09T01:11:00.001+01:00

Ireland were knocked out of the World Cup yesterday by Wales 22-10.
On the day Wales just proved too strong and a couple of Irish defensive lapses in the second half allowed Warren Gatland's men break into a match-winning lead.

Ireland lacked composure at times and lost a number of battles in key areas of the pitch, although they did well to recover from the concession of Shane Williams' early converted try.

Sean O'Brien was held up over the try-line and Wales survived a furious Irish onslaught in their 22 before Ronan O'Gara opened Ireland's account with a 23rd minute penalty.

With Sam Warburton helping Wales slow up Irish ruck ball, the men in red were able to keep ahead on the scoreboard and a long range penalty from Leigh Halfpenny made it 10-3 for the interval.

This fired-up Irish side got on the front foot early in the second half, Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe doing supremely well to set up Keith Earls for his fifth try of the tournament.
Earls did brilliantly to go in low at the left corner past Mike Phillips' despairing tackle and television match official Giulio De Santis confirmed the grounding. O'Gara followed up with an excellent conversion and suddenly the sides were level.

Wales' young guns were not to be denied though, Jamie Roberts carrying with great intent in midfield and their forwards maintaining a high work-rate.

Gordon D'Arcy and Tommy Bowe were outmanoeuvred by man-of-the-match Phillips close to the left touchline as the wily scrum half broke down the short side of a ruck and squeezed over for a try in the corner.
Rhys Priestland, who impressed once again at out-half, missed the conversion and struck a post with a 58th minute penalty as the scoreline stuck at 15-10.
Ireland were still very much in contention with Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell leading by example, but increasingly the Irish attacks were coming from deep and Wales were beginning to dominate territory.

Priestland helped to pin Ireland back and new half-backs Jonathan Sexton and Eoin Reddan did not have the platform to get their side up to full throttle again.

The game was effectively put beyond Ireland's reach in the 64th minute when bustling centre Jonathan Davies exposed some poor defending on a powerful run to the try-line. Priestland this time nailed the conversion for a 22-10 buffer.

Back came Ireland, hunting desperately for a chink of light. But Wales kept their line intact and frustrated O'Driscoll and company, who were also let down by handling errors and poor decision-making.

Priestland missed a chance to put Wales more than two converted tries clear, striking a 74th minute penalty off a post, however the points were not needed as Ireland could not break down the red wall.

There is very little between these sides - the margins in recent matches prove this - and on another day, Ireland may well have got the verdict. Tonight was all about Wales though, and they deservedly qualified for only their second ever World Cup semi-final.
Very sad way for Ireland to exit this World Cup having beaten Australia and Italy so well only to come up far short against the Welsh, the dream is over, for now.

DOLAN INTO WORLD DARTS FINAL!

2011-10-08T21:22:00.002+01:00

In an amazing performance, Brendan Dolan from Fermanagh, beat World number three, James Wade in the semi-final of The World Grand Prix by 5 sets to 2.

On the way to a famous victory for Ireland, the Ulster man had an historic nine -dart finish, the first every by anybody in this form of the game where you must start with a double.

That gave Dolan a two sets to one lead and it spurred him on to quickly race into a 3-1, then a 4-1 advantage to leave him needing only one more set for a win.
James Wade came roaring back to claim the sixth set: 3-0 in legs.
But Brendan Dolan was not to be denied and he won the next set: 3-2 for a famous 5-2 win at the CityWest Hotel, Dublin.
"Every game this week, I have been the underdog", said the winner, "Now I am in the final, I am still the underdog."
Well done Brendan Dolan, you have done Ireland proud.

IRELAND 2-0 ANDORRA

2011-10-07T23:27:00.000+01:00

Early goals by Kevin Doyle and Aiden McGeady in the first 20mins gave Ireland an easy victory against European minnows Andorra in the Principality.

Trapattoni's team looked lively from the off and Kevin Doyle turned in a John O' Shea header on 6 mins to get Ireland off to the perfect start.
Ireland continued to attack and scored the second on 20 minutes when Aiden McGeady fired in a fierce low drive to beat the keeper for his second goal for Ireland.
With Ireland having a 2-0 lead, they began to ease off a little and the first half ended with Ireland ahead.

The second-half was a listless affair as Ireland decided to hold on to what they had, though they had some chances,
Darren O' Dea headed over the bar on 51 mins while Robbie Keane should have scored with a shot from ten yards out but his effort was well over the bar, John O'Shea then headed over on 74 mins.

Ireland Manager Giovanni Trapattoni rang the changes with a view to Tuesday's crunch match against Armenia,
Keith Fahey came on for Glen Whelan, who was on a yellow going into the game as was Kevin Doyle who made way for Shane Long on 70 mins, Steven Hunt also came on for Damien Duff in the latter stages.

It would have been nice for Ireland to have played better and score more goals but this game was all about collecting the win and the three points, sadly Steven Ward picked up a silly yellow for diving in the box which means he misses the Armenia game, otherwise, it was job done.

With Russia having beaten Slovakia 1-0 tonight, it means that the best Ireland can do is finish second in the group and qualify for the dreaded play-offs.

