Connacht Vs Leinster Pro 12 Final

Connacht and Leinster will next week face each other in the Pro 12 Final in BT Murrayfield. Both sides fully deserve to be in next week’s final after strong performances throughout the season. Everyone will say straight away that the final should be moved because it is two Irish teams but the reason for the set venue or the final is to give more people the chance to travel to the final. Nobody would be arguing if two Welsh teams had made the final.

Back to the game next weekend , both sides have had players that have been stand out performers all season with Bundee Aki and Matt Healy from the Connacht side being two key men all season. The calls for Matt Healy to be included in the Ireland squad for the tour in South Africa have intensified in recent weeks , by the middle of this week he and the rest of us will find out whether he has made the cut to tour to South Africa.

From a Leinster point of view , the partnership of Ben Te’o and Gary Ringrose has been a real bright spark in a season that failed to deliver on a European  front  but they have certainly channelled that disappointment into a really strong finish in the Pro 12.

 They will probably go into the final this weekend as favourites owing to the fact that they have previous experience in Finals where Connacht will be in there first ever domestic Final. This season has been a real revelation for all throughout the Pro 12 as Connacht have stormed to the top of the table and have been playing an attacking brand of rugby that not many teams have been able to live with this year.

They will come up against a well drilled Leinster defence that has been revitalised under Kurt Mc Quilken  although some of the attacking treat that was in evidence while Joe Schmidt was in charge has disappeared but Leo Cullen doesn’t have the same quality in his back line as Schmidt had in his.

If Leinster win on Saturday it will vindicate everything that Leo Cullen has done although people will still point to some poor displays in Europe as a major blot on his copy book. After the World Cup disappointment of a Quarter Final exit to Argentina , how many people would honestly have though that Ireland would have both teams in the Final and have 3 out of 4 in the Semi Finals. For all the doom and gloom the provinces have put all European disappointment behind them and really had a strangle hold on the Pro 12.

Pat Lam for his part can be extremely happy with what his Connacht side has done in the last two years under his stewardship. The work of his predecessors namely Michael Bradley and Eric Elwood cannot be understated or downgraded and I am sure if Connacht do win next weekend he will be the first man to tip his hat in the direction of messer’s Bradley , Elwood and also current Irish 20s coach Nigel Carolan who is the Connacht academy manager that unearthed talent like Ultan Dillane , Sean O Brien , Jack Carty and Matt Healy.

The Final this weekend will be a very special occasion for all involved with Leinster and more especially Connacht , it is a moment when all involved can look at the hard work they have put in over the last few years has come to fruition and they can also look at the IRFU and say to anybody that was involved in the talks to disband Connacht how wrong that decision would have been. Next Saturday is full justification for everybody who fought to keep Connacht alive all those years ago.

The heart says it has to be a Connacht win but the head and previous final experience probably suggests that Leinster will win the Final and secure another title…

By

Cian Mc Gibney

23/05/2016

Tarbert Comprehensive  Awards Night

I had the pleasure of being one of a large crowd that descended on the PE Hall of Tarbert Comprehensive School for the annual awards night , a highlight of the school year. The night was full of laughs and with the old hands of Mr Denis O Se and Mrs Siobhan Fitzgerald guiding proceedings it all went off without a hitch.

The decision to move the ceremony from the Assembly Hall to the PE Hall has to be commended and it was vindicated last night by such a large turn out. For the first time the whole of the 2016 Leaving Certificate class had the opportunity to come and experience what is always a terrific night.

The night always has two guests from different parts of public life with people like Marcus Horan , Deirdre Walsh , Dr Patrick Kiely being past guests and last night was no different with past pupil Brian Scanlon and Irish rugby international Marie Louise Reilly doing the honours  and handing out each award.

Mrs Fitzgerald immediately noted she was feeling old as Brian took to the stage for the first time to hand out to first couple of awards. He finished in the Comprehensive in 2007. He noted in his few words to the crowd that the school had done a lot for him and had helped put him on the road to stardom…. He is a primary school teacher in CBS in Limerick.

 Marie Louise Reilly commended the school for the relationship between teachers and students and after hearing some of the stories about certain students from the teachers she reckoned a number of them would make good FBI agents !!

She also said she was going to steal the motto for the evening and the title of the School magazine “ Rising To The Challenge “ and put it up on the gym wall for all of her team mates to look at. From this author’s point of you it was a pleasure to be present last night , it was my second awards night since I left the School in June 2009.

The music interludes were also very good and provided the perfect way to give both presenters a chance to gather their thoughts while giving people the chance to see the musical talent within the school.

 Both nights will remain with me for the rest of my life.  I was part of three awards nights as a student and will always be eternally grateful to all in the School as they gave me great belief in myself at a time when I was still figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. All the students involved last night were well behaved and represented the school very well.

A night like that as was commented on numerous occasions last night doesn’t come together in a day or two and for that I think Jovita Delaney and the organising committee should take huge credit for what was a wonderful night and as I already mentioned the move to the PE Hall may have given Ms Delaney nightmares but it was a masterstroke. Long may that tradition continue.

To Mr Prendeville and Ms Delaney thank you so much for the invite to last night’s awards , I thoroughly enjoyed the night. Well done to the staff and students for making the night go like clock work. Roll on Awards night 2017… To the Class of 2016 , All the best for the upcoming exams this June.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

20/05/2016

Saracens, European Kings

So Saracens have been crown European Champions for 2016 after a tough final where the weather was a key factor for both teams, Saracens looked armed for a major fight and with the help of a massive scrum and also a resolute defence along with the ice cool kicking of Owen Farrell all of these factors were key to Sarries success. Racing for their part had World Cup winner Dan Carter in their ranks along with three time winner Chris Masoe so they seemed well equipped to challenge Saracens for Europe’s biggest prize but that challenge seemed destined to fail when Maxime Macheaud and Dan Carter, the driver of the bus and his conductor were struck down with injuries in the first and second half.

