Living in a Time Warp Munster 19 Wasps 3

When Greg rang with the arrangements he did say that he wasn't sure of the rugby times! We didn't check because there weren't many other options - Sunday morning wasn't going to work because Sheila was heading back top London on Sunday afternoon. But of course when we checked we discovered that we had Leicester V Leinster at 3.30 and Munster V Wasps at 5.30. Worse than that they were on Sky and Kevin (with all his fancy digital TV set-up) doesn't have Sky. In any event mass was at 6.15. Both Paul and I had the same plan - time warp!

We set up the TV to record the game - refused to listen to any radio or take any information input. When we arrived home at 8pm Mark (from Limerick) had just finished watching the match - I said "don't say anything - don't look at me - I don't want to see your expression!" So he left the room and we sat down from 8pm until 9.30 and watched the match. When you think about, it its strange to anticipate and outcome when you know you could find out in an instant - but once you get involved - in what was a very exciting match - its fine.

Howlett, originally uploaded by Clare Courier Gallery.

It was a day out of Angela's Ashes in Limerick also. It rained relentlessly through the match. Munster were always comfortable (on mature recollection!). They dominated the line-outs and that was a big help. Wasps, of course, were hit with injury and so it was easier than it should have been - but no game against Wasps is easy - even in Thomond Park.

Denis Leamy's Try, originally uploaded by Clare Courier Gallery.

A great result at 19-3, but the rankings showed at the end of the match that Munster were now in 5th position with Toulouse in 4th which if we got the wrong results on Sunday would mean that the quarter-final would be in Toulouse against Toulouse - not a great reward!

However as it finished out Cardiff were convincing against Bristol and so inched out Stade Francais and Cardiff pushed themselves into the 5th place leaving then with the dreaded Toulouse fixture and leaving Munster with a much better visit to Gloucester.

Gloucester were never in real danger against Ulster - but Ulster did run them close enough with a final result Gloucester 29 Ulster 21. This leaves us with a lot of hope for another semi-final for Munster.

Earlier Leinster needed a miracle in Toulouse and in Leicester - they got neither - it was a very competitive game in Leicester - though Leicester won easy in the end 25-9. Toulouse made no mistakes and hammered Edinburgh 34-10. The end result was that in Leinster's pool Toulouse managed to win one away game against Edinburgh, Leinster. Leicester and Edinburgh each lost all their away games.

In the Heineken cup format that is a disaster for the pool and usually means only one team from the group to qualify. The weakness in the Heineken pool system system is that whichever groups have the Italian teams has a high chance of getting a runner up slot - unless they have 3 equally strong teams. Though this year the Ospreys benefitted from having both Bourgoin and Ulster allowing them to claim the last place. Biaritz and an Glasgow were too close to each other to make it in the other Italian group (topped by Saracens).

5th Anniversary

Cousins
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At the Graveside
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Thursday, the 17th January was the 5th anniversary of the death of Joan. As has been a developing tradition over the past 5 years we had a family gathering in Newbridge. While it isn't always possible to get everyone - some have to travel further than other. We have had great turn-outs and it is a reason for many of the cousins and Joan's extended families to get together. On Saturday it was a very wet and windy day in Newbridge. Rather similar to the day of the funeral five years ago. We had a fantastic turnout with Sheila and Phil over from London and Barney from Galway. In fact we had 18 of the 20 cousins together - probably the biggest collection ever!

We had a lovely day with lunch followed by some rugby, a visit to the grave, some tea and cake in Kevin and Mel's house and then followed by mass at 6.15.

Cousin Steps
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Six of Us
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A fitting remembrance.

Cup Final in Thomond Park on Saturday

Munster Banner IV, originally uploaded by BobTheCorkDwarf.

