Ireland Play Off Secured

Ireland have secured a playoff spot after a heart stopping 1-0 win after a James Mc Clean strike in the 57^th minute. It was not pretty for the most part but again it was effective and although it was hard to stomach at times , Ireland have secured a playoff spot after a strange campaign that started really well and dipped in the middle but the two desired results came at the tail end of the group.

 Ireland will now go into the draw for the play offs next week with huge confidence and will be a match for any of the other 7 sides that will make up the play off draw. People will give out about the way Ireland play but they always seem to get the desired result when it matters most.

The expectancy on Wes Hoolahan needs to stop although he is 35 years of age and won’t be around for long more. Jeff Hendrick and Harry Arthur worked very hard in attack and defence this evening. Shane Duffy was Paul Mc Grath in disguise along with Ciaran Clark. Both Cyrus Christie and Stephen Ward worked hard in the 2^nd half.

The performance will be forgotten in the 1^st half but they will need to be real improvement in the midfield because knocking the ball long won’t work if they get beyond the play offs and make it to Russia 2018.

Tonight is not the night for pointing out the faults we have to applaud what has been achieved by defeating a team who in the summer of 2016 almost made the Final of Euro 2016. Yes Wales did not have Gareth Bale this evening and that dented things they wanted to do but Ireland were without Jon Walters, Shane Long and Skipper Seamus Coleman. Three men who may well have started this vital fixture.

Looking to what has been achieved this evening James Mc Clean has done it for a 2^nd time, a crucial goal in Vienna and tonight a peach of a strike in the Cardiff City Stadium. Looking to what is now on the horizon , It will be the play offs again in November  and who knows what can be done in that 2 legged affair. David Myler will miss out in the 1^st leg but I am sure he will be replaced by someone hungry for work maybe Callum O Dowda or Wes Hoolahan.

Yet again this squad has found a way to win and defied the odds to secure an unlikely play off place. Time now to focus on what is about to come. Again this performance was full of pride, passion , aggression with the odd moment of brilliance ala Harry Arthur stepping over the ball to let Mc Clean in for that massive strike.

Roll on the two games in November as Ireland have shown what can be achieved with desire , hunger , passion now if they could only marry that with keeping the ball for sustained periods god know what can be done. Bring on whoever , I doubt it will matter to this squad who they need to beat to get to Russia 2018…..

By

Cian Mc Gibney

09/10/2017

Ireland – Qualifying Hopes

So Ireland head into the final two World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Wales and Ireland are still in a position to get to Russia 2018. Two wins look like being enough to secure a play off place.  This seemed a long way off after 3 draws in the last few games. Ireland have blown a strong position in this group and are now fighting against the tide to secure a spot in Russia.

After there was confirmation yesterday of a verbal agreement between Martin O Neill and the FAI that he has agreed to stay on for the Euro 2020 campaign. The timing of the announcement is very strange given that O Neill and his squad face two make or break games in the space of 4 days.

The IRFU and FAI have previous in this regard, Eddie O Sullivan was given an extension before the 2007 World Cup and now Martin O Neill has given verbal agreement to a new deal less than 48 hours before two vital fixtures.

This is not good practice because it is my understanding that you have to achieve your goals before you’re rewarded and how will the FAI look next week if they do not at least secure a playoff spot for Russia. The Moldova game is first up this evening at the Aviva Stadium and if they successfully negotiate that test, they will go forward to face a Wales side minus Gareth Bale next week.

A number of Irish players are one booking away from suspension with both James Mc Clean and Robbie Brady absent from the Moldova game this evening. This situation will of course open the door for other players to see can they break into the first team for both games. 

All available players have trained well all week and will be in contention to start tonight with the questions being who will start up front and in midfield. The back four looks like it picks itself and then it’s Hobson’s choice in other areas with Sean Maguire pushing for inclusion up front after a impressive start to life in the English Championship.

These two games will have a massive effect on how many players may stick around beyond the current campaign, Wes Hoolahan , John O Shea and even Jon Walters may feel that father time has crept up on them and this could be there swansong only time will tell of course. Those questions will be answered in due course.

 For now though it is full steam ahead for the last two games in a campaign has had it all , wins , draws , goals and no end of big moments. For now it is time we get behind the team and see where that takes us. You never what could happen over the next few days….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

06/10/2017

Munster – Coaching Situation

So nearly 4 months after Rassie Erasmus confirmed he would be taking up a position with the South African Rugby Football Union, Munster are no closer to bringing in a replacement. We have heard the names of David Wessels and also Johan Van Graan who is currently involved with South Africa , Wessels has signed a deal to take over the Melbourne Rebels from old Munster boss Tony Mc Gahan.

Looking at the current state of play we have one coaching team set to depart in late December with no ready replacement about to step in at a crucial point of the year.  Yes Munster have just completed the signing of Tadgh Beirne on a two year deal from the start of next season.

That was a was a tidy piece of business done and dusted in timely fashion and one has to question why the coaching question is being left dangly there with no signs of a solution being found.

 I may be completely wrong in my reading of the situation and Munster may just be waiting for the right moment to announce their new head man but there doesn’t seem to be any right moment to clear up all this uncertainty and I implore both the IRFU and Munster Branch to make a announcement whether it is that they are promoting from within or there is a man coming in from outside to take on the job for the next few years because what Munster need is certainty at this moment in time.

Over the last year it has been a coaching merry go round after the untimely passing of Anthony Foley this time 12 months ago. It has been a hell of a journey since the opening round of Champions Cup fixtures last year. Munster were due to face Racing 92 in France but that fixture was postponed.

Since all that upheaval both Erasmus and Nienber have taken up the slack along with Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones and led Munster to the Pro 12 Final and the Champions Cup Semi Final versus Saracens last April.