 Mike Phillips and Remi Tales both came on but they failed to get Racing going and that stubborn Saracens defence coupled with a poor, tiring Racing 92 attack paved the way for Saracens to win a first European crown.

Looking at the Saracens team, you had a smattering of Grand Slam winners from earlier this year with England, Maro Itoje and George Kruis led the way in defence and Owen Farrell punished any Racing 92 indiscipline. Racing 92 can have no complaints about the result as they failed to trouble a Saracens defence who seemed to know every move they were going to make.

Mark Mc Call has to take huge credit for yesterday’s win as he had his team in peak mental and physical condition. They played the normal Saracens game where tight defence and a solid set piece usually leads them to victory. Maro Itoje for his part has pulled on a Saracens shirt 20 times this season and has won 20 times, not a bad strike rate…

Racing 92 will know they were in a battle and will also know that they could not have done much more to stop the Saracens juggernaut from taking a 1^st European crown. Guys like Ben Tameifuna , Joe Rokocoko and the departing Luke Charteris did as much as they could but as all 9 teams that faced this Saracens team in Europe this year they came up well short when it came to beating them.

What team will stop Saracens this year one wonders as Wasps won 64-14 and at that moment you thought maybe things were derailed  but as yesterday proved it takes more than one heavy defeat to knock this side of it perch.

Nigel Wray will have been extremely proud of the team he has owned for the last 20 or so years. He tried at the turn of the century to build a team capable of winning all before it with guys like Michael Lynagh , Francois Pienaar , Paul Wallace and French man Thierry Lacroix to guide them round the field. They didn’t do anything as good as the current group. Of course this adventure started with Brendan Venter who was Director of Rugby before Mark Mc Call took over. This is the guy who famously did an interview where he spent two full minutes refusing to answer questions.

They were backboned by tough guys at that time namely Ernst Joubert and the soon to depart human version of the game “Operation” Jacques Burger , this man has the pins and bolts that held his body together  after different procedures he had during his career.

The new breed of Itoje , Farrell and the Vunipola brothers led Sarcens to the promise land yesterday winning 21-9. Huge congratulations to all at Saracens, they proved yesterday that hard work and persistence pays off….

 For Racing 92, its back to the drawing board and trying to uncover that coveting secret, on how you win The Champions Cup. They will be back I have no doubt, not if Ronan O Gara and Labit and Travers have anything to do with it….

By

Cian Mc Gibney

15/05/2016

Irish Rugby – Season Report

Irish rugby has had a mixed season and after a disappointing finish to the World Cup where Argentina ended their involvement at the quarter final stage. In the Six Nations there were defeats to England and France but wins at home to Italy and Scotland that saw Ireland finish in 3^rd spot in the Six Nations table.

Moving to the Provinces where 3 of the 4 sides have made the final 4 in the Pro 12 and that has been a massive boost after some poor European performances saw Ulster, Leinster and Munster exit Europe at the group stage although Connacht kept the flag flying in Europe in the Challenge Cup quarter finals where Grenoble beat them 32-31 in an exciting game that saw Connacht lead 21-3 at one stage.

Connacht of course have been the story of the season that has seen them play an open brand of attacking rugby that has been a breath of fresh air to the Pro 12 and it also shows that club sides north of the equator can play that open attacking style that only ever seems to be seen in Super Rugby.

 Pat Lam has recruited cleverly over the past few seasons with players like Tom Mc Cartney , Bundee Aki and Jake Heenan  to add to the home grown talent Robbie Henshaw , Peter Robb and Caolin Blade. They play with a real freedom that has seen them rocket up the table and get within one game of the Pro 12 final that will take place in Murrayfield on May 28^th. Glasgow the defending champions stand in the way of Connacht and a first ever domestic final.

Ulster have had a mixed season like Munster and Leinster and have also gone about the season quietly and have now made a semi-final after just missing out on a European quarter final spot on point’s difference. Having Iain Henderson back has been a massive boost given the fact Nick Williams has been ruled out for the rest of this year, he joins Cardiff Blues next season.

Leinster of course will look back on this year and wonder what more they could have done but they will also know that teams like Wasps, Toulon are further along in there development and things will turn around again Leinster didn’t win 4 European Trophies in 5 years for all that winning mentality disappear.

Guys like Jonny Sexton, Sean Cronin and  Rob Kearney need to step up to the plate and be counted when they are required.  Gary Ringrose , Cathal Marsh , Peter Dooley and Luke Mc Grath are the new breed of player in Leinster blue. The shadow of Brian O Driscoll , Rocky Elsom and Brad Thorn has to be left behind and new heroes need to step up.

Munster have also had a poor season by their high standards but with Champions Cup rugby secured for next season and a new Director Of Rugby appointed on a three year term things may finally begin to look brighter for the men in red. Unlike Connacht, Munster’s recruitment hasn’t work out too well with Mark Chisholm and Tyler Bleyendaal spending large amounts of time on the sideline.

 Johan Erasmus will take up the Director of Rugby role from July 1^st and will appoint some new members to his backroom staff with Mick O Driscoll and Ian Costello moving to pastures new with Costello moving to a head coaching role with Nottingham RFC. Mick O Driscoll will leave to pursