Ireland 40-5 Kazakhstan

Ireland began the first half on the front foot and after some early pressure they hit the front with a try from Sharon Lynch and this was converted by Jackie Sheils. After some more Irish pressure the Kazaks began to grow into the game by using brute force and also some good play by their backs. The Kazaks came to disrupt the Irish at the breakdown had large amounts of success in a twenty minute period that saw them own the ball.

 They made little headway on the scoreboard and the Irish held a 7-0 lead until the Kazaks persistence with a pick and go game plan paid off with them crashing over for a deserved try after they had been just held up at a previous scrum. They failed with the conversion, but they then stuck to the physical approach that stunned the Irish. From an Irish point of view the try scored by Tania Rosser just before half time seemed to be just what they needed to get back on top before the break. Ireland led 7-5 at half time.

Into the second half and Ireland began to assert their dominance at scrum time. Great work by Paula Fitzpatrick led to Ireland being awarded a penalty try. Also in the second half, Ireland notched up tries from a second try by Lynch and a fine individual effort by Siobhan Fleming along with a late effort from Vicky Mc Ginn. Ireland introduced some real fire power from the bench in the shape of skipper Fiona Coughlan, Ailish Egan, Nora Stapleton and Claire Molloy. These subs seemed to give Ireland the boost they needed to kick on and dominate the second half.

Heading into next week’s semi-final, Ireland have a few bits and pieces to work on but they can great comfort from the fact they were under real pressure in the first half and survived and then they came through to win in impressive fashion.

For now though it is time to saviour the fact that Ireland are in a World Cup Semi Final and they can prepare for the battle safe in the knowledge that they are top seeds and now the team to beat !!!!

By

Cian Mc Gibney

Ireland 17-14 New Zealand

So Ireland did it tonight by beating 4 time World Champions New Zealand by 17-14. For the first time in Irish rugby history a team has beaten New Zealand. This win will mean so much to so many people. The players have toiled from relative anonymity in the last 11 years since Philip Doyle took over as head coach. After tonight this squad will be in everyone’s minds and in years to come, people will say, “Where were you the day Ireland beat New Zealand. “ That is such a special thing to be able to say.

Yes this was a pool match at a World Cup, but this win will live long in the memory. They played with passion, hunger and desire and no less skill. This author was in the stands last March when they faced Italy in the Aviva and that was another special moment. Back to tonight’s game, all 23 players worked their socks off to gain this win.

 From a really powerful effort up front, to a cohesive effort from the backs. Tania Rosser on her 50^th cap was sublime pulling the strings alongside Nora Stapleton. Both Grace Davitt and Lynne Cantwell tackled their hearts out and Alison Miller and Ashleigh Baxter did likewise. Alison Miller finished off the move of the game that was started by Niamh Briggs from inside her own half.  Niamh Briggs held her nerve to convert both tries from Heather O Brien and Miller. She also kicked the penalty to win the game 10 minutes from time. New Zealand for their part did well to take full advantage of the chances that presented themselves.

They led 8-7 at half time and you would have thought they would have kicked on but this Irish side did not read the script and kept calm to pull off this famous win. Now it is onto Kazakhstan on Saturday at 12pm to see can Ireland seal a place in the last 4 of the World Cup for the first time in their history.

I am not ashamed to say I shed a tear at the end of the game today, After that result in November 2013, I never thought I would see the day that an Irish team would beat New Zealand. But on August 5^th 2014, the Irish Women wrote themselves into Irish sporting by beating New Zealand.

To all the squad, Philip Doyle and Gemma O Mahony and all the back room staff. I thank you for making tonight such a special memory. Go out next Saturday against Kazakhstan and put in the performance of your lives to secure your semi-final spot.  Your place in Irish sporting history is assured so now go and put the icing on the cake and bring home that trophy.

From my own point of you, I would like to congratulate all the players and staff, in particular the ladies that have given of their time to speak to me over the last 2 years. To Niamh, Fiona, Siobhan and Marie Louise I thank you and good luck in the rest of the tournament.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

05/08/2014.

Ireland 23-17 USA

Ireland began their World Cup campaign with a 23-17 win over the USA. Ireland began the game on the front foot and took a 3-0 lead inside the opening 5 minutes through a Niamh Briggs penalty. In reply the USA scored the opening try of the contest after a missed tackle in the Irish defensive line. The USA began to batter the Irish defence but the Irish held firm and began to get the upper hand in both defence and attack.

