First off, apologies to our Kerry readers – and one in particular, she knows who she is – for tipping Dublin last week.
It was a gut feeling that the Dubs would prevail narrowly and so it proved. Incidentally, beforehand, the bookmakers were offering odds of 4/5 on either side winning by between one and four points. Apart from the possibility of a draw, it was a great bet.
That Dublin won by two was fitting in a way, as that was the tally scored by 41-year-old goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton, kicking a free and a 45. There is often a sense in sport that a player or manager seeking to reignite past glories is wasting their time, but Cluxton’s return to the Dublin fold was proven to be a masterstroke by manager Dessie Farrell.
That Cluxton now has nine All-Ireland medals is made all the more remarkable by the fact that he didn’t win any in his first ten years playing for the county, when the Dubs were regarded as being a side that always punched below their weight when the pressure came on.
Nine All-Irelands in the dozen championships since 2011 have completely redefined the GAA landscape. While the wins for Tyrone and Kerry in the past two seasons might have suggested that Dublin’s era had ended, the ability to come back and reclaim the Sam Maguire this year was as impressive as any victory during the six-in-a-row from 2015-20 inclusive.
Dublin are obviously helped by their near-untouchable position in Leinster, but the change in championship format for this year meant that wasn’t as much of an issue, and they still made it to the final without much in the way of fuss.
Quite why the other Leinster sides have fallen back in general is something worthy of wider examination and it’s not something for which all of the blame can be laid at Dublin’s door.
You have to go to Kildare in 2010 for the last All-Ireland semi-final appearance by a Leinster county other than Dublin, which is an incredible statistic.
Number ten?
The question now will be if Cluxton (41), Michael Fitzsimons (34) and James McCarthy (33) will be content to leave the stage with a record-breaking tally of nine All-Irelands to their names or if the carrot of a tenth will convince them to have another go. Dean Rock, brought on near the end to win his eighth, is also 33.
What has been impressive about Dublin during their belle epoque is how they were able to overcome the losses of players once considered essential and irreplaceable.
Cluxton has so far proven to be the exception there and, while the signs may suggest otherwise, he cannot go on forever.
It’s an acknowledgement of Kerry’s younger age profile that they are considered joint-favourites with Dublin for next year’s All-Ireland – and, after all, it wouldn’t have taken a lot to go differently for them to be going for a three-in-a-row. That David Clifford scored three points, two from play, but will be frustrated with his day, is indicative of the potential he has and the demands he places on himself.
It’s hardly a bold prediction to say he’ll end up with more than one Celtic Cross on the sideboard. CL
Disappointing World Cup for Irish Women
Unfortunately, the Republic of Ireland’s campaign at the Women’s World Cup was all too brief, coming to an end with a 0-0 draw against Nigeria on Monday morning.
The time difference between here and host countries Australia and New Zealand was definitely a factor in the tournament not fully grabbing the national consciousness, but results ultimately dictate how much momentum a bandwagon generates.
Ireland can point to ill-fortune – a penalty conceded against Australia and then an own-goal against Canada – but nobody in the camp will be naïve enough to think that everything can be hung on the hook of bad luck.
At the top level, excuses like that can’t and don’t wash, and the key thing will be for the players and management to have learned from the experience.
The 2023 World Cup will go down as Ireland’s first appearance – nobody wants it to be the only one.
In that light, it’s interesting to read and hear that manager Vera Pauw may not be given an extension to the contract that is just about to expire.
The Dutch boss’s style is not to everyone’s tastes – stories from her time with American side Houston Dash point to a mode that can euphemistically be described as ‘demanding’ – but she has had a huge effect on Ireland’s fortunes.
If the FAI do want to jettison her, one would hope that they have an alternative plan in place. They would do well to take a look at how the IRFU failed to build on the success of the Ireland women’s rugby team. The good times can be quite transient unless the future is looked after.
Waterford’s first camogie final in 78 years
Sunday will be a memorable day for Waterford camogie as the county takes part in the All-Ireland senior final for the first time since 1945.
Given how it will be such a new experience for everyone involved with the Déise, there is a danger of getting wrapped up in the occasion, but they have shown character to get this far and will surely do so again.
It may be a help to Waterford that they are up against a Cork side looking to win the title for 2018 – not since 1991 have the Rebels gone five years without claiming the O’Duffy Cup and that brings its own pressures, especially as they have lost the last two deciders.
The hurt from those losses may be the fuel for a Cork victory, though.
Best of luck to both counties to Derry and Meath, who clash in the intermediate decider, and premier junior finalists Clare and Tipperary.