To do that, all we need is a draw at the Aviva against the free-scoring Armenians on Tuesday.

Man of the Match: Aiden Mc Geady

WORLD DARTS: BRENDAN DOLAN INTO LAST 16

2011-10-06T00:01:00.000+01:00

Irishman Brendan Dolan caused a major shock tonight by beating John Part in the World Darts Championship.

The man from County Fermanagh beat 3 times former World Champion Part from Canada by 3 sets to 1, at the CityWest Hotel in Dublin.

It is a major achievement by the Ulster man, who played some great darts including three 160 openers in this pulsating match.

Roared on by the partisan Irish crowd at the venue, Dolan held his nerve and composure to send his superior opponent(rankings wise) out of the tournament.

Amid cries of "Ole,ole", Brendan Dolan is now through to the quarter-final where he will meet John Henderson from Scotland.

IRELAND BEAT ITALY TO MAKE THE QUARTER FINALS OF WORLD CUP

2011-10-02T22:01:00.000+01:00

Captain Brian O'Driscoll believes Ireland showed great composure to ease into the quarter-finals with a 36-6 Pool C victory over Italy at Otago Stadium on Sunday.

Three-try Ireland blasted out of the blocks early in the second half after taking a slender 9-6 half-time lead to overwhelm the Azzurri and set up a last-eight clash with Wales at Wellington Regional Stadium next Saturday.

"We knew we were going to have to be patient as you do against any Test team these days. You have to grind them down," said O'Driscoll, who led the Irish to the top of Pool C ahead of Australia.
"We managed to do that but you have to be patient and I think we got our scores in on the opportunities we needed to."
Centre O'Driscoll crossed the Italy line first in the 47th minute and was soon followed by wing Keith Earls as Ireland overran their opponents.
With just over a minute remaining, wing Tommy Bowe came close to scoring, but failed to ground the ball in a chase with two Italian defenders.
However, Earls scored his second and Ireland's third try when sprinting into the left corner almost on full-time. Replacement Jonathan Sexton kicked the conversion for 36-6.
The Irish had held a three-point lead following a scrappy first half after Ronan O'Gara hit three penalties to Italian Mirco Bergamasco's two.
Nerves had appeared to get the better of both sides in this crucial match as there was little flow to the early play, but several handling errors and numerous penalties.
The closest to a try in the opening half came when Bowe crossed the Italian line, only for play to be taken back by the referee for a forward pass from man of the match Sean O'Brien.
The succession of penalties continued just two minutes into the second half as O'Gara made it 12-6 when Italy were penalised for not rolling away at a ruck.

O'Gara failed to extend Ireland's six-point lead a few minutes later when he missed a drop goal attempt from just outside the Italian 22m.

However, Bowe broke through a gap in the Italy defence on the 47th minute, offloaded to O'Driscoll and he sprinted over the line for the match's opening try. O'Gara kicked the conversion for a 19-6 lead.
Then it was happy 24th birthday for left wing Earls when he crossed in the corner five minutes later after Gordon D'Arcy sparked the attack. O'Gara added the extras for a 26-6 advantage.
Ireland were well on top now and came close to adding a third try through Rob Kearney, but the full back was held up by the Azzurri defence.
Sexton, who had come on for O'Gara in the 67th minute, then landed a penalty three minutes later to extend Ireland's lead to 29-6 after Italy did not release the ball in a ruck.
Earls crossed the line again right on time to complete the rout of Italy.

Source: Rugby World Cup 2011

IRELAND DEMOLISH RUSSIA 62-12

2011-09-26T00:25:00.000+01:00

Ireland cruised past Russia in their Group C pool match to return to the top of their table.

With a much-changed team, coach Declan Kidney must have been pleased to see his team score nine tries against World Cup minnows Russia.
The all-important game is against Italy next weekend so some of the squad members got a run-out today.
Leo Cullen got a run out as Captain against the Russians while Fergus McFadden, Paddy Wallace, Sean Cronin and Donnacha Ryan all started the game.
Ireland started brightly with Fergus McFadden getting the first try for Ireland on 10', Sean O'Brien then scored 3 minutes later to get Ireland off to a good start in the game.
Isaac Boss, playing in his native country, then scored on the goalpost on 38 mins as Keith Earls rounded off a good first-half display by scoring Ireland's fourth try on 40 mins.
Then, before half-time Andrew Trimble got on the score sheet with an individual score of his own.
So Ireland had a big lead at the break which was extended further by another Keith Earls try on 49 mins.
Russia, to their credit, fought back with a well-taken try by Artemiev try to leave it 43-7 to Ireland.
Eight minutes later they had another try through Simplikevich to worry Declan's time somewhat but Rob Kearney calmed Irish nerves with a well-taken try on 65 mins.
The impressive Shane Jennings and the biggest player at the World Cup in Tony Buckley also scored late on to leave the score:
Ireland 62 Russia 12.

IRELAND TRIUMPH V AUSTRALIA IN WORLD CUP

2011-09-18T01:47:00.000+01:00

Ireland produced the shock of the Rugby World Cup so far when the demolished Tri-Nations Champions Australia by 15 points to 6 at Eden Park, New Zealand.

