The Olympics – The Agony and Ecstasy

Today has been a strange day at the Olympics for Ireland, Michael Conlon saw his dreams of Olympic Gold go up in smoke after a unanimous points win for Russian Boxer Vladimir Nikitin. This decision has been with a barrage of criticism from those inside the Boxing world and also a number of people not involved in the boxing game.

The three judges from Brazil, Poland and Sri Lanka awarded the first round in favour of the Russian then awarded the second round to Conlon before awarding the third round in favour of the Russian. This particular call has caused widespread consternation with many people calling into question the officiating at these Games with a number of bouts being decided by split decision.

In the immediate aftermath of the decision, Michael Conlon was interviewed and you could see he was in total shock and really angry with the decision saying “That’s it he was done with amateur boxing “and that “Amateur Boxing is rotten from the top to the core.” Strong words but this guy has worked his backside off for the past 10 years to win Olympic Gold, he won Bronze 4 years ago in London and stated then he would be back in Rio to win Gold….

Unfortunately for Michael Conlon, he didn’t get the decision in his favour even though he and most of the crowd felt he won the bout. The three judges didn’t see it the same way. This particular talking point along with another questionable decision from a heavyweight bout last night, that involved another Russian boxer where he was awarded victory although many people have again questioned the scoring of the bout.

The defeat , controversial as it was will not take away from the fact that Ireland travelled to Rio with 8 Boxers with at least 6 in with chances of medals alas none of boxers will return from Rio with a medal. This notwithstanding should not take away from the pleasure and great joy that each of these boxers have given us in the last 8 years or so. Conlon has stated it’s the Professional ranks for him with or without another Olympic medal. He will do great things as a Pro and I have no doubt he be a World Champ in 3 years.

Moving to the Laser Radial Medal race where Annalise Murphy was hoping to right the wrongs of four years ago where  she finished 4^th in the Medal race after leading the competition from the start. She finished 5^th in today’s race thus securing a first Olympic sailing medal for Ireland since 1980. David Wilkins and James Wilkinson won Silver in the Flying Dutchman Class in Moscow

Annalise Murphy realised a childhood dream today by winning an Olympic medal , Her Mam competed in Seoul in 1988 so today’s achievement will be all the sweeter in the Murphy household.

These two moments show how fickle sport can be, one moment your down and out then you’re on top of the world again. Huge commiserations to Michael Conlon, I have no doubt you’ll win a World title inside the next three years. To Annalise Murphy, well done on realising a childhood dream and delivering Ireland’s second medal of the 2016 Rio Olympics.

By

Cian McGibney

16/08/2016

Rugby – The Season Ahead

The rugby season is about to kick start of the four provinces in the next two weeks with teams in the middle of pre-season training and heading away to play matches against teams from the Pro 12 and Premiership. Connacht are in France for a short camp and will play Montpellier in a game that will see most of the squad get a run out and then they will come back to Galway to complete their preparations for their defence of The Pro 12 they won back in May.

Connacht have added some quality to their squad brining in guys like Cian Kelleher and Lewis Stevenson  alongside Moritz Boshoff  from South Africa. Connacht will now have a different challenge this season as they are the team that are going to be chased down by all other sides in the Pro 12.

Looking to what they can do this year, they will want to try and kick on in Europe having conquered the domestic league last season. Pat Lam will know that they way Connacht played last season won’t be as much of a surprise to the opposition this year and they may need to tighten up a little bit and kick the ball more than they did last year.

Connacht will feel they can defend the crown they worked so hard to wrestle away from Glasgow Warriors. In Europe they will fancy their chances  of a least getting to a quarter final in the Champions Cup. My predictions for Connacht is a 3^rd place finish in the Pro 12 and a Quarter Final in Europe.

For Leinster , it’s a season where they really need to kick start things under Leo Cullen and after a few weeks being tutored by Graham Henry he may just have a few new tricks up his sleeve. New signings like Jamison Gibson Park and Robbie Henshaw should help the Leinster backline start firing again.