Niamh Briggs added a 2^nd penalty to leave the score 7-6. Ailish Egan scored Ireland’s opening try of the tournament after some good Irish forward play. Ireland did struggle throughout in the scrum but their work at the line out was a sight to behold reminiscent of the Irish men’s team that won the six nations earlier this year. Ireland led 13-7 before a US penalty put three points between the teams to leave the score 13-10. Just before half time, Ireland struck for a 2^nd time through a Niamh Briggs try again after some good build up play by the Irish forwards.

The Irish forwards led the way in this game and laid the foundations for the win. Two minutes into the 2^nd half, The US got their 2^nd try of the day and again put three points between the teams for most of the 2^nd half the gap was the same until Niamh Briggs hit another penalty to six points between the sides. The introduction of some US substitutes seemed to give the US a real boost but they failed to convert pressure into points and Ireland’s experience saw them through to win by six.

Ireland must improve on a number of fronts before next week’s game against New Zealand.  When they get an opportunity they must take it. They can take solace from their hard work and that can be the first building block to gain victory over New Zealand next week.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

01/08/2014.

Ireland under 19s in Norway

The Ireland under 19s are in Norway at the moment, They are involved in the European Championships. They have beaten three of the top sides in the Women’s game , beating Spain 1-0 , England 2-1 and Sweden 2-1. They came from behind in two of the games. Savanna Mc Carthy from Listowel has been a key performer for Dave Connell’s side from centre half. She has chipped in with two crucial goals and a critical assist during the 2-1 win over Sweden that saw them into the semi final to face the Netherlands.

This team has done what Brian Kerr’s underage sides did back in the late 90s by qualifying for a major semi final. They played Netherlands last night and were beaten 4-0 for a place in the European final against Spain. They have had their feet firmly on the ground after three wins. In a refreshing turn of events, they did not fear the Dutch team.

 That Dutch team put them out of top spot in qualifying. They owed this Dutch team a performance and knowing the way they performed throughout this tournament they felt they could get to a major final. Unfortunately they were well beaten, but they can hold their heads high, because they performed really well and the future does look bright for Women’s football in this country.

To Dave Connell and his squad I salute your magnificent effort in Norway and hold your heads high because you have done this country proud.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

25/07/2014.

World Cup 2014

So the 2014 World Cup has drawn to a close , with Germany beating Argentina  1-0 at the Maracana. Mario Gotze scored the crucial goal in the 113^th minute of extra time. This particular player’s goal will bring special memories for the people associated with Listowel Celtic because back in 2008 , Mario Gotze was part of a German Under 16 team that played against Ireland who had two Kerry men in their ranks , Brian Murphy and David Culhane on that night in Tanavalla. Who could have thought on that night that less than 6 years after that game Germany would go on to claim their 4^th World Cup and that the 3,000 brave souls that braved the elements that night can say they saw Mario Gotze first !!

Argentina of course will rue some missed chances throughout the game , in particular a chance in the 21^st minute that fell to Napoli Striker Gonzalo Higuain when he beat the German offside trap to go one on one with Manuel Neuer  but he scuffed his chance wide of the post.  Then in the 46^th minute Lional Messi had his shot at immortality but he too pulled his shot just wide of the target.

 Did the fact that Argentina had to face two extra time periods in the games leading up to the final come back to haunt them ? Also were they too heavily reliant on Lionel Messi  to get them out of trouble. We have seen throughout this World Cup that teams that are too reliant on one player tend to suffer at certain points in major tournaments and maybe that is the case with Argentina. Lionel Messi  pulled Argentina out of a few sticky situations at the World Cup.  

Back to Germany , they have made great strides forward in the last few years and the work that has been put in at underage level has come to fruition at Brazil 2014. 14 members of this winning squad are under the age of 25 and even the elder statesmen in the squad are aged between 30 and 36. The squads oldest member is Miroslav Klose who has broken the World Cup scoring record held by Ronaldo since 2002.

Can this squad go on and dominate like Spain did between 2008 and 2012. At this World Cup we have also seen England fall flat again at yet another major tournament. What can England do to change their performances at a major tournament. They have invested heavily in St George’s Park as a centre of excellence and new FA chairman Greig Dyke has targeted either Russia 2018 or Qatar 2022 as the World Cup where England can fur fill their promise and win a first major trophy since the World Cup back in 1966.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

16/07/2014.