After losing all their warm-up games to England and France before the tournament added to a poor display against the USA, Declan Kidney's team were unfancied to win this match.

But win it they did with a stunning display of offensive in your face aggressive rugby.
Two penalties and a drop-goal by Jonathon Sexton followed up by two penalties by substitute, Ronan O'Gara set the seal on a famous Irish win in the Southern Hemisphere for the very first time.

The Irish team players Brian O'Driscoll and most notably, Ronan O'Gara were emotional after the win with fly-half, O'Gara hinting that this World Cup will be his last appearance in an Ireland jersey.
We will have to change his mind on that when he gets back home from New Zealand.

So a historic Irish win puts them on top of the Group Table, ahead of Australia by 3 points, win our last two games against Russia and an improving Italy and we qualify as Group C winners facing either Wales or Samoa.

Happy days if you are an Irish Rugby fan.

IRELAND SURVIVE RUSSIAN ONSLOUGHT AS ARMENIA HAMMER SLOVAKIA

2011-09-06T23:50:00.000+01:00

Ireland survived the mother of all hammerings today against Russia in the

Luznicky Stadium in Moscow.

Thanks to the heroics of Shay Given in goal and particularly Richard Dunne in defence, the Republic survived to earn a very unlikely and fortunate draw with Dick Advocaat's Russian side.

Ireland played a very negative, defensive brand of football which would have left people calling for Giovanni's head were it not for the invaluable point earned away in Russia, our first ever out there.

Later in the evening there was incredible news that Slovakia had been beaten 4-0 at home Armenia, that result leaves Ireland in second outright one point ahead of Slovakia and Armenia who we play in our last game at home in October.

Win our last two games and we are in the play-offs at the very least.

EURO 2012

Teams       P W D L F A +/- Pts

1 Russia     8 5 2 1 10 4 6 17

2 Ireland     8 4 3 1 11 6 5 15

3 Armenia 8 4 2 2 17 7 10 14

4 Slovakia  8 4 2 2 6 8 -2 14

5 Macedonia 8 2 1 5 6 9 -3 7

6 Andorra    8 0 0 8 1 17 -16 0

GOODBYE PHILEAS

2010-12-01T00:40:00.000Z

Well, I got rid of my Californian frog tonight after almost two years of nuturing hin from no bigger than a humble tadtpole.
It was a tough decision but the guy had grown so big, he had eaten every single fish in my aquarium.
That must be the nature of the beast, I suppose but he had out-grown my tank.
I did not want to evict him, but he was eating everything from neons to plattys, from tettras to barbs, so sadly, I had to get shut of him.
I was fond of the little begger but it was his time.
I caught him with a small saucepan which is being cleaned as I speak, he went quietly enough after so many attempts to catch him.
Rest in peace my friend

GEORGE HAMILTON MENTIONS 'SPEED WOBBLE' ON RTE

2010-10-06T01:54:00.000+01:00

Bohemians 1 Shamrock Rovers 0

Great to see a bit of League of Ireland on RTE last night.
Great also to hear reverred commentator George Hamilton describe one of Bohemian's forwards who kind of fell over as a 'speed wobble'.
Now George, being the puritanicle man that he is, would not, I presume, be given to moments of 'speed wobbleing' himself.
But in a further humanisation of the man, he appears to be more understanding of the Irish physice.
Well done George, you are well on the way to a\'Road to Damascus' type salvation.
Stick with us and we will see you right!

2010-10-02T18:06:00.000+01:00

RBS Homepage

IRELAND TOPPLE BANGLADESH AGAIN

2010-07-16T01:27:00.000+01:00

Surely Ireland's cricketers deserve full test status now.
After a seven wicket victory against Banladesh, who had beaten Englad a few days ago, the future is very bright for Phil Edmonds and his gutsy Ireland side after today's victory in the first ODI against Bangladesh.

An inspirational batting display by Ireland skipper William Porterfield helped his team to a thoroughly convincing seven wicket win over Bangladesh in the first game of the RSA Series at Stormont.