 Imagine this backline Gibson Park , Sexton , Mc Fadden , Reid , Henshaw , Isa Nacewa and Rob Kearney , That’s a decent backline and with some of the talent in the forwards like Ross Molony , Mick Kearney and Tadgh Furlong I just feel it’s time that Leinster re-established themselves as a top side in the Pro 12 and Europe and this year could be the year they will do just that. My prediction for Leinster is 1^ST place in the Pro 12 and a Semi Final in Europe.

Moving up North , Ulster will know they again flattered to deceive last year in the Pro 12 and in Europe , having spent big to bring in Marcel Coetzee and Charles Piutau  , many will expect them to perform well and be pushing for major honours come the end of the season. If they don’t win anything this year , many will question the recruitment policy with the hunger that may be missing in some of the stars in the squad. Les Kiss has the players and the Stadium can he lead Ulster to a first trophy in 10 years. My Prediction for Ulster is a 4^th place finish in the Pro 12 and a Semi Final in Europe.

Lastly Munster , with Rassie Erasmus now at the helm with Jacques Nienber as his defence coach with Anthony Foley back in the role that suits him best looking after the forwards there is real optimism that with all these changes coupled with some shrewd signings like Darragh O Shea , John Andress and South African Lock Jean Kleyn. In the backs Sam Arnold has been brought in as a centre and he can also play on the wing. He has been signed on a two year deal. Munster will want to climb back to the top table. It may not happen in year 1 of Erasmus’s tenure but the good days may not be too far away for Munster. My prediction for Munster is 3^rd in the Pro 12 and a Quarter Final in Europe.

Here is my run down on only the four Provinces.

 

By

Cian Mc Gibney

10/08/2016

Carl Frampton – World Champion

Carl “the Jackel” Frampton has been crowned a World Boxing Champion winning the same belt his manager and Promoter Barry Mc Guigan won 30 years ago. On a very special evening for Irish boxing “The Jackal” beat Mexican Leo Santa Cruz in a majority decision in The Barclays Centre New York.

30 years on from Barry Mc Guigan’s famous night, his protégé Carl Frampton became a two weight World Champion by defeating Leo Santa Cruz. His win has been meet with very little fanfare even though in the early hours of this morning he was crowned a World Champion, a huge achievement in any sport.

The comparisons with Conor Mc Gregor have immediately been made with people saying is he now the most popular name in fighting circles , both men are hugely popular  in their chosen disciplines , one in MMA and the other in Boxing.

Is Frampton as popular as Steve Collins or in more recent times Bernard Dunne who won his World Crown back in 2009 on the same day as Ireland won the Grand Slam in Cardiff. A major difference between Frampton and Dunne is Frampton won his belt by going over to the States and beating Santa Cruz in his back yard.

Shane Mc Guigan has also got to take huge credit for the development of Carl Frampton as he has developed a very good training regime that has helped bring Frampton on another number pf levels that last night saw him crowned WBA Super Featherweight World Champion.

The unfortunate thing is that his win will not be met with the same level of enthusiasm as his manager Barry Mc Guigan’s win was back in 1986 and even Bernard Dunne’s win in 09.  It was a great day for all in the Frampton camp and let’s hope like Mc Guigan he gets the same amount of appreciation when he arrives back to Belfast.

It is so seldom we have World Champions in this country North or South, so let’s be thankful for what is so seldom. Well done Carl on what is a huge achievement, enjoy every minute.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

31/07/2016

 

Olympics 2016

So Olympics 2016 is only days away where 77 athletes from Ireland will compete in a number of different sports with hopes of medals in a few sports given some strong showings at London 2012 and also some really good performances in the years between London and Rio.

People like Annalise Murphy, Rob Heffernan and Natalya Coyle will want to improve on their performances where both Murphy and Heffernan finished just outside the medal places with Murphy leading her Laser Radial class until the final day of racing where she slipped from 1^st to 4^th.

The medal hopes are of course mostly with our boxers which has delivered most of our Olympic medals over the years. I feel that we can win at least 5 medals in Rio where I think athletes like Natalya Coyle and Ciara Mageean can deliver a medal in their respective sports. Rob Heffernan has unfinished business at Olympic level and will want to end his Olympic career on a high so I expect him to be fighting at the business end of 50km road race.

