Another Olympics, another whine

DUE to circumstances somewhat beyond my control — events, dear boy — I’ve seen very little of the Olympics. I’ve read enough and heard enough on radio, however, to know that the usual whine has started about Irish sporting underachievement.

What underachievement? Did Munster not win the Heineken Cup? Apart altogether from Pádraig Harrington’s brilliance in winning two majors this year, have we not had a succession of Irish wins at both individual and team level in golf?

Do we not have a decent quota of professional boxers keeping us interested? Most of all, however, are we not coming to the climax of yet another big GAA season? The cry is up there again, more money for our Olympic programme please, so we can win a few medals. Well, do I want to see Pat Hickey and his cohorts getting more money?