The left hander made a magnificent 108 from just 116 balls, striking no fewer than seven fours and three sixes. The century was his eighth for Ireland, beating the record of seven which he had jointly held with Ivan Anderson and Jeremy Bray.
Porterfield shared in an opening stand of 118 - made in exactly 118 balls, to give Ireland the perfect platform as they chased down a potentially tricky Bangladesh total of 234 for 9..
19-year-old Middlesex batsman Paul Stirling made 52 from 57 balls (seven fours) as all the Bangladesh bowlers found the conditions tough going.
Stirling was eventually bowled by Abdur Razzak for 52, attempting one big shot too many, but that proved to be a rare success for the visitors.
Alex Cusack then joined the action, and he proved the perfect foil for Porterfield, who continued to take the attack to the Bangladeshis at every opportunity.
He reached his record breaking hundred from 105 deliveries, but on 108, his innings ended when he mistimed a Shakib-Al-Hasan delivery straight to Mortaza at midwicket. The rousing ovation given by the Stormont crowd was richly deserved.
Niall O'Brien was trapped lbw by Syed Rasel with just 18 needed, but an undefeated 45 from Alex Cusack ensured that the victory was achieved with five overs to spare.
Earlier in the day Ireland opening bowlers Boyd Rankin (3-43) and Trent Johnston (2-24) both bowled superbly to have Bangladesh in early trouble at 28 for 3.
They were rescued by a stand of 107 in 153 balls between Junaid Siddique and Shakib-Al-Hasan. Siddique made a superb hundred, taking 123 balls, and which contained nine boundaries.
Al-Hasan had several reprieves as he made exactly 50 (78 balls, 3 fours), but no other batsman was able to dominate. That was primarily due to the Irish attack keeping a tight line, backed up by an athletic display in the field.
The win is coach Phil Simmons first against a full member in a One-Day international side, and helps Ireland's ambitions to receive full member status.
Ireland of course beat Bangladesh during the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, and also during the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge.
High time for the ICC to grant full test status to Ireland's promising team.

BLATTER ACTS ON ENGLAND ERROR BUT LAUGHS AT IRELAND MISTAKE

2010-06-30T01:23:00.000+01:00

Sepp Blatter, the head of FIFA for 12 very long years has been exposed as a mediocrity by a world-wide audience following Frank Lampard's legitimate goal being dissallowed which led to England bowing out of the World Cup a bit earlier than their 'Golden Generation' expected.
Ireland were denied qualification for the World Cup in even more controversial circumstances when the the infamous 'Hand of Henri' went unseen by the referee Martin Hansen and his assistants.
At that time Blatter oppenly laughed at Ireland's call for a replay and disgraced himself in his attitude to Gallas's goal, saying FIFA could only abide by the referree's report.
But, now that it England who have suffered at the hands of another poor referring mistake, he has acted like a fawning lapdog to the English FA , saying, finally that he will look at introducing goal-line technology for gams in the future.
Funny, when it happens to Ireland, he makes a joke of it, but when it happens to England, he starts grovelling right away.
The Bollocks

GALWAY EDGE PAST OFFALY IN LEINSTER THRILLER

2010-06-27T01:50:00.000+01:00

Joe Canning and Ger Farragher hit injury-time points as Galway won an epic Leinster Hurling Championship semi-final replay over Offaly by 3-17 to 2-18.
Level in stoppage time, John McIntyre's side finished with a flourish as Canning landed the decisive score amid another brilliant comeback from Offaly.
Meeting for the second time in the space of six days, Galway's explosive start was rewarded with a burst of scores as Offaly failed to match the Tribesmen's passion early on.
Leading by 0-04 to 0-01 after 10 minutes courtesy of scores from Andy Smith, Damien Hayes, Iarla Tannian and Ger Farragher, Galway were in the ascendancy and they then bagged their first goal with a smashing move.
The game had just ticked into its 11th minute when Farragher found the excellent Hayes, who burst clear to rattle home an opportunistic goal.
Offaly were in deep distress, and the westerners grabbed a second goal in the 24th minute with Farragher again heavily involved. Ollie Canning started the move, Farragher kept the sliotar moving, and Joe Canning supplied a typically crisp finish to edge Galway nine points ahead.
Brian Carroll was effective for Offaly and struck over a couple of smartly-taken points, but Galway still went in at the break armed with a commanding 2-09 to 0-07 advantage.
They added two more points after the restart courtesy of Farragher and Hayes, but Offaly, rediscovering the sort of form they showed at Croke Park last Sunday, came thundering back.
Substitute Ger Healion announced his arrival into the game with a well-taken point and a goal shortly after in the 42nd minute.
It was a smashing encounter, but Galway remained composed, and Hayes swept home a 51st-minute goal that put them six clear again.
Referee Cathal McAllister then took centre stage in the 54th minute when controversially red-carding Galway midfielder David Burke for retaliation.
Offaly then hit an equalising goal in the 59th minute when Joe Bergin buried a shot from an acute angle as the match continued to excite.
It was tight and tense in the closing stages as the lead swapped hands, but Galway took the verdict to advance to their first ever Leinster decider. They will face reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in a mouth-watering clash on July 4.

FRANCE SHAMELESS IN QUALIFYING, SHAMFUL AT 2010

2010-06-24T02:23:00.000+01:00

French coach Domenech was the last straw for me.
Refusing to shake the hand of the South African coach at the end of the match against the Bafana bafana, was bad form by the French again!
After the infamous Thierry Henry handball against Ireland in the World Cup play-off in November, a shadow has been cast against French football.
Redemption has come in the abject failure of France to get out orf their group, failing to win a game, indeed, scoring only one goal in the tournament by Malouda in their defeat to hosts South Africa yesterday.
What a waste of space the French have been, what goes around comes around, les blue!

FRANCE GO HOME!