With all the controversy over the participation of Russia at this games over alleged doping offences , the Olympics has crept up unknown to people although most of the World’s best golfers have decided to skip Rio and concentrate on preparing for the Ryder Cup in September. While most of the golfers have sited the threat posed by the Zika virus has a contributing factor to them deciding against heading to Rio.

Another side show heading into these games was the fact that Professional boxers were given the chance to qualify for Rio and a number of our top amateurs were hugely disappointed by the move even though nearly every top Pro stayed away and didn’t attend the qualifying event. It would have made a mockery of the whole ethos of the Olympic Games.

Even though the continued participation of athletes that have been banned for failed drug tests is still a major blight on the second biggest sports event on the Planet after the FIFA World Cup. How a Federation can allow an athlete found guilty of failing a drugs Test the second chance to perform for their country is beyond me.

Another big issue that will hang over this Games as it has done at past Games is the eligibility row that will see a number of athletes compete for their adopted countries, a number of Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes will compete for countries like The Netherlands  and Turkey to name just two countries who will have people born outside the country compete for them in track events like the 5,000 and 10,000 metres and also in the 100 and 200 metres.

This particular row has reared its ugly head in Rugby circles in recent times where a player has to least spend three years living and playing in his chosen country before he can even be considered for the National Team.

This has alas not been the case in a number of countries who have granted citizenship to a number of athletes so they can represent certain counties at this year’s Olympics. It is wrong that you can be given a fast tracked citizenship just to compete, there surely has to be correct procedures put in place before Tokyo 2020. This issue will not be corrected in time for Rio 2016 but it does need urgent attention.

To all of our 77 competing athletes I wish you all the very best and do yourselves , your families and the Nation proud. We are all behind you and who knows we may get a couple of surprise results at Rio 2016. I hope we can at least win 5 medals. To the athletes I have had regular contact with namely Ciara Mageean , Natalya Coyle , Fiona Doyle and Shannon Mc Curley I wish you all the best in Rio……..

So sit back and enjoy the Olympics everybody because it’s going to be one hell of a rollercoaster ride.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

27/07/2016

Hansen To Continue All Black Reign Until 2019

Steve Hansen has signed a new deal to continue as All Black coach until the 2019 World Cup in Japan. He has an incredible record as coach winning 52 of his 57 tests in charge losing only 3 and drawing 2.

He was assistant to Graham Henry who took over as All Black coach in 2004 and served his apprenticeship before being handed the big job and since he has taken over he has overseen a second World Cup win while also introducing a new breed of All Black player.

They are just getting better and better as the years move on and outside of current 6 Nations Champions England I can’t honestly see anybody getting anywhere close to them before 2019 comes around.

Ireland will of course be monitoring this situation very closely given that Joe Schmidt has revealed he will make a decision on his long term future in the next few weeks. The talk of Schmidt joining a Super Rugby side as head coach has also intensified with the Chiefs and the Highlanders being tipped as likely destinations if he decides to leave his role as Ireland Head Coach.

Back to Steve Hansen, he will now have the job of keeping his coaching team together right through to 2019. The next few targets are the Rugby Championship, then the Northern Hemisphere tour in November. The big challenge in 2017 will of course be The Lions tour, 12 years after a Dan Carter inspired All Black team destroyed the Lions in three tests although there were a number of other incidents on that ill-fated tour including the Spear tackle involving Brian O Driscoll , Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu.

In spite of that The Lions were totally outclassed in the three tests that saw them whitewasked. The only Series win in New Zealand came in 1971 when a John Dawes captained side won down in New Zealand.

Steve Hansen has signed up to continue the work he started and he now has two new targets, beat The Lions next year and claim a third straight World Cup in Japan in 3 years’ time. For now he can plan for this year’s Rugby Championship and continue the wonderful legacy he has already achieved….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

25/07/2016

Smart Phones, Are we Slaves to Them??

Smart Phone , be they android or I phone’s or any other type smart phone. We as a nation have become linked to them , if we need to know something , we don’t use our brains anymore , no we just reach straight for the phone to solve all ours troubles.