First off, apologies to our Kerry readers – and one in particular, she knows who she is – for tipping Dublin last week.
It was a gut feeling that the Dubs would prevail narrowly and so it proved. Incidentally, beforehand, the bookmakers were offering odds of 4/5 on either side winning by between one and four points. Apart from the possibility of a draw, it was a great bet.
That Dublin won by two was fitting in a way, as that was the tally scored by 41-year-old goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton, kicking a free and a 45. There is often a sense in sport that a player or manager seeking to reignite past glories is wasting their time, but Cluxton’s return to the Dublin fold was proven to be a masterstroke by manager Dessie Farrell.
That Cluxton now has nine All-Ireland medals is made all the more remarkable by the fact that he didn’t win any in his first ten years playing for the county, when the Dubs were regarded as being a side that always punched below their weight when the pressure came on.
Nine All-Irelands in the dozen championships since 2011 have completely redefined the GAA landscape. While the wins for Tyrone and Kerry in the past two seasons might have suggested that Dublin’s era had ended, the ability to come back and reclaim the Sam Maguire this year was as impressive as any victory during the six-in-a-row from 2015-20 inclusive.
Dublin are obviously helped by their near-untouchable position in Leinster, but the change in championship format for this year meant that wasn’t as much of an issue, and they still made it to the final without much in the way of fuss.
Quite why the other Leinster sides have fallen back in general is something worthy of wider examination and it’s not something for which all of the blame can be laid at Dublin’s door.
You have to go to Kildare in 2010 for the last All-Ireland semi-final appearance by a Leinster county other than Dublin, which is an incredible statistic.
Number ten?
The question now will be if Cluxton (41), Michael Fitzsimons (34) and James McCarthy (33) will be content to leave the stage with a record-breaking tally of nine All-Irelands to their names or if the carrot of a tenth will convince them to have another go. Dean Rock, brought on near the end to win his eighth, is also 33.
What has been impressive about Dublin during their belle epoque is how they were able to overcome the losses of players once considered essential and irreplaceable.
Cluxton has so far proven to be the exception there and, while the signs may suggest otherwise, he cannot go on forever.
It’s an acknowledgement of Kerry’s younger age profile that they are considered joint-favourites with Dublin for next year’s All-Ireland – and, after all, it wouldn’t have taken a lot to go differently for them to be going for a three-in-a-row. That David Clifford scored three points, two from play, but will be frustrated with his day, is indicative of the potential he has and the demands he places on himself.
It’s hardly a bold prediction to say he’ll end up with more than one Celtic Cross on the sideboard. CL
Disappointing World Cup for Irish Women
Unfortunately, the Republic of Ireland’s campaign at the Women’s World Cup was all too brief, coming to an end with a 0-0 draw against Nigeria on Monday morning.
The time difference between here and host countries Australia and New Zealand was definitely a factor in the tournament not fully grabbing the national consciousness, but results ultimately dictate how much momentum a bandwagon generates.
Ireland can point to ill-fortune – a penalty conceded against Australia and then an own-goal against Canada – but nobody in the camp will be naïve enough to think that everything can be hung on the hook of bad luck.
At the top level, excuses like that can’t and don’t wash, and the key thing will be for the players and management to have learned from the experience.
The 2023 World Cup will go down as Ireland’s first appearance – nobody wants it to be the only one.
In that light, it’s interesting to read and hear that manager Vera Pauw may not be given an extension to the contract that is just about to expire.
The Dutch boss’s style is not to everyone’s tastes – stories from her time with American side Houston Dash point to a mode that can euphemistically be described as ‘demanding’ – but she has had a huge effect on Ireland’s fortunes.
If the FAI do want to jettison her, one would hope that they have an alternative plan in place. They would do well to take a look at how the IRFU failed to build on the success of the Ireland women’s rugby team. The good times can be quite transient unless the future is looked after.
Waterford’s first camogie final in 78 years
Sunday will be a memorable day for Waterford camogie as the county takes part in the All-Ireland senior final for the first time since 1945.
Given how it will be such a new experience for everyone involved with the Déise, there is a danger of getting wrapped up in the occasion, but they have shown character to get this far and will surely do so again.
It may be a help to Waterford that they are up against a Cork side looking to win the title for 2018 – not since 1991 have the Rebels gone five years without claiming the O’Duffy Cup and that brings its own pressures, especially as they have lost the last two deciders.
The hurt from those losses may be the fuel for a Cork victory, though.
Best of luck to both counties to Derry and Meath, who clash in the intermediate decider, and premier junior finalists Clare and Tipperary.
SHARING OPTIONS