Month: November 2025

Gary Speed 14 years

Cian McGibneyLife

14 years ago, Gary Speed passed away. I have been thinking of him over the past 24 hours. When you see all these sports stars that we all think have it all, money, fame etc. But as has been proven many times, they suffer like the rest of us and have the same problems as the ordinary punter.

It was heart breaking to watch the footage from Match Of the Day and see him in studio in the hours before he passed away. It is another reminder of how frail the human mind can be. Someone might look like they have it all but the reality might be very different.

Amazing when you speak of it, how you hear so often “I never he or she felt like that”. I can only go from my own experience to help and explain the feelings.

 As Christmas is around the corner, you can be sure while many people enjoy the time of year ahead. More people dread it with real dread not just something that people might think be in someone’s head.

I will openly tell anyone, I am not a big fan of Christmas and while that is slowly changing, the memories and reasons for not being a major Christmas fan are very much still there.

The amount of times you see the word “lonely” attached to this time of year will always set me thinking. You will of course have those who can’t stand the time of year and more like myself who just want a quiet Christmas with no interference but many will relish the time of year a revel in it.

My reason, for using Gary Speed at the start of this is to highlight again, that even the supposed strongest in society can struggle at any time. I remember the news of his death very clearly and the shock I felt at the time.

I am reminded every time I see news of certain deaths, of my own experience and while I have learned to live with my choices and the consequences of what may have happened if I had gone through with any of my attempts.

I will never take for granted the fact I did not go through with it and will do my best even in a small way to help those who may not feel they can’t talk openly about things that may be affecting them. 

In 2025, I am in the strongest place I have ever been and while I know that is not the case for many people, always remember when and if you are ready, the support will be there for you.

Of course not everyone will want to accept that help and that is their choice. That side needs to be spoken about too. My own experience is that you just don’t want to speak to people openly about any issues or troubles. My attitude was “I’ll sort it myself”.

With Christmas on the horizon, enjoy it and what might be ahead for you and yours. Just be mindful of people in certain circumstances if you can.

I’ll do as I always have and enjoy a quiet peaceful one here in my home, Christmas number 3 out on my own….. Enjoy the time of year ahead and just remember to think before you speak…..

My thoughts are with the Speed family as well as any other family that have been affected at this time of the year in particular….

Nations Cup 2026

Cian McGibneyRugby

The Nations Cup has been confirmed and will begin in July of next year. It looks lovely wrapped up in a shiny bow and introduced with lovely work on social media. Unfortunately, it is another weak attempt at supposedly “growing the game” whatever the hell that truly means.

It is like a warmed up breakfast that no can quite stomach, it’s basically the same thing with a trophy at the end of it on finals weekend in London in November 2026. Fiji and Japan have managed to scrape in to be part of this so called party.

I have to say I am sick to death of Rugby Union trying and failing miserably at trying to grow the game. Let’s shake it up properly and introduce true jeopardy. Dispense with the traditional elements of the 6 Nations for a trial period of 3 years and bring in promotion and relegation. Give teams like Portugal, Georgia and others a real genuine incentive to improve. Do the same in the Rugby Championship.

This of course would have many people choking and gasping for breath. But It is high time that tradition was done away with and the status quo was put away and real change was seen in a sport that looks inwards for change all the time.

You always hear of tradition and respect within the game but it never happens. We are also in dire need of meaningful games for a large number of teams to “grow the game”, how about instead of the Nations Cup.

Give the so called weaker sides the yearly chance to play the likes of an New Zealand XV who have begun to tour regularly, an Ireland A team could face Portugal over a number of weeks. Let Georgia play a French A side and then travel on to play England A, Wales A etc.

If they want the big boys to meet as regularly as they seem to want them to, then do something to help the rest and don’t just pull the ladder up.

It was good enough in the early years of the professional game for “A” fixtures to have a place in the calendar. So much so that in 5/6 Nations had a “A” Championship that ran alongside the main Championship.

The under 20s has taken that role, but the whole idea can’t be just forgotten about. It has some merit and if applied correctly could easily be used to bring on these so called tier 2 teams.

Rugby is very small in comparison to other sports and should be doing all it can to help itself and not trying to destroy the small steps forward it takes on occasion. It really is time that World Rugby started to look at itself more clearly and using the international windows to better affect that they have been.

The Nations Cup is as an idea that could easily be used to better affect that just a rebrand in fancy wrapping. Globally rugby is in the small leagues and will stay that way but the governing body can do better in terms of marketing there product.

Rugby is apparently a game for all shapes and sizes so why oh why is the latest new-fangled idea just a warmed up poor attempt at a World Cup in disguise.

We hear about player welfare with great regularity but yet again this will be forgotten about as the season will be extended into almost another 12 month season. It’s all about alignment apparently to try and bring both seasons in line with each other but I can’t see that happening in the short term anyway.  

Let’s see how it unfolds in a year’s time before I condemn it any further….

My XV To Face South Africa

Cian McGibneyRugby

Here I will select my 23 to face South Africa in the last international game of 2025. South Africa will come here as the reigning Rugby Championship winners as well as double World Champions from 2019 and 2023.

Here is the XV I would pick to face them on Saturday evening in Dublin,

15 Mack Hansen

14 Tommy O Brien

13 Garry Ringrose

12 Tom Farrell

11 James Lowe

10 Jack Crowley

9 Jamison Gibson Park

8 Jack Conan

7 Caelan Doris

6 Tadgh Beirne

5 James Ryan

4 Iain Henderson

3 Tadgh Furlong

2 Dan Sheehan

1 Andrew Porter

–

16 Ronan Kelleher

17 Jack Boyle

18 Thomas Clarkson

19 Ryan Baird

20 Nick Timoney

21 Craig Casey

22 Ciaran Frawley

23 Robbie Henshaw

Here is my attempt at picking a 23 to play South Africa. I realise it won’t happen but on the evidence of the past few weeks, I feel this is the 23 best placed to take them on. Knowing the way squads have been picked in recent times, nobody will come in from the cold to play in the final fixture.

 My reason for picking Frawley is his tackling ability. Sam Prendergast is still a work in progress on this front. Ireland are fortunate to have a number of 10s of varying quality that have all had a taste of international rugby over the last couple of years.

This out half debate will rage on but let’s try and pick on form and for the here and now and not for 2027…. As I say this 23 was picked having seen all 10s in particular over the course of the opening weeks of the club season.

ROI Play Off Secured

Cian McGibneySoccer

Troy Parrott will be the hero of the hour, two goals on Thursday vs Portugal and then his hat trick this afternoon in the Puskas Arena vs Hungary in a dramatic late 3-2 win.

It’s been a dream few days for Troy and the whole Ireland squad. If you had told anyone after the opening fixtures in this group that Ireland would seal a play-off spot in as dramatic fashion as that no one and I mean no one would believe you. Going 1-0 down so early had people probably thinking here we go again but this time is was different.

This 3-2 result was built on a never say die attitude that will stand them well going into the play-off round next March.

They will feel they can take anyone on in that round in March of next year. Heimer Halgrimsson has a track record of getting teams to major Championships and is on the verge of doing it again. Results and the performances that went before will be forgotten on what has been such a special week for Irish sport let alone Irish football.

The results of the Under 17s in Qatar along with the big results in Dublin and now in Budapest will have Irish football supporters in dream land. This group never gave up internally when all seemed lost after the results over the opening 3 games of the group. But they found a way which is quickly becoming a by word for success in Irish sport in recent months.

The past few days, have to now become the norm and the standard for future games for this group no more so than in the aforementioned play off next March.

I so often say, no matter the team or sport. No one will ever give out if you put in a shift and exhaust yourself and by god this group did that today.