When was the last time you had a conversation with anybody that didn’t include a phone being at there fingertips. The art of conversing is dying slowly and we need to make sure it doesn’t disappear forever.

Last week , I saw a very interesting  video put together by the Galway Ladies Football team , where there captain Edel Concannon was saying that the younger members of the squad found it very hard to be away from their phones for a sustained period of time. They were also just saying that there is a link between over use of the phone and mental health issues.

To occupy the mind before , you chatted , played cards , read books or in the last 50 years you watched TV. But now if you’re bored you just reach for the phone and look up Facebook , Twitter and other sites to stay in touch with the outside world.

When I saw the video that the Galway ladies put together it immediately set me thinking , how hard would people find it if they couldn’t use their phones for a short period. The Galway girls gave up there Smart Phones for one month and went back to the bog standard phone with just calls and text. They did all of this in the name of Charity.

I am issuing a similar challenge to family , friends and acquaintances , can you do similar or better than the Galway Ladies  and give up the smart phone for a period of two weeks ?? All of us have an old phone at home we can use for the two weeks so we won’t miss out on too much.

Thanks a million to Edel Concannon for taking the time out to talk to me about it and congratulations to all the team for giving up there phones for one month and raising money for charity.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

18/07/2016

 

Euro 2016 Review

So Wales will face Portugal and France will take on Germany in the European Championship Semi Finals later this week. All fours teams that have made it to this stage deserve to be there and can now plan accordingly. Some sides like Wales are in bonus  territory and will be strong favourites to make it past Cristiano Ronaldo and Renato Sanches and their Portuguese team mates.

Gareth Bale has led his side with help from men like Ashley Williams , Aaron Ramsey and the recently released Hal Robson-Kanu , something tells me that lad will be playing Premier League football next season. They alongside Iceland have added value to the knock out phase of these Championships. Let’s face it bar the two squads concerned who had these two teams down to make the last 16 then the quarter finals.

The teams in the Semi Finals are teams that have been very consistent at recent Championships getting to knock out stages regularly. Germany will of course now be unbackable favourites with host nation France.

 Wales and Portugal will of course have plenty to say about that but given the way Germany have performed so far they will know need to up the ante and kick on during the Semi Final even though they could be missing up to four key men for the Semi Final through injury and suspension but that’s why there are large squads brought to the Tournaments.

France will be so glad to be just a game away from the fInal given the fact they have been under all sorts of pressure and with a lack of competitive football in the last two years since the World Cup in Brazil. They have only played friendlies in that time and Deschamp have left out a number of big players out of his 23 in favour of a number of others.

 The players and coach have been under immense pressure and up to last night they had only conceded two goals both from the penalty spot with Robbie Brady being one of those scorers.  I think will all is said and done the two teams that will contest the Final in Paris this Sunday will be Wales and Germany.

France won’t be able to live with German efficiency even without up to 4 key men for the Semi but let’s remember this side won the World Cup two years ago I realise some of that squad have retired but they know how to win tight games and for Wales I feel that even without Ben Davies and Aaron Ramsey they can keep the feel good factor going and reach a first ever major Final.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

04/07/2016

That Sporting Weekend

What a weekend that was, wall to wall sport !! Unfortunately results didn’t go as planned and a weekend that promised so much delivered few memorable moments although the Ireland Women 7s did secure a spot on next year’s World Series they were beaten by Russia in the Cup Semi Final yesterday and with that defeat went there chance to compete in Rio in August. Instead of thinking what might have been , they tore into Kazakhstan and beat them 17-5 to make sure of 3^rd spot. For that they must be commended.

They will be bitterly disappointed with the 19-10 defeat in that Semi Final though and will need to make some improvements if they are to make more strides forward in the next 12 months. The future of 7s in bright and this group can lead the charge.

Looking to France , It was a case of what might have been in the aftermath of the 2-1 defeat to France. Pride and honour has been restored to the green shirt in the last week or so and we can at least take so comfort from that and also players like Hendrick , Brady , Mc Clean , Duffy and Coleman came of age , will Seamus Coleman hold the armband beyond the Euro’s one wonders , I have a sneaking suspicion he may just do that. All we ever ask in this country of our sports hero’s is an honest effort and determination in what they do and the last few weeks has proven that theory right and for that this author is very happy.

