Ireland to come up short again
Will Ireland's Peter O'Mahony, seen here on his 100th cap in Paris, and his Ireland team-mates be celebrating a famous win against New Zealand on Saturday evening? Picture: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
When France beat New Zealand in the opening game of the Rugby World Cup, it had a huge bearing on Ireland’s group in terms of potential quarter-final opponents.
Irish supporters were tripping over themselves to announce “bring on the All-Blacks in the last eight” as long as Andy Farrell’s men managed to edge out South Africa and Scotland to top their group.
As the weeks have passed and the tournament has progressed, Ireland will now lock horns with the All-Blacks in the quarter-finals once more. This week, those same buoyant Irish followers have suddenly realised that New Zealand is going to be one hell of a test and a tough nut to crack.
If South Africa had a goalkicker, Ireland would be facing the host nation France in the quarter-finals. Ireland’s resolve, courage and character got them over the line against the defending World Cup champions.
The current Grand Slam champions have never made it past the last eight. In a year where they are the number one side in the world, they were handed the group of death — the toughest path possible to the semi-finals with France, South Africa, New Zealand and Scotland on the same side of the draw.
On the opposite side, England and Wales have taken full advantage and should be good enough to beat Fiji and Argentina respectively to reach the last four.
If Ireland were to climb Mount Everest by beating the All-Blacks next Saturday evening, the Boys in Green would fancy their chances of reaching a historic first-ever World Cup final by beating Wales or Argentina in the penultimate game of the championship.
Andy Farrell’s men have ticked every box in preparation for this tournament. They knew from a long way out what route they had to take, and they have taken it one game at a time. But another failure of not breaking down that barrier of playing in their first ever World Cup semi-final would be a massive disappointment.
It says something that Ireland expect to beat New Zealand, which shows the mindset of the players and management in terms of where they’re at. I’m sure, privately, New Zealand are fuming that Ireland had them written off a month ago after losing to France. But in typical All-Blacks style, they have circled the wagons and look a much more bullish outfit that have earmarked this game as the one they wanted rather than a showdown against South Africa.
One thing is for certain — New Zealand will expect to beat Ireland in a knockout game. They will try to implements a running game to move the Ireland players all over the field. Ireland will want a war of attrition, denying New Zealand time with ball in hand by winning the physical exchanges. A repeat of the South Africa game will suit Ireland nicely if they can manage more control at lineout time.
Any team playing New Zealand know the score. A large chunk of the country will be in Paris. The rest of us will be at home or in the pubs, and we will be as nervous as people hoping for good news in the Budget as one of the biggest game Ireland have ever played in World Cup Rugby history is about to play out.
Failure is not an option. I hope I’m wrong, but my hunch is that the All Blacks might get the job done, leaving Ireland to come up short again when it matters most.
In a week when RTÉ announced the closure of its Aertel service, my Tuesday Teaser gang remained fully active.
Can you name the last player from Down to win a GAA Football All-Star award? It was Benny Coulter in 2010.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first with the current answer. John Croghan, Bundoran; Eamon Campion, Castlerea; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Brian Stenson, Castlerea; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; John Corcoran, Roscommon Town; Fr John McManus, PP, Castlerea; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Pat, Sligo, and Paddy Boland, Youghal, were also fully tuned in.
Answers by e-mail willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s Teaser comes from South Roscommon.
On the night before the first match in the Rugby World Cup, the Republic of Ireland soccer team were in Paris for a Euro 2024 qualification game against France, which ended in defeat.
Four days later, another reversal at home to Holland at the Aviva Stadium ended any small chance of Ireland finishing in the top two.
Stephen Kenny’s reign as Ireland manager is entering its final few games. With the whole country immersed in Ireland’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final, the soccer team are at home to Greece 24 hours earlier, playing for the equivalent of winning a box of Afternoon Tea biscuits in a Christmas raffle.
If Ireland fail to beat Greece on Friday night, their trip to Gibraltar three days later will be to avoid the wooden spoon. It will showcase the massive gap between the men operating with the oval ball and soccer ball, and, more importantly, the public’s perception of both.
With Greece hunting down Holland for second place in the group and at home to the Dutch on Monday night, they know that a victory in Dublin is a must to turn the battle with the Netherlands into a massive “must win” encounter.
With only one win from their five qualifying games to date, another reversal at home to Greece would turn the box of Afternoon Tea into a packet of Digestives for Stephen Kenny’s side and end any chance of finishing third in the group.
Thirty-eight runners and riders gathered at the starting post in early August for the senior, intermediate and Junior A football championships. Now the field has been whittled down to six.
The penultimate games were blessed with a late Indian summer, which was a welcome relief to the fixtures committee as pitches were good to firm for last weekend’s semi-finals.
The senior showdown is a repeat of last season’s semi-final and a first-ever St. Brigid’s versus Boyle decider. Over the past 12 months, Boyle have beaten St. Brigid’s, Clann na nGael and Pádraig Pearses in the championship. But there’s still no Fahey Cup in North Roscommon. Meanwhile, St. Brigid’s produced a Rolls Royce semi-final performance against Roscommon Gaels.
The intermediate final will be a classic local derby clash, with Éire Óg and Castlerea St. Kevin’s going to post where there will be plenty of banter in West Roscommon over the coming weeks.
St. Michael’s are back in the Junior A football final for the first time since 1993, which will bring great colour and excitement to the decider. But a well-drilled Clann na nGael side, laced with quality, will be waiting in the long grass.
It’s interesting to note that four of the five 2022 county champions in Connacht have already fallen victim to their prey, proving how tough it is to retain county SFC titles.
In Roscommon, Strokestown have fallen from their lofty perch of 12 months ago. Westport in Mayo and Tourlestrane in Sligo have also lost their crowns. Last Sunday’s Leitrim SFC final saw Eamonn O’Hara’s Mohill side turn the tables with a 2-10 to 0-14 victory against St. Mary’s, Kiltoghert, gaining revenge for their final loss 12 months ago.
The only one of last season’s famous five still standing is Moycullen in Galway. The holders produced wonderful character to edge out Salthill, 0-13 to 1-9, in a quarter-final thriller, with Peter Cooke and Paul Kelly kicking match-winning scores in injury time.
Star pupil: Éire Óg forward Liam Creaton who led the charge as the West Roscommon side showed great character to return to this year’s intermediate football championship showpiece.
Crucial win for: St. Michael’s who edged out Kilglass Gaels in a tight JFC semi-final. As the only remaining first team left in the competition, they will represent Roscommon in the Connacht club championship.
Much do better: Even though they have reached the IFC final, Castlerea St. Kevin’s have left loads of room for improvement before facing Éire Óg in the decider.
Spot of bother: Roscommon Gaels will be so disappointed with their tame exit from this year’s senior football championship.
Weekend highlight: Finally, after lots of poor matches, we saw knockout World Cup Rugby at its best as Argentina beat Japan 39-27 in a Sunday lunch-time thriller to book a quarter-final clash against Wales.
What a cracker: Only one gig on the menu this weekend as Ireland and New Zealand go head-to-head in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Paris. The country will come to a standstill on Saturday evening from 8 p.m..
“Life is the most difficult exam, many people fail because they try to copy others, not realising that everyone has a different question paper.”
Twenty one years on after managing Strokestown to the county senior football title in 2002, Pat Doory has guided his native Éire Óg to this year’s intermediate football championship final.
A huge couple of weeks ahead for Boyle GAA Club as its men’s and ladies’ senior football teams have qualified for county finals.
First into the ring are the ladies who play reigning champions Clann na nGael in the decider next Saturday evening.