2010-06-22T02:48:00.000+01:00

With their poor displays on the pitch and the acrimony off it, as an Irishman, one can only conclude that the French should never have got to this World Cup.
Following the infamous Henri handball against Ireland in the World Cup play-offs, most football people felt that the Frence did not deserve to be in South Africa at all and that Ireland should be there rightfully in their place.
Now, with the poor perfomances, the expulsion of Nicolas Anelka, the daft statement by the FFA read out by idiotic manager Domenech and the French players boarding a bus instead of training, the whole thing has descended into French farce.
They did not earn the right to be there and they know it.
They play the hosts South Africa today in a make or break decider for the next round and I, for one hope they don't win.
Off with their heads!

OFALY'S SHANE DOOLEY EARNS A DRAW AGAINST GALWAY

2010-06-21T00:09:00.000+01:00

Galway and Offaly will meet again next Saturday after their thrilling Leinster SHC semi-final finished level at Croke Park.
Shane Dooley earned a replay for the Faithful County with a long range free in stoppage time.
Offaly stunned the pre-match favourites with three first half goals to open up a seven points lead, but Galway hit back with strikes in the second half from Joe Canning and Ger Farragher.
John McIntyre thought he had secured the win over his former county when Canning and Iarla Tannion drilled over late points, but Dooley scored twice at the death to rescue Offaly in front of a crowd of 25,260.
Galway reeled off the first four points of the game, but Offaly were ahead by the 15th minute.
Damien Hayes, Ger Farragher (2) and Iarla Tannion all swept over points to delight the Tribal following.
But it soon became evident that the Connacht side's defence could be exploited, and a fired up Offaly side did just that.
It was in the 12th minute that Shane Dooley cut in front the right, and when his shot was blocked, Joe Brady gathered to crash to the net from close range.
Offaly had the lead for the first time, but they weren't content to sit on it. They continued to press forward, and added points through Brian Carroll and Joe Bergin, before Shane Dooley cracked home a second goal on 20 minutes.
He turned his marker in alarmingly comfortable fashion before slotting low to the net from a difficult angle.
And when he added a free soon afterwards, the Faithful had turned a four point deficit into a four point lead.
Joe Canning finally escaped the shackles of David Kelly to slot his first point from play, but with Stephen Egan and Derek Moran solid at the back, there was little room to manoeuvre for the other Galway attackers.
Paul Cleary's booming clearance set up the third goal in the 26th minute for full forward Bergin, who rounded Shane Kavanagh to slot past Colm Callanan for a 3-4 to 0-7 lead.
Dylan Hayden and Brady swapped points with Farragher and Aongus Callinan late in the half, and Offaly turned around with a 3-7 to 0-11 lead.
But Galway made a devastating start to the second half. Farragher and substitute Niall Healy cut the deficit to three within two minutes of the restart.
Then came a 2-2 salvo in the space of four minutes. Cyril Donnellan knocked the ball back to Canning to smash to the net, and it was Farragher who finished to the net after Aongus Callanan's shot had been kept out by James Dempsey.
Offaly were reduced to 14 men when substitute Daniel Currams received a straight red card for a challenge on David Burke in the 46th minute, but they scored the next three points, through Dooley, Dylan Hayden and Bergin, to narrow the gap to a point.
There was nothing to separate the sides as they headed for a gripping final quarter, with Canning, for the second time, scoring exquisitely from a sideline cut, only to see Rory Hannify and Dooley bring the sides level.
Canning's long-range effort, and a second for Tannion, eased the Connacht side two clear in the dying moments, but Dooley emerged as the saviour, bringing his tally to 1-7.

IRELAND LOSE TO ENGLAND AT THE JUNIOR WORLD CUP FINALS

2010-06-10T01:43:00.000+01:00

The Ireland Under-20s suffered their second defeat at the IRB Junior World Championship in Rosario, going down to an English side that dominated possession and territory.