Caiomhin Kelleher came up with some big saves when called upon and at the other end Troy Parrott found his mojo to convert a penalty as well as two other goals including his late late show to nick a winner in the 5th minute of injury time.

 As Halgrimsson mentioned pre match he would love nothing more than Ireland to score late on and Hungary not to have the opportunity to equalise, how prophetic that turned out to be given the late drama…

The result today is a special moment for a certain generation of Irish supporters who have heard stories of Houghton’s goals at Euro 88 as well as USA 94, not to mention Robbie Brady’s winner in 2016 vs Italy as Wes Houlihan’s goal against Sweden in France in the same campaign.

I have a funny feeling no matter who the opposition will be in March, one or two Credit Union’s will be getting polite early enquires about a possible trip Stateside next summer.

The lift this will give the country will no doubt be massive. Amazing how sport will always bring people together. Given all that has been happening globally and nationally over the past few years, a few hours of sport will have the desired effect. I can only imagine the reactions across pubs and homes up and down the country when Troy Parrott’s late effort hit the net.

This author was running over and back in his kitchen/living area and can only apologise to anyone that may have heard me roar when the ball nestled in the net…. These moments are few and far between and the Irish football team has had a few tough years with so many nearly moments and a few false dawns but men like Stephen Kenny can’t be forgotten either because he started the work to bring a lot of this playing group through.

A mention also for Seamus Coleman who isn’t playing with Everton at the moment being kept in reserve with Irish team mate Jake O Bren in his place. His part in this week cannot be under played either.

He was on the on field general on Thursday evening as well as for 70 minutes today. All 11 stood up and were counted this afternoon in Budapest and never gave up and drove on until the 95th minute and got there reward with Parrott’s late goal to seal his hat trick.

This result was full of passion, spirit, determination, resistance and a unflinching will to win, it’s a pity you can’t bottle that feeling and take sip of it every time things start to get tough. Roll on the play-off round next March and as the saying goes, “you might actually never beat the Irish”

Well done to the Irish squad and Heimer Halgrimsson and his back room staff who probably never gave up that this would happen even if the rest of us might have doubts although this author did say to someone locally after Armenia in Yerevan that “all we need to do now is beat Portugal at home and then go and do the same in Budapest” did I honestly think they would, probably not but I am happy to be wrong……

Soak it in and enjoy the evening and bring on the play off in March…..

ROI’s Dream Alive

Cian McGibneySoccer

Amazing to see what one result can do pick up the mood of a nation, the Republic Of Ireland’s 2-0 win over Portugal in the second last World Cup qualifier for the 2026 World Cup has given them a fighting chance of getting to at the very least a play off in March 2026 if they can go to Budapest on Sunday afternoon and get a win that will see us seal a play-off spot and if Armenia could defeat Portugal on home soil then maybe they could seal automatic qualification.

The good old days that so many speak of between 1988 and 1994 came back last night. It was a performance full of discipline, passion, aggression and a lot more besides.

Troy Parrott who is playing his club football in Holland had scored 13 goals so far this season, Erling Haaland has scored 14 times for Man City in the Premier League. So that tells you that Parrott is in form. Evan Ferguson was ruled out through injury and that saw Parrott lead the line and score two goals to put the Republic 2-0 up at the break.

This performance also saw Josh Cullen have his best outing in a green shirt, having spent time with Anderlecht in Belgium under Vincent Kompany, he is now playing with Burnley in the Premier League.  

The one aspect of last night is that Ireland didn’t get over run in midfield for the first time in a long time and also had an out ball where both Parrott and Ogbene gave out full backs and midfield 3 options to release the pressure.

They had a few other chances to score with Ogbene hitting the post. The Portugese played a very high line and Ireland could have found the net a few more times. Cristiano Ronaldo is a wonderful player but last night before he was sent off on the hour mark, he actually hampered their ability to create clear chances. Gonzalo Ramos should have started up front but that is for another day….

