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Wednesday, December 24, 2008
What’s the score?
By Tommy Kenoy
Sport in 2008 provided a mix of the good the bad and the ugly nothing new in that. Christmas is supposed to be a time of cheer so let’s focus on the good. There’s no point adding further gloom at a time when our humble state is in freefall.
The top moment for me happened on the par 5 17th hole at Royal Birkdale during the British Open. In the pressure cooker atmosphere of the oldest and biggest golf tournament in the world, Padraig Harrington hit a 5 wood from 249 yards to within three feet of the pin, effectively wrapping up the title. Thus he could stroll down the 18th in relaxed mood, acknowledging a huge reception from the fans, safe in the knowledge that he had retained the Claret Jug. That shot has been voted Shot of the Year for 2008 and will be shown repeatedly into the future as one of the greatest golf shots ever played.
In hurling we are probably watching the greatest team of caman-wielders in the history of the game. Kilkenny are simply awesome.
Yes, the All-Ireland was a poor spectacle but that shouldn’t detract from the sheer brilliance of the Cats, not just in the final but throughout the season. They scored 2-16 from their first 18 shots at goal and only shot 19 produced their first wide. It wasn’t that Waterford were a bad team but they were simply airbrushed off the pitch by Kilkenny who, quite simply, could do no wrong.
Next it’s back to golf. When Padraig Harrington sank the final putt at the US PGA tournament he joined the ranks of Irish sports legends. He thus became the holder of three majors including two British Opens and the PGA and joined an elite group of great golfers by winning back-to-back Open titles and back-to-back titles in the same year.
Since then he has swept the awards in both Europe and the USA. The most significant of these was US PGA Tour’s Player of the Year. Tiger Woods has virtually owned the award since 1997 and Harrington is only the fourth international winner since the award was inaugurated in 1990.
He had already become the European Tour Player of the Year, the Irish Golf Writers Professional of the Year and has been honoured by both the Association of Golf Writers and the Golf Writers Association of America plus of course RTE Sports Star of the Year.
The appointment of Fergal O’Donnell as manager of the Roscommon senior football team was another significant moment. It lights a spark of hope for the future of a game that consumes us in the county we love. Patience is needed, of that there is no doubt but at least we know our future is in the hands of a very capable and astute Roscommon man. There were many other memorable moments. Tyrone were awesome in football. After a poor start they came alive against Dublin and went on to stake a claim for Team of the Decade by capturing Sam and making it three All-Ireland titles in five years.
Kerry v Galway in a downpour was probably the best game of the year. Munster captured the European Cup. Our athletes at the Paralympics were magnificent. Our boxers brought home three Olympic medals. Katie Taylor retained her status as the best woman boxer in the world. Roscommon’s brave but unlucky minors and St. Vincent’s and Portumna winning club titles. 2008 was a year that showed us outstanding talent, levels of performance and achievement.
Next week will see my final contribution as a columnist with the Roscommon Herald. I hope to take a look back at my personal sporting highlights during ten years of “What’s the Score”.
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