Sunday, February 11, 2007

First Rugby Match at Croke Park - Stunning

It was stunning in every sense of the word. Croke Park was full - we were full of anticipation. The Irish were slow to start. By half time the French were ahead 13-11 - Ibanez's first half try was converted while O'Gara's wasn't and we exchanged 2 penalties. But in the second half we scrapped and scraped ahead.

O'Gara Try
Originally uploaded by BobTheCorkDwarf.
O'Gara gets over for a try to take the lead. But it was just a single point at 14-13. The French could back in with a penalty. With 3 minutes to go we won a kickable penalty. "Go on Ronan - put it over - then at least they will need a try". Be careful what you wish for!! He did, we allowed ourselves a sigh of relief. What a mistake - now we can say that he would have been better to miss. From the kick off France attack, we make 2 mistakes and a missed tackle and Clerc is in for a try; they convert and its just 1 minute left.

Can we not do the same? We kick off - they gather the ball set up a maul that goes nowhere, but lasts until full time. They kick the ball out, the whistle blows; we are stunned .... but what about the grand slam ... what about the best Irish time in living memory... such is life and rugby.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Moving Hearts

Moving Hearts
Moving Hearts,
originally uploaded by Alex Donald.
The re-union concert was great. It was an instrumental gig. We missed the vocals - Mick Hanly was in the audience. Christy sent his apologies a few weeks ago (at the same venue). A fantastic night and we even sang Happy Birthday to Keith Donald.


Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Croke Park and Rugby

It will be an historic occasion when Ireland plays France at Croke Park this Sunday. After much debate a “foreign game” will be played in this fantastic GAA stadium. There was lots of debate within the GAA about sharing this facility while Lansdowne Road is being developed. Much of it was about the old animosity that exists between rival disciplines, in some ways the rivalry could be compared with that between Rugby League and Rugby Union (especially in the days before Union went professional). The arguments continue even this week with those GAA fans who argue that the use of Croke Park was approved subject to Lansdowne road having planning permission – which of course has not yet been given – thus the GAA is in breach of its own mandate. The view of former GAA president Sean Kelly (who championed the opening of Croke Park is perhaps the best answer – he says it’s in the country tradition of giving a neighbour a dig out. He rightly says that it would have been a discredit to the country if we had to play our home internationals in England or Wales. Not that this is a GAA problem – but opening Croke Park is a popular solution – not least with Rugby fans. But that’s not the full story – not by a long way. The game against England – the old enemy – is what this is really all about. The history of Croke Park is deeply nationalistic. Not just because it is the home of our own unique sports, Gaelic football and Hurling, but also because of the events that happened on the 21st November 1920, a year before the end of the War of Independence. This week the Daily Telegraph was an unlikly source to refresh the background story: "Old Foes". Hill 16 the uncovered terrace at the railway end is built on the rubble from the Easter Rising, and the Hogan Stand is named after Michael Hogan, the captain of the Tipperary football team who was killed by the Black and Tans on bloody Sunday. The singing of God Save the Queen by the visiting English fans on February 24th will be a moment of growing up for Ireland as a nation. History is important, but in the end it is just that - History.

Wales Vs Ireland - 2 trys to remember


On my Mark
Originally uploaded by JonnyCat UK.
I had my first trip to Cardiff to see Ireland beat Wales at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. The atmosphere was fantastic. When the Welsh sang "Bread of Heaven" before the start of the match, the hair stood up on the back of my neck.

We had a great start with a try in 2 minutes. But all in all it was a nervy start to Ireland's season - we were happy to secure a 19-9 victory.
There were 3 Irish tries. The first from the kick-off by Rory Best:

Rory Best's try in less than a minute The second came from O'Driscoll before half time and then in the second half Ronan clinched it.

Ronan gets over for the clincher.


Down. But Out?
Originally uploaded by JonnyCat UK.
O'Driscoll gets a once-over by the physios
Good Effort Originally uploaded by JonnyCat UK.
Brian O'Driscoll going off in Cardiff - job nearly done but is he ok for next week? It's not what we need to set up a Grand Slam next week.

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