The Irish back line stuck to its task with Seamus Coleman leading the line with Jake O Brien, Nathan Collins and Liam Scales. Caoimhin Kelleher produced a big save late on to keep the score line at 2-0, he had a quite night by his standards but there is no harm in that.

The atmosphere last night in Dublin 4 was electric and it has been pointed out that last night was a coming of age moment for the team but also for the supporters as a generation of supporters have yet to experience Ireland at a major tournament.

Last night gave them and the players a look at what can be achieved if we can go to Budapest and beat Hungary who like ourselves are looking to make major finals.  The stage is set for a huge game at 2pm on Sunday afternoon.

Euro 88, Italia 90, USA 94, Euro 2012, Euro 2016 and now the opportunity is there for them to go and see can they seal at least a play off spot to see can they make it to the 2026 World Cup….. It will take a performance similar to last night to get past the Hungarians on home soil but the confidence gained from the 90 + minutes last night will only help…..

My XV Vs Australia

Cian McGibneyRugby

My Team to face Australia :

Here is my attempt at picking the 23 to play Australia on Saturday night at 8pm in the Aviva Stadium.

15 Mack Hansen

14 Tommy O Brien

13 Tom Farrell

12 Stuart Mc Closkey

11 James Lowe

10 Jack Crowley

9 Jamison Gibson Park

8 Jack Conan

7 Nick Timoney

6 Caelan Doris

5 Ryan Baird

4 Tadgh Beirne

3 Tadgh Furlong

2 Dan Sheehan

1 Andrew Porter

–

16 Gus Mc Carthy

17 Jack Boyle

18 Thomas Clarkson

19 Cian Prendergast

20 Iain Henderson

21 Craig Casey

22 Sam Predergast

23 Jacob Stockdale

Here is the 23 I would select to face Australia. I used only the players selected in the original squad selected by Andy Farrell….

Personal Piece 2025

Cian McGibneyLife

I put another video together last week and it amazes me that any personal piece I write or record resonates more than any sports piece I have written or recorded over the duration of my website. I try my best to write from the heart and use my own personal experience to help people.

You do sit down to write and often think, will people read this and am I only kidding myself but then you get the private word from a few people and that tells me that what I write is having some impact. If it only assists one person then that will be enough for me.

I will only draw on my own experience as I know that in detail and won’t ever speak of anyone else. People might well look and say “oh christ Cian is off on another solo run” but that is farthest from the reality. I know people suffer on a daily basis and most suffer in silence with nowhere to turn or no avenue to try and speak up.

As I said in that video last week without making it a life mission, I will my best to keep highlighting this until it becomes normal to speak of it as it is to chat about sport, news or something else.

If you have never suffered with your emotions or as I said in the video been at the point of no return then I am glad that has never happened because it is one lonely place to be.

The moment you feel you’re doing your final moments has a weird calming effect. Having been there on more than one occasion I can defiantly say it does have a strange calming effect. It is not a weakness to ask for help. I didn’t ask for any help until I was 24 and that didn’t help me but once I accepted help all those issues while they didn’t fully heal began to get smaller than the large issues I felt they were in my own head.

Those battles were never personal, not once were those battles caused by other people. They were always battles with my own mind and that feeling of helplessness and worthlessness. Feeling low and not being worthy of a place on this planet. It is a very lonely spot to be in and even though I did everything not to allow those feelings take me over, they almost did on more than one occasion.

I found my reason to fight on thanks to those well publicised interventions that I spoke of. I owe those people my life and I thank them all silently on a daily basis. Two of those 3 people are no longer here but they keep me on the straight and narrow by just thinking of them.

You do think, by ending your life you’ll instantly solve your own issues and won’t leave any mess behind but by going through with your threats you will only leave an even bigger mess behind you.