After a fantastic perfromance in the second half against a wonderful Clermont team, Munster have ensured that the French are justly punished for sending their second string to Thomond last November. Clermont looked unstoppable in the first half last Sunday. Their backs and forwards were simply awesome. But in the second half Munster played out of their skins and by somehow securing a bonus point from a 26-19 loss they ensured that Clermont must finish third in the group and thus have no chance to qualify.
So we are due another cracker against Wasps on Saturday evening. They will be hard to beat - even in Thomond Park - remember Leicester managed to win the equivalent match in Thomond last year. It's hard to bet against this Munster team - but Dallaglio will not like to lose - they need a win to be certain of qualification - the second team will probably not make it. To quote the Wasps website today "coaches Ian McGeechan and Shaun Edwards, and captain Lawrence Dallaglio are under no illusions as the the size of the task ahead of them"

Kevin Keegan QuotesBringing the Fun back into FootballWelcome back Kev - we missed you!

Kevin Keegan fan, originally uploaded by ijiwaru jimbo.

On League Football
•"You can't do better than go away from home and get a draw... "
•"That decision, for me, was almost certainly definitely wrong."
•"I'd love to be a mole on the wall in the Liverpool dressing room at half-time."
•"Football's always easier when you've got the ball."
•"He'll also be very dangerous from set-pieces. That means he'll be a threat from free-kicks and corners in the final third of the field."
•"Not many teams will come to Arsenal and get anything, home or away."
•"Maine Road was a great football stadium but as time moved on it stayed where it is...."
•"We deserved to win this game after hammering them 0-0 in the first half."
•"We have spent three matches chasing a football."
•"It's no longer an 11 man game."

On International Football
•"They're the second best team in the world, and there's no higher praise than that."
•"You're not just getting international football, you're getting world football."
•"He can't speak Turkey, but you can tell he's delighted."
•"There'll be no siestas in Madrid tonight."
•"Chile have three options - they could win or they could lose."
•"I came to Nantes two years ago and it's much the same today, except that it's totally different."
•"Hungary is very similar to Bulgaria. I know they're different countries..."
•"Argentina won't be at Euro 2000 because they're from South America."
•"England have the best fans in the world and Scotland's fans are second-to-none."
•"I'll never play at Wembley again, unless I play at Wembley again."

On Team Selection
•"The substitute is about to come on - he's a player who was left out of the starting line-up today."

On Football Players
•"You get bunches of players like you do bananas, though that is a bad comparison."
•"They compare Steve McManaman to Steve Heighway and he's nothing like him, but I can see why - it's because he's a bit different."
•"Gary always weighed up his options, especially when he had no choice."
•"Young Gareth Barry - he's young."
•"Luis Figo is totally different to David Beckham, and vice versa."
•"Kanu, a guy with a heart as big as he is."
•"I want more from David Beckham. I want him to improve on perfection."
•"There's a slight doubt about only one player, and that's Tony Adams, who definitely won't be playing tomorrow."
•"Danny Tiatto is not going to make a mistake on purpose."
•"Nicolas Anelka left Arsenal for £23million and they built a training ground on him."
•"As far as I'm concerned, Danny Tiatto doesn't exist."

On Losing
•"I'm not disappointed - just disappointed."
•"That would have been a goal if it wasn't saved."
•"The good news for Nigeria is that they're two-nil down very early in the game."

On Anatomy
•"A tremendous strike which hit the defender full on the arm - and it nearly came off."
•"He's got a heart as big as his size, which isn't big, but his heart's bigger than that'
•"Despite his white boots, he has real pace."
•"...using his strength. And that is his strength, his strength."
•"In some ways, cramp is worse than having a broken leg”

On Tennis (or Sailing)
•"The tide is very much in our court now."

On Mathematics
•"We are three games without defeat is another way of looking at it. But if we are honest we have taken two points from nine."
•"The 33 or 34-year-olds will be 36 or 37 by the time the next World Cup comes around, if they're not careful."
•"The Germans only have one player under 22, and he's 23."
•"You need 88 points for the title and we've got 61 at present with 16 games to go, but if you set targets you limit yourself."

On Life
•"It could be far worse for me if it was easy for me."
•"They don't come every three days, like they come after this one."
•"We managed to wrong a few rights."
•"Well, if that's true then it would be a big surprise, but then nothing surprises me in football these days."

On Immortality (and Newcastle?)
•"I've had an interest in racing all my life, or longer really."
•"You don't get two chances at this level, or at any other level for that matter."
•"But the onus is on us to perform and we must control the bandwagon."
•"It's understandable that people are keeping one eye on the pot and another up the chimney."
•"I know what is around the corner - I just don't know where the corner is."
•"For some it's the ultimate job, for the others it's the last job."

When a win is a win but just not enough Leinster 20 Toulouse 13

Felipe at Full Tilt, Uploaded by M+MD.

Leinster played a very exciting brand of rugby to beat Toulouse in the RDS on Saturday. It was a fast moving encounter - Toulouse played well but were not good enough to dislodge the home side. Two tries from Luke Fitzgerald and the rest of the points from Dr Phil.

Cian Healy was a very impressive substitution in the front row. He and Jonathan Sexton got their reward with their first time inclusion in the 33 man 6 nations squad announced this week.

Maybe this was classic percentage rugby from the French professionals - they know that as long as they could gain a bonus point over Leinster they only have to beat Edinburgh in Toulouse to win the pool and get through to the quarter finals. Leinster now need a bonus point victory in Leicester and a favourable result in Toulouse - they have both been seen before - but the combination is very unlikely. The damage was done before Christmas in Edinburgh and so Leinster have to work on winning the Magners League and build again for next year.

Clermont take home matches seriously

Murt at Munster Vs Clermont
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Clermont Auvergne in naming their strongest possible side, for Sundays crucial Heineken Cup match, include just two players, Julien Malzieu and Seremaia Bai, who started when the sides met in Thomond Park in November. On this occasion however Malzieu is named on the wing rather than the full-back position he occupied in November while Bai - outhalf in Thomond Park - will partner Marius Joubert in the centre on Sunday.

Doug Howlett has been named on the Munster starting XV for Sunday's clash with Clermont Auvergne, while Alan Quinlan has been named among the replacements. However, Paul O'Connell has failed in his attempt to be fit to take a part, the squad captain still troubled by the back problem that forced him to miss the afternoon session in Limerick on Wednesday. "Paul suffered a setback during the week and is not able to train today, " explained Declan Kidney, " so in the circumstances couldn't be included in the squad." Anthony Horgan, who was selected to play against Ulster last weekend picked up a hamstring strain during the week and his absence opens the door for Doug Howlett to take his place on the wing.

Munster: Shaun Payne; Brian Carney, Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi, Doug Howlett; Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer (capt); Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll; Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Anthony Foley. Replacements: Frank Sheahan,Tony Buckley, Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, Tomas O'Leary, Paul Warwick, Kieran Lewis,

Leinster Team to play Toulouse at RDS

Leo the Leinster Lion
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1: Stan Wright
2: Bernard Jackman
3: Stephen Knoop
4: Leo Cullen
5: Malcolm O'Kelly
6: Shane Jennings
7: Keith Gleeson
8: Jamie Heaslip
9: Chris Keane
10: Felipe Contepomi
11: Rob Kearney
12: Gordon D'Arcy
13: Brian O'Driscoll CAPTAIN
14: Luke Fitzgerald
15: Girvan Dempsey

REPLACEMENTS: * One to be omitted closer to kick-off
16: Brian Blaney
17: Cian Healy
18: Ronan McCormack*
19: Cameron Jowitt
20: Stephen Keogh
21: Guy Easterby
22: Jonathan Sexton
23: Gary Brown*

A Cold Night at the RDS Leinster 26 Ospreys 15

Leinster V Ospreys
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It was a very cold night in the RDS on Saturday night when Leinster clocked up a pretty good win over the Ospreys. They managed 4 tries which is a first in a little while. Jamie Heaslip got his second try in as many matches, Stephen Keogh and Luke Fitzgerald ran in one each and the first try was a push over to which Shane Jennings was given the credit. Felipe missed a couple of easy kicks and kicked some more difficult ones. It was a slightly shaky started with good moves by Leinster spoiled by handling errors. But it was a very cold night. The close out o fthe second half was less than satisfactory. The Ospreys piled on a lot of pressure and had they been clever enough could have grabbed a bonus point opting to kick into the corner rather than take a simple penalty. However given that they are out of contention third from the bottom of the Magners, I suppose that we the best thing to do. So Leinster are now 5 points clear on top of the Magners League.