I was very much in the camp we would struggle in getting anything from Italy and progress to the last 16 but let me tell you I was more than happy to eat humble pie when they secured a 1-0 win and a passage to take on France yesterday. A terrific start to yesterday’s game with Mr Rizzoli giving a penalty after 2 minutes.

Shane Long going over in the box just as he was about to pull the trigger. As Ireland showed vs Italy when they do hold onto the ball they look like a side will create chances. Daryl Murphy and Shane Long look like a pairing that will create chances when the ball is played to them like Quinn and Keane did for many year’s.

Yesterday I think we got a glimpse of a future Ireland 11 and it looked good a composed. Whether the likes of Hoolahan , Whelan , Keane and O Shea will be around again remains to be seen but over the last two game others answered the call to arms. Roll on qualification for Russia in 2018.

To the Under 20s who faced old enemy England in Manchester on Saturday and were beaten by a far more physical England side. This team wasn’t expected this far after some mixed performances in the Six Nations although they defeated England away from home , they beat both Scotland and Italy in Donnybrook to finish the campaign on a high.

Players like James Ryan , Andrew Porter , Jacob Stockdale , Bill Johnson , Max Deegan and Stephen Kerins have bright futures ahead , plenty to look forward to in the next few years. Full credit to Nigel Carolan who looked after the Connacht academy before taking on the 20s job has done a great job and has a bright coaching future.

The Senior rugby team last there series in South Africa 2-1 and will have a few regrets coming home from the tour along with some with questions surrounding belief given that they pounded the South African line in the final 5 minutes but didn’t manage to break the door down in the 3^rd test. A lack of scoring in the 2^nd half of games has also begun to become an issue. 3 points on Saturday , No score in the second test and only 6points in the 1^st test , that an issue that needs urgent attention alongside the mental side of the game , I feel we still after 3 years under Joe Schmidt we still a mentally fragile at crucial stages of games and this needs to change , that said a test win in South Africa can’t be sneezed at given it took New Zealand over 50 years to win a Test series there until 1996.

Finally, Supporters need to be thanked for all they do to source tickets for games in any code because again in recent times they have been commended for the way they followed Ireland in France.

 Irish fans do likewise in all sports not just football or rugby and that must be remembered as well. We must also remember we aren’t the only ones who follow our teams with passion and never ending belief , other nations do likewise.  It’s great to read about it and see all the footage and it gives all back home and abroad a real lift to see it but never forget we aren’t the only ones and we don’t own the patent on following teams.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

27/06/2016

The weekend ahead

The weekend ahead promises so much with a host of Irish teams in action in various sports, Boxer Michael O Reilly will box for Gold after securing his place at the Rio Games. Ireland’s rugby teams will be out in force this weekend as the Women’s 7s side bid for Olympic qualification as they face 15 other teams in pursuit of the last remaining spot for Rio 2016. The men’s senior side go for a series win in South Africa with the series nicely poised at 1-1 and lastly the Under 20s are in action in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship Final at the AJ Bell Stadium with a 7pm kick off.

In the last 7 day’s two of our national sides went above and beyond in search of glory and delivered victories in style firstly the 20s dispatched a very wound up Argentina side in real style scoring an impressive 37-7 win and then on Wednesday evening the Irish football team did likewise seeing off Italy to secure a place in the last 16 at the Euro’s after dominating possession for most of the 90 minutes it took until the 84^th minute for the deadlock to be broken with Wes Hoolahan delivering the killer pass for Robbie Brady to head past a despairing Italian keeper. Que pandemonium in the commentary box, studio, stands and in one million homes across the island.

This result meant that Ireland booked a place in the last 16 against the hosts France who we have some chequered history with to say the least. We have been told it won’t be brought up by the players , Its history , I very much doubt that… That will be used to motivate the team and fire them up all they can do on Sunday is try and play with the same intensity that we saw last Wednesday and by god they will run France very close.