As I was told a few times my death would have caused more issues than it would have solved. So to anyone that is having any issues, find a person you trust and try and have that first conversation, It will be worth it I promise you.

I will always speak openly and honestly about my past but will always keep certain things private for the sake of peace of mind. In the past 2 years, I have kicked on with life, writing, recording and I also lost a small bit of weight around the waistline so things are on the up and I will continue on that upward curve.

Life has thought me at this stage there is no challenge I can’t overcome and trust me when I was at my lowest point I never thought I would ever say such a thing or make a statement that included the words, “ I am good enough to be here and worthy of my place”

Always remember, you are good enough no matter who you are and to put simply if a little bit crudely to those who might want to get you down or put you down, “fuck them”…

I‘ll end it there before I get myself into trouble…..

Ireland vs Japan 2025

Cian McGibneyRugby

Ireland won’t have much time to look back on the defeat in Chicago on Saturday evening as they will have arrived back to Dublin yesterday and will soon begin preparations for the visit of Japan this weekend with a game in the Aviva Stadium kicking off at 12.40pm.

Several players who didn’t see action alongside some players who came on as subs will be used in the game on Saturday.

Andy Farrell has so much to ponder given the manner of the display in particular the 2nd half where Ireland wilted in the final 20 minutes very reminiscent of the old days of the amateur era that also happened in the early years of the professional game.  The set piece is a major concern having been a vital cog in the Andy Farrell game plan over the first few years of his time in charge.

As well as fresh blood, the attack needs fresh impetus and that will be down to Andrew Goodman who has had the Irish attack under his tutelage for almost a year and we really need to see a move away from the attack that served Ireland well and some real innovation and not just a rehash of old moves.

Ireland have been found out a few times over the past year and even though the Championship was won in 2024, Ireland were badly exposed by France in early 2025 and now New Zealand at the set piece. There certainly will be renewed focus on the selection policy of Farrell. He has gone back to the tried and trusted many times and did so again for New Zealand bar the selection of Jack Crowley at 10.

Injury has robbed him of a few players but for the most part Irish teams have been picked on past form and this has cost them. Ireland were badly exposed on Saturday and you can be sure there other opponents this November will have noted that fact and will try and expose them in similar fashion in particular South Africa and Australia and to a lesser extent Japan given results over the last year.

Farrell and his coaches in particular Paul O Connell have plenty of food for thought and O Connell will have to work hard with the main squad as well as the players from the Ireland XV squad who will face Spain in a game on Saturday evening after the main squad have faced Japan early in the day.

The next few weeks are big for Ireland and for Andy Farrell’s ability as a coach, the pressure is on now after the loss in Chicago.

Andy Farrell will be the man to lead Ireland to Australia in 2027 but his selections will be under the microscope as well as the work of his other coaches because Ireland suffered in a number of aspects of the game this past weekend but in truth France and Georgia for 40 minutes last summer although with different personal put the Ireland set piece under real pressure and that continued on Saturday.

Farrell has plenty of credit in the bank but people will want to see change in attack and a functioning line out as well as getting back to basics at scrum time.

While the next 3 weeks will have an impact on the Pool Ireland find themselves in at the World Cup in 2027 as the draw takes place yet again 2 years out from the competition, other madness in itself but that is for another day.

Here is the 23 I would select to play Japan on Saturday :

15 Jamie Osbourne

14 Tommy O Brien

13 Tom Farrell

12 Stuart Mc Closkey

11 Jimmy O Brien

10 Jack Crowley

9 Craig Casey

8 Caelan Doris

7 Nick Timoney

6 Cian Predergast

5 Ryan Baird

4 Thomas Ahern

3 Thomas Clarkson

2 Gus Mc Carthy

1 Jack Boyle

–

16 Ronan Kelleher

17 Paddy Mc Carthy

18 Andrew Porter

19 Iain Henderson

20 Jack Conan

21 Caolin Blade

22 Ciaran Frawley

23 Jacob Stockdale