Month: December 2024

Ferry Rangers Charity Game 2024

Cian McGibneySoccer

All roads will again lead to Ferry Park on New Year’s Eve with a 2pm kick off time where the current Ferry Rangers side will take on a mixture of recently retired and long-time retired veterans who played for Ferry Rangers from its creation back in 1995.

Here is hoping the weather plays ball this year as the 2023 edition had to be postponed due to poor weather. A bit like last year the current Ferry Rangers squad are looking for a win in this now almost annual fixture over the old stagers who have held the advantage over the past few years.

The training will be rigorous over the next week to 10 days with several players dusting off the boots to see can some of them produce the magic of old or in some cases magic for the first time !!! It will be good to see who the old stagers in particular will field in the side and who will need to be coaxed to bring the boots on the off chance of game and a shot at past glory.

The charity of choice has yet to be announced so all eyes will be on the Ferry Rangers social media channels to see who this year’s beneficiaries will be. Of course the Ferry Rangers Christmas party will take place on the 27th of December in the Swanky Bar before the fun and games planned for New Years Eve.

You can be sure reluctant hopefuls will be cajoled into lacing up the boots if things are tight with the respective numbers for either squad, although the hard stuff from the top shelf may be needed to convince certain people…

Rumour has it the veterans have been training away secretly over recent weeks in a bid to keep the trophy and bragging rights for another 12 months. I can’t be sure where training has happened on the stool or somewhere top secret.

This author would like to commend Ferry Rangers and the group of people organising this event over the last few years for seeing the opportunity to bring the community together for an hour of fun and games…. See you in Ferry Park on the 31st if you can make it, I promise it will be worth the trip….  

Christmas Time

Cian McGibneyLife

The time of year is almost upon us again, where families will meet up in many cases for the first time in 12 months and will look to enjoy the time of year in the company of loved ones. For many it will be a first Christmas/ New Year period without a loved one.

That of course this will be tough on people but take it from someone who has owned that t shirt for few years now, it will get that bit easier as the days move on and families are reunited for the time of year.

This time of year is also tough on people for varied reasons and you may just need to take it slow with people as this time of year more than other times will bring up old memories, some good and some not so good so maybe in certain cases think before you open your mouth in certain company.

For the most part this time of year is about reconnecting with old friends and family. I myself would not be a big fan of this time of year in recent years but slowly over the past few years things and my own feelings are beginning to change, maybe that is down to my age or just simply the passage of time where memories begin to fade to be replaced by new memories.

I know from speaking to people over the years that most people do have different feelings at this point of the year and will approach the time of year with renewed vigour and hope.

I will be here in my humble abode for the big day and that suits me and works for me. I know too when I say this, I get the usual looks of horror and that is followed by “you can’t be alone on that day”. For me peace and quiet suits me. It doesn’t work that way for the majority but do what works and suits you.

It will be great to see those people who will travel long distances to be with family for the festive period. Tarbert like many places will come to life for that few weeks when at other points through the year it would normally be quiet. The local watering holes will be filled with stories and in some cases song.

To everyone and anyone, I sincerely hope the time of year is kind to you and yours. For those who lost someone throughout 2024, my sincere sympathies and try to enjoy the upcoming period. To those who welcomed children and grandchildren in 2024, my congratulations and enjoy the festive period and all that will entail.

From this writer, thanks to everyone for the continued support throughout 2024, I owe so many so much. I am eternally grateful for all that is done for me if I need anything. I won’t embarrass anyone by naming anyone here but they know who they are….. Enjoy the next few weeks and don’t go too mad !!!

Champions Cup 2024/2025

Cian McGibneyRugby

This evening the quest to see who will win the 24/25 Champions Cup begins as Bath welcome La Rochelle to The Rec in Bath with an 8pm kick off. Ireland’s 3 sides in the Champions Cup won’t start out until tomorrow at 5.30pm with Munster taking on Stade Francais.

Ulster and Leinster are away in round 1 with both sides playing on Sunday, Ulster go to Toulouse and Leinster play Bristol. Connacht are in Challenge Cup action facing Zebre in Galway. I have seen it written that yet again it’s been a low key build up to European action and most people may not realise that  European rugby’s flagship club competitions are about to start.

The stake holders have downgraded a once great tournament to a near foot note, the competition has been revised and restructured on more than one occasion and has lost two rounds in the Pool phase with a last 16 round in its place.

A once great tournament, is most defiantly a shadow of its former self. I know players will scoff at the very thought of this particular opinion but all of rugby has changed beyond recognition over the past 15 years in particular. Yes there are varied reasons for this and I won’t bog people down with the ins and outs as I will be here all day if I do so.

Sufficient to say, it is not the same as when I was kid into my mid-twenties. The powers that be have made sure of that and of course money and TV will always dictate things and to that end, Premier Sport will have full coverage of this year’s fare.

This company has been under various names over the years and have brought some new blood into the fold for the new campaign with the likes of Matt Banahan ex England winger one of the new names we will see over the next few months.

Let’s hope the product on field is what we are speaking of at the end of the opening weekend and not the product off field of coverage issues etc.

For Ireland’s Champions Cup participants namely Leinster, Ulster and Munster it will be important for them to start with wins on week 1, Munster drew on the opening weekend last year and will feel they will need to do much better this time around.

Ulster play defending champions Toulouse who are fully armed and raring to go in front of their home crowd. Leinster face Bristol in what could be the tie of round 1 given the recent form of both sides.

Connacht will want to kick start there Challenge Cup campaign with a win over Zebre and that could set them up for a real crack at the title this year.

The 30th season of European rugby is about to kick start so sit back and enjoy it….