But the real deal is on Saturday at 1.30 in the RDS. Leinster must beat Toulouse - probably with a bonus point to keep the very slim chances on Heineken cup qualification alive anything else will be curtains. French teams don't travel well - but this is a very on form Toulouse team with just 2 losses this season - one in the French League and one in the Heineken. With a question mark over Le Roux and Wright in the front row and Horgan in the backs Leinster will have a tough challenge to face.

Jamie Heaslip goes over for a try
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Christy Moore Thursday Vicar Street

Christy Moore
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First gig of the new year was with Christy Moore at Vicar Street last night. It was his second night of what was originally a 4 night run this week. But demand has lead to 2 extra Vicar Street dates on the 14th and 15th of this month. If you're quick these extra dates are not sold out yet. See tickets

Christy Moore
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We had good seats up on the balcony a little far back but the photographic results are still pretty good. Have at look at the complete set on Flickr. Concert Photos

Christy Moore
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It was a very mellow set. It started with a very measured and deliberate version of Jackson Browne's Before the Deluge, which he first recorded with Moving Hearts back in 1981. That pretty much set the tone. After three ballads Christy remarked on how chilled out the audience was "after too much feckin turkey over the Christmas just like meself and Dec" before breaking into Delirium Tremens and that got us going. He chilled us back with Motherland and Lobby Bar (needed a prompt from the audience - it wasn't evening or August but AUTUMN in Mayfield) it before playing "Don't Forget your Shovel" in memory of Christy Hennessey.

"Quinte Brigada"
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But he switched back to mellow with "A Pair of Brown Eyes".
At this stage Christy pretty much had the audience eating out of his hands. He talked about the South Pole Bar in Annascaul and John Egan as a lead into "Casey". A little change of the words in the second verse about Casey and Michael Clery saying mass with the Pope, with a hilarious line on ridin' for Ireland. Then Declan sang "I Will". Back with Biko Drum and Smoke and Strong Whiskey before the set list was abandoned and the requests took over. We had a lovely version of Nancy Spain followed by a song that "some people think we shouldn't be singing 'cause its out of date nonsense", Joxer of course. It was now well over an hour and a half as they began to wind up "you've been a lovely audience - I've changed me mind Dec F*** it we'll do 2" and they did - City of Chicago followed by Quinte Brigada.
Then the bows, and he greeted some friends in the front row and off. But of course we got an encore: Ride On and Lisdoonvara sent us home happy - 2 hours of Christy - now that's a good start to the new year and a gig to remember.

Christy Moore and Declan Sinnott, Thursday, Vicar Street, Uploaded by M+MD.

The following is the Thursday Night Set List:

1. Before the Deluge
2. One Last Cold Kiss
3. Ballad of Wandering Aengus
4. Delirium Tremens
5. Motherland
6. Sixteen Jolly Ravers
7. Magic Nights in the Lobby Bar
8. Don't Forgot Your Shovel
9. A Pair of Brown Eyes
10. This is the day
11. Drunken husband
12. North And South of the River
13. John O'Dreams
14. Casey
15. I Will (Dec)
16. Biko Drum
17. Time Has Come
18. Smoke & Strong Whiskey
19. Nancy Spain
20. Joxer goes to Stuttgart
21. Voyage
22. Back Home In Derry
23. Missing You
24. Quiet Desperation
25. In the City of Chicago
26. Quinte Brigada
ENCORE
27. Ride On
28. Lisdoonvarna

Meeting the Audience, Uploaded by M+MD.