The Women 7s side for their part have one shot at Olympic qualification in front of a vocal home crowd in UCD tomorrow from 10am. They have participated in the year’s World series finishing 12^th of 14 competing team’s but with a good home support they will still feel they are in with a real shout to win this one….

The 20s for their part have beaten all before them and are one win away from being crowned World Champions and face England in the Final having beaten all before them, they are a game away from joining that famous Under 19 crew who won World Cup honours in 1998 in that side were Brian O Driscoll and Donnacha O Callaghan. Go for it boys immortality awaits you !!

So as people can see it will be a weekend of high drama and for once we won’t be the neutral in the corner of the bar, we will have to play a central role in most of this weekend’s sporting drama so here’s hoping all teams will gain wins and let the party continue because if the last few days has shown Irish people love a party so it’s over to the men and women of our National teams to see what happens. The floors all yours’s guys , shoot for the stars because the country is fully behind you……

By

Cian Mc Gibney

24/06/2016

Ireland Where to Now

So Ireland have it all to do at Euro 2016 after a 3-0 defeat to Belgium. They can still qualify for the last 16 if they beat Italy and Belgium do the business against Sweden. Now the second part of that equation is far more achievable than Ireland getting a result vs Italy.

The defeat was a crushing blow to Ireland’s hopes of progressing. At Euro 2012, Ireland managed only one goal and thankfully they have matched that this year. Only time will tell to see can Ireland turn the tables on Italy and get the required result.

 Ireland are a team of hard working professionals that will give all for the cause but when we face a side full of real quality we always come up short bar one off results like the 1-0 win over Germany last October.

Yesterday they kept it tight for 45 minutes and managed to keep Belgium from scoring. But in the 47^th minute that all changed as Kevin De Bruyne cut Ireland open and squared the ball for Romelu Lukaku to fire past Darren Randolph. Ireland struggled yet again yesterday to gain possession of the ball and keep the ball.

For all the guts and determination that Ireland have we don’t really have that real quality to threaten the top sides. It’s always the same work hard and maybe just maybe we might get a free kick or get lucky from a corner and score a goal and then it’s hold what you have and hope they opposition have an off day. That’s no way to play football.

 We seem to be happy to go from set piece to set piece and hope that we manage to sneak a goal. Plyers like Wes Hoolahan look great going forward but he needs help from other guys like James Mc Carthy and Glen Whelan who play Premier League football.

 I think the gulf in class between our squad and others is far too big to breach at this moment in time and it will take a real change in attitude from the people who run the game in Ireland for our results to change and for us to go from a team who plays one way to qualify for tournaments and then doesn’t have a plan B when we meet a Belgium, Germany or Spain.

These are three nations who have gone back to basics to change the way they play the game and also they have invested heavily at underage level and this has brought success at Under 21 level. We have a league in this country and it has produced a number of players  that took to the field yesterday namely Hoolahan , Long , Coleman to name three guys who cut their teeth in the League Of Ireland in there early years as professionals.

I am not for one minute suggesting that all will be solved overnight but defeats like yesterday would be far easier to take if we had more technically minded players other than guys who depend on heart, guts and determination, this will only get you to certain level but all the great sides need a plan B and even a plan C at times.

The give it a lash attitude has to change and yes I do realise that our players  for the most part play in the Championship in England where the long ball tactic in applauded and applied by most teams in the division.

For the most part when a side arrives in the Premier League which I must again say we are told is the greatest league in the world they struggle against most of the teams bar again maybe one or two big upsets. This has been proven by some poor performances by England.

Ireland will have to go back to basics if they are to stand any real chance of beating already qualified Italy. This mad notion that Italy will rest players and that will help Ireland is totally misguided for the simple reason that those players that will be brought in on wednesday evening will be out to impress and push for a starting spot in the Last 16.

There will have to be plenty of Novena’s said because Ireland will need all the help they can get to find a route to the Last 16. The supporters of course have been loyal in their support of the team and that won’t disappear on Wednesday. They like the rest of the country will get behind the team and hope for a result that will at least prolong Ireland’s involvement for another few days at least….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

19/06/2016