Replacement out-half Freddie Burns scored two second half tries to decide this Rosario clash, the second a late intercept effort as Ireland desperately tried to get back in touch.
Having led 16-11 at half-time, England kept the scoreboard ticking over and made Ireland work overtime in defence without showing much penetration.
James McKinney landed his third penalty of the afternoon to keep the Six Nations champions in the hunt at 19-14, but England stretched their advantage to 12 points when Burns spotted a mismatch close to the Irish posts and ghosted over for his first try.
Full-back Tom Homer, who kicked 21 points in all, added the conversion and another penalty before Burns intercepted a pass from Noel Reid as Ireland attacked near the English 22 and darted clear for the killer score which Homer converted.
It gave a flattering gloss to the scoreline as Ireland deserved to be closer, and they showed their mettle when hitting back, just four minutes later, with a well-taken try by replacement centre Eoin Griffin.
But England were the superior outfit on the day, gaining revenge for a 25-10 Six Nations loss to the Irish in Gloucester.
The result, coming on the back of last Sunday's 25-22 defeat to France, means Allen Clarke's youngsters are out of contention for a semi-final place.
Clarke had made three changes to the Ireland side that lost to the French, with Brendan Macken and Noel Reid forming a new centre partnership, Nevin Spence moving to the right wing and Brian Hayes included at the expense of Ben Marshall in the second row.
England boss Mark Mapletoft made a total of ten changes to his starting line-up, following their opening 48-22 victory over hosts Argentina. Runners-up in the last two Junior World Championships, the pressure is on for England to go one better.
They did not look like title contenders in the first half, and neither did Ireland as handling errors and nerves blighted the game. There was a blanket of tension over the pitch, both sides obviously determined to give no quarter.
Ireland got off to a positive start as English loosehead prop Lee Imiolek infringed at a third-minute scrum and McKinney landed the resulting kick from left of the posts.
But a break from big centre Tom Casson showed the power England possess and when Spence was pinged for not releasing after the tackle, Homer kicked them level.
The place-kickers landed their second shots at the posts soon after, with McKinney's effort coming after a solid Irish scrum and clever inside switch between UCD duo John Cooney and Reid.
Disappointingly, Ireland invited England onto them in the lead-up to their first try. Hooker Niall Annett was ruled to be ahead of the kicker as Reid tried to thump downfield. That set up an English scrum in the 18th minute and after a forceful Casson run, flanker Jamie Gibson did well to break Dominic Ryan's tackle and twist over under pressure from Reid.
Homer converted and then punished Jack O'Connell for a scrum infringement as England moved 16-6 ahead.
Ireland had been feeding off scraps, particularly their outside backs, and they showed their counter attacking ability in the 33rd minute when winger Simon Zebo burst into the English 22.
The Munster winger took an inviting pass from Macken and fended off the first tackler, setting up possession five metres from the whitewash, but the second phase saw Macken knock on in midfield.
The attack showed what Ireland could do and they were beginning to see more of the ball as the first half came to a close. A good tackle by Spence on Rory Clegg forced a penalty and Ireland set up a last-gasp attack.
In injury-time, Ireland moved the ball wide off a set scrum, McKinney and Macken fed Zebo the burst and the winger took contact before passing for the looping Macken to send full-back Andrew Conway over in the left corner.
It was simple but very effective and a score that was as much about the hard graft of Rhys Ruddock and his forward colleagues in the preceding minutes. McKinney failed to convert from the touchline, leaving Ireland just five points in arrears at the break.
Griffin and lock Ben Marshall were introduced on the resumption and Ireland continued to grow in confidence. They defended an early English raid before the eager Spence was called back for a forward pass after some neat link-up play.
England, however, benefited from some good continuity, using their forwards to gain ground through the middle and set up Homer's fourth successful penalty - this time from long range.
A late tackle by Casson on McKinney allowed the young Ulster out-half close the gap to 19-14, firing over from 28 metres out, and Ireland were beginning to enjoy a bit more territory.
Gibson and half-backs Clegg and Charlie Davies were causing problems at close quarters and England should have done better when presented with a two-man overlap and the Irish line within their sights. Instead, prop Imiolek's loose pass went straight into touch.
There was no such let-off for Ireland in the 66th minute when England, having enjoyed a decent spell in the opposition's 22, moved the ball to the right and left before Burns broke the defensive line and dived in under the posts for a crucial seven-pointer.
Homer missed a penalty but starved of possession, Ireland were leaking more penalties at ruck time. Their hugely committed defensive efforts were beginning to take a toll and the London Irish starlet kicked his fifth penalty to add to Ireland's frustration.
Ruddock sprung through a rare midfield gap in the 75th minute, getting his side on the front foot. But there was no reward for the hard-working Irish as England's disciplined defence held firm, and worse followed.
Reid's attempted pass to Zebo was gobbled up by Burns who had the pace to run in the try from distance, with Homer adding the extras.
Ireland had something left in the tank, with replacement scrum-half Michael Heaney's quick deliveries demanding a final push from the forwards.
Then metres from the English line, Griffin, standing at first receiver, used a Heaney pass to step off his left and dart over for a deserved try which Reid converted.
Ireland, who finished eighth in last year's tournament, will complete the pool stages with a tough tie against Argentina on Sunday evening.

(Reprinted from RTE Sport)

