Columnists
Real leadership needed now more than ever
As the evenings grow longer and waistlines shrink, panels across the country are champing at the bit, all believing this could be their year.
Expect another Master class
I HEAD to Aintree this afternoon for four rides, but three of them pale into insignificance, with all due respects to the horses involved, compared to teaming up with Master Minded in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase.
Positive signs for Sheedy’s Tipp
WHAT an outstanding advert for the National Hurling League this was.
Kilkenny won all the key battles
Eddie O’Sullivan, the former Irish rugby coach and now US Eagles coach, was fond of the phrase ‘ducks in a row’. Kilkenny had their ducks in a row as they ‘loaded up’ before this final.
GPA raise the stakes in major gamble
WHEN I wrote on Tuesday that the GPA were opening a can of worms and that there would be many anxious eyes strained to see what emerges,I had a feeling that the story was going to grow and grow.
No hiding place now
ONE of the first intimations I got of this being a landmark year for Down football was a brief chat I had in Dingle in February with Maurice Hayes, former Down GAA secretary and man of vision when Down made their breakthrough in the 60’s.
Joyce’s return welcome, but he won’t be ‘main man’
The last time I spoke to Padraic Joyce was before Christmas when there was a ten year reunion of the 2001All-Ireland winning team in Galway city.
Treaty again left to rue poor finishing
1. Limerick’s inability to turn dominance and chances into scores
Oh moment, please linger a while
HE didn’t notice himself breaking into a fast, ungainly walk towards Daniel Goulding. Along the sideline with the Hogan Stand suppressing, suffocating. Simple message. Kick it dead and this will be all over. He thought the message was simple. No ambivalence. Kick the ball dead.
Full time for political football?
WHEN the Labour Party subsumed Democratic Left into its numbers a couple of years ago, the photo opportunity of the day showed Labour boss Ruairi Quinn hugging Proinsias De Rossa in a gesture which could be interpreted as saying: welcome home, kid.
Job done as Ireland formidable
GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI had said before the game an away goal would be 50% of the task in Tallinn.
Gunners may scent blood in Milan
Nil-nil is a scoreline that can tell you a lot or a little.
Bahrain storms home in Hurdle
A massive gamble on Deutschland, in the Arthur Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit yesterday, went astray when he proved no match for the Pat Flynn-trained 20-1 shot Bahrain Storm.
Lennon moves down the road to Waterford
There will be new faces in the racing offices at both Youghal and Waterford after yesterday’s confirmation that current Youghal boss Kathleen Lennon is moving down the road to assume the position of Racing Manager at Waterford.
It’s ok, you’re allowed to like other sports
THERE’S a well-known, probably apocryphal story, about one of the first All-Ireland finals played after the wireless became a feature of life in rural Ireland.