Whatever solution Munster have come to at this stage would be better than this saga of when is he leaving and also who is the replacement!! Munster could end up losing out on signings for next season if they cannot sort this current impasse.

The Munster faithful deserve some honesty in this case because, there were a number of stories surrounding this at the end of last year and it was confirmed in June of 2017 that Erasmus was leaving after 1 year of a 3 year deal. The least all parties can do now is bring whatever discussions they are having with relevant parties to a conclusion and make an announcement.

Munster has gone through a rough 12 months off the field and they really need to bring in a good quality coach on a long term deal and reset the clock and start again. Erasmus has put in very strong foundations now it needs somebody to pick up the baton and carry on the good work….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

05/10/2017

Russia Calling – Where To Now

So after two extremely disappointing results for the Republic of Ireland against Georgia 1-1 and a 1-0 defeat at home to Serbia, these two results have left Ireland’s slim qualifying chances for Russia 2018 hanging by a thread. Since the defeat on Tuesday evening and in particular the manner of the 1 all draw in Georgia  these two games has people up in arms about the nation’s chances of making it to Russia 2018.

Just like 12 months ago, I sit here seeing the same issues, an over reliance on 35 year old Wes Hoolahan and his undoubted quality in possession. One of Ireland’s main issues has to be that you do need a striker in form and scoring goals and at this current moment Martin O Neill refuses to pick a striker who has been doing just that ala Sean Maguire or Scott Hogan.

Why did O Neill pick Maguire as soon as he touched down in England but he refused to do the same while he was on the books of Cork City choosing instead to maintain he would not be ready to make the step up yet after less than 10 games in the Championship in England he secured a call up. Although he didn’t make the cut this time in the near future he will get a 1^st cap.

This is one thing that O Neill will need to try and solve before the final two qualifiers next month against Moldova and Wales. Even with two wins Ireland may still not have enough points to secure a playoff spot. FIFA yesterday confirmed that the play off will be a seeded draw based on World ranking. Even if Ireland did manage to secure a playoff spot there no guarantee that they would make it through.

The issues that face Ireland are far reaching issues , the FAI need to decide like the IRFU with the Women’s team what direction they want their senior team to go in. The squad is ageing and there isn’t any young talent being brought in from the under 21 set up or any other underage set up.  This is going to get harder to watch if the rot is not stopped in the near future.

The game is in trouble as the League Of Ireland is forgotten about and all our talent takes it chances in England and most of them end up in the Championship or playing at a lower level again.  

When our national team had players playing in the Premier League you saw what was achieved even though some of those talented players were playing in a system  very similar to the one employed by Martin O Neill in Georgia last Saturday.

 He played something similar to stone age football last weekend, also he has come out complaining that he doesn’t have a player like a “27 year old Robbie Keane” in his squad that will score the chances that are created, he actually has an in form striker that has been scoring regularly in the last 12 months, Sean Maguire has scored 20+ goals for both Cork City and he has continued that form with Preston North End.

As I say , the trouble that Ireland have had in the past 10 days is only highlighted during the International window and needs urgent attention from the people at the top of the game if they are going to try and solve these issues.

John Delaney and the people at the very top of the FAI need to get together at the conclusion of these World Cup qualifiers and hold some sort of get together where ex players , coaches and anyone else interested in the future of Irish football get the opportunity to discuss the burning issues that need solving.

Irish football hasn’t moved very far in the 12 months since a 1 all draw with Serbia where a late Daryl Murphy headed goal secured a point away from home. Luck may have run out in the quest to get the 2018 World Cup although those chances aren’t completely gone.

We need to look to the future now and try and implement changes that will benefit Irish football beyond 2018….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

07/09/2017

Tarbert Welcomes Rugby Legends Cycle

Earlier today, the Rugby Legends cycle set up camp in Tarbert National School for a short visit with all the staff and pupils. Many parents and numerous locals made their way to the school to welcome the cyclists as they made their way from Tralee via Ballyduff , Tarbert and then onto Clare to Lahinch through Kilrush and Kilkee.

The cycle is in its 6^th year and is raising funds for Cross Charity and Cancer research at Trinity College Dublin and St James’s Hospital. The legends that made their way to the school and spoke to the students were former New Zealand Number 8 Zinzan Brooke and Liam Toland who played professional rugby with Leinster and Munster.

Also among the travelling party for this leg of the trip were Tarbert men Michael Kelly and Colm Brennan who are both past students of Tarbert National School. Both men have fond memories of the school.

The staff and pupils put on a marvellous show with the pupils singing Ireland’s Call, the Fields Of Athenry and also performing the Haka in Irish , they also gave Zinzan a taste of Irish dancing and he responded by performing the Haka with some very willing help from a number of the other cyclists who stopped off with him and Liam Toland.

They have around 80 cyclists with them for this leg of the trip and that will rise to over 100 by the time they roll into Galway at around 4.30pm where they will have a night hosted by the Radisson Blu Galway.

The tour director is Michael Boyle , the CEO of Uniphar who sponsor the cycle is Ger Rabbette  , other legends on tour are Paddy Johns , Niall Woods both capped by Ireland , Paul Wallace who was also capped by Ireland 45 times and Neil Back who played for Leicester Tigers and England and is most probably remembered in these parts for the now infamous “ Hand Of Back “. We forgive you at this stage Neil!!

A special mention as well to Leonie Kelly who made this stop possible, to Mrs Heaphy and all her staff well done for organising a fantastic stop off for the cyclists. A memorable moment happened as Mrs Heaphy was hoisted up in the air by Liam and Zinzan in a line out , a photo for the mantle piece at home Mrs Heaphy…..

 There was a great turn out at this event and it again showed Tarbert up in a great light, well done to all involved….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

06/09/2017