GALWAY UTD DRAW WITH BOHS AT TERRYLAND

2010-06-09T00:08:00.000+01:00

Bohemians twice came from behind at Terryland Park to claim a draw at the end of an absorbing game.
The Gypsies had Brian Shelley sent off for a foul on Karl Sheppard on 19 mins, and Stephen O'Donnell scored the resultant penalty for Galway.
Paddy Madden equalised on 70 minsfor the Gypsies, but then Galway
substitute Tom King nudged the Tribesmen ahead again.
But Madden punished a Barry Ryan error seconds later as the title
holders fought back to claim a share of the spoils.
It was a grim first half for the champions who lost Jason Byrne through injury and had Brian Shelley sent off before former Bohemians favourite Stephen O'Donnell steered Galway in front.
There was no denying that it was Galway who ruled most of the opening period as the Gypsies surprisingly failed to settle.
Despite Galway's passionate start Bohemians manufactured a 14th minute chance when Paul Keegan released Paddy Madden, but the young striker failed to hit the target.
Then drama occurred in the 19th minute when Shelley fouled Karl
Sheppard in the area, and referee Anthony Buttimer awarded a penalty.
Shelley was red carded and Stephen O'Donnell expertly converted the resultant spot-kick as Galway hit the front.
Galway might have added a second in first half stoppage time, but Rhys Meynell failed to hit the target following a splendid Gary Curran set piece.
After the interval Barry Ryan was alert to deny a Killian Brennan free kick as the Gypsies pushed for an equaliser.
Then on 65mins Paddy Madden thumped over from 20 yards as the Gypsies attempted to find a way back into the game.
And Pat Fenlon's team levelled on 70 mins when Ken Oman headed Killian Brennan's free-kick into Madden's path, and the youngster crashed the visitors back on terms.
Galway substitute Tom King guided the Tribesmen ahead again on 74 mins when squeezing the ball over the line following a Curran corner, but despite the concession Bohemians recovered rapidly.
A moment of hesitancy from Barry Ryan was ruthlessly punished by Madden as the Gypsies restored parity.
Galway can consider themselves unlucky not to have won the game after that freak goal by Madden, but at least the earned a point for their efforts and did well against Pat Fenlon's Bohemian's.

IRISH JUNIOR TEAM UNDONE BY FRANCE AT WORLD CUP

2010-06-06T00:47:00.000+01:00

France replacement Gilles Bosch kicked a late penalty at the Estadio El Coloso del Parque to snatch a 25-22 victory over Ireland in the opening Pool B match of the IRB Junior World Championship 2010 in Rosario on Saturday.

Only two minutes earlier Ireland had seemingly snatched the first draw in the tournament's history after James McKinney curled a conversion in from the right touchline to level the scores at 22-22.
Simon Zebo's score in the corner had given McKinney the pressure kick, the wing having been on hand to touch down after breaks from full back Andrew Conway and centre Eoin Griffin took Ireland to within inches of the French line.
However, replacement Brian Hayes was penalised for a high tackle and Bosch calmly stepped up to slot the penalty between the posts and break Irish hearts to give France a winning start to the Junior World Championship in Argentina.
Bosch had already played his part in getting France back into the lead after three penalties from the boot of McKinney had turned a 12-3 half-time deficit into a 15-12 advantage for Ireland within 15 minutes of the restart.
France replacement Romain Taofifenua was held up over the line by some desperate Irish defence, but they did not have too long to wait before number 8 Antoine Erbani powered over from close range for the game's first try.
Bosch added the conversion and a quickfire penalty to push France out to the seven point advantage, only for the Under 20 Six Nations champions to come back firing to level the scores.
Ireland had started the match the better, spending much of the opening quarter camped around the French 22, but were unable to turn their territorial advantage into points on the scoreboard.
Fly half James McKinney's first penalty attempt from just inside the France half fell well short in the fifth minute, before Ireland contrived to waste good attacking opportunities through passes going astray or giving away penalties.
France were more clinical, taking their chances when they came through the reliable boot of Jean Marc Doussain, the fly half opening the scoring with an 18th minute and then adding another five minutes later after seeing a drop goal attempt charged down in between.
McKinney finally got Ireland on the board with a 27th minute penalty from infront of the posts after France were penalised for being offside by South African referee Jaco Peyper.
The fly half missed another six minutes later that would have tied the scores at 6-6 and the miss proved costly with Doussain continuing his perfect record with two penalties to stretch France's advantage, the first a great kick from the touchline.
Ireland could have gone in trailing only by only six points at half time, but McKinney missed with another penalty attempt with the last act of a first half that had largely seen both sides cancel each other out.

IRELAND THUMP ALGERIA AT THE RDS

2010-05-29T23:39:00.000+01:00

Ireland showed the rest of the world, once again, that they should be playing at this year's World Cup Finals.

Ireland played Algeria at the RDS on Friday night and easily emerged as the better team to follow up on their victory against Paraguay, who are also going to South Africa in June.

Trappatoni's Ireland started the game well, controlling possession and creating chances and a goal soon arrived for Ireland.

Derby midfielder Paul Green celebrated his second cap and his first start for his country with a goal when he dived bravely to head in Liam Lawrence's 32nd-minute cross, and Ireland rarely looked like surrendering their lead thereafter.

They doubled it seven minutes after the break through skipper Robbie Keane's cool finish after errors from Wolves defender Aldane Guedioura and keeper Faouzi Chaouchi, and the Tottenham striker might have completed a hat-trick before he finally did find the net once again.

Djamel Mesbah's trip on Keane handed him the chance to take his senior international goals tally to 43 from the penalty spot, and he duly obliged by sending substitute keeper Rais Mbolhi the wrong way five minutes from time.

Trapattoni, who had drummed into his players for the last week that the two games were all about preparing for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, was delighted with their response.

He said: 'If we play like we did against Paraguay and Algeria, I think we must achieve qualification for the European Championships.'

The fact that the most convincing win of the Italian's reign to date came with Green stating for the first time alongside 19-year-old debutant Greg Cunningham, the Manchester City full-back, was all the more pleasing.

Shame we won't be in South Africa.

IRELAND BEAT PARAGUAY AT THE RDS

2010-05-26T01:28:00.000+01:00

The Republic of Ireland defeated World Cup finalists Paraguay 2-1 tonight.
First half goals by Kevin Doyle on 7 mins and a cracking shot by Liam Lawrence gave Giovanni Trappatoni's team a commandig lead at half-time.
The latin Americans stepped up the pace in the second half and enjoyed the majority of the ball without creating too many chances at goal until Lucas Barrios managed to find the back of the net with a snap-shot on 58 mins for his first goal on his debut for his country.
Ireland Manager Trappatoni expressed his satisfaction with the victory and praised his players for the effort and commitment in the game.
He gave second-half debuts to Paul Green of Derby, I was impressed by his tenacious display in midfield, forward Cillian Sheridan of Celtic, who looked lively.
Shane Long and Keith Fahey also impressed when they came on.
So, overall, a win and a good workout for the squad.
Next up is Algeria on Friday evening, also at the RDS.

IRISH SOCER STARLET LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AFTER FREAK INJURY

2010-05-23T00:15:00.000+01:00

Republic of Ireland defender Shane Duffy has had life-saving surgery after suffering a freak accident in a training match on Friday night.

The Everton teenager sustained a laceration to his liver after colliding with Irish amateur team goalkeeper Adrian Walsh at Malahide.
After being attended to on the pitch, he was rushed to the nearby Mater Hospital for an emergency operation.
On Saturday night Duffy was making good progress in a recovery unit.
Team surgeon Professor John O'Byrne said: "Shane collided with a player in a way that you would see thousands of times in football match.
"It was a freak injury that in another 100 years of medicine, we may never see again.
"The intensive care staff in the Mater must be credited for their expertise, in particular surgeon Gerry Mc Entee (former Meath footballer) and fast response which in no uncertain terms saved Shane's life.
"Shane was stabilised in intensive care after the surgery which stopped internal bleeding."
The 18-year-old, who switched to the Republic having played for Northern Ireland youth teams, had been scheduled to remain with Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad, solely for training purposes, ahead of friendly clashes against Paraguay and Algeria.
However the IFA in Belfast, have lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to try to prevent the Republic from stealing "their" player and until the Court delivers its ruling this summer, the lad cannot play for the full Republic side.
Though it must be stressed that his health is the main thing at the moment, and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.

AVATAR: SOME SHOW!

2010-05-18T03:26:00.000+01:00

I guess that most of you, by now, have seen the movie Avatar by James Cameron.
Its an extraordinary piece of work.
The special effects are amazing, I didnt get to see it in 3D in the cinemas, I bought the DVD online the minute it was released.
It had as its plot an invasion of the planet Pandora for the energy it has under its soil, rewind to the massacre of native American Indians two Centuries ago and you get the picture.
Except this wasn't no ordinary picture, it was an exhilurating ride through Pandora and the the hi-tech abilities of directer James Cameron and his side-kick, John Landau.
To have produced such a technological masterpiece takes some achieving, but they have done it.
I just don't know how, it was brilliant.

IRELAND'S EOIN MORGAN HELPS ENGLAND WIN THE T20

2010-05-17T00:10:00.000+01:00

England stormed to a seven-wicket victory over Australia at the Kensington Oval to break their 35-year duck in International Cricket Council tournaments.
Eoin Morgan produced another well-paced innings to guide England home.
In all, he played 23 times for Ireland in ODIs, scoring 744 runs, which included the one century & five 50s, for a batting average of 35.42.

Morgan is the first cricketer to have scored a first-class double century for Ireland with an unbeaten 209 against the United Arab Emirates in February 2007 at Abu Dhabi.
The only uncertainty on Monday was the name of Kevin Pietersen’s newborn son. Perhaps he should consider Eoin because it is the name on every England fan’s lips after a clean sweep of Super Eight victories was assured by the young Irish star in their batting order.
The ease of England's success in the final of the ICC World Twenty20 made a mockery of previous failures, as Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen's stand of 111 helped them cruise past Australia's 147 for six - with three full overs to spare.
Kieswetter (63) hit six fours and a six in his 40-ball 50 and Pietersen was almost as dominant in a run chase which became no-contest long before captain Paul Collingwood clubbed the winning runs.
Strange to see an Irishman playing with and celebrating in and England victory, although, it must be said that Ireland have a few overseas players themselves in Trent Johnston and Andre Botha.

NEW LANDSDOWNE ROAD AVIVA STADIUM OFFICIALLY OPENED

2010-05-15T02:12:00.000+01:00

On the 14th of May, 2010, the new Lansdowne Road was officially opened by Brian Cowen Irish Taoiseach at 3pm

The new stadium is certainly a spectacle to behold with state of the art facilities both for fans and players, it is another jewel in the crown for Irish sport.There is a combined provinces match to be played in July but the real action at the stadium will kick of in earnest in August against likely World Cup winners , Argentina on Aug 10th at the new stadium.

2010-05-15T01:25:00.000+01:00

Welcome to my new blog.
I aim to write about everything related to Ireland, be it sport, politics, current affairs, anything to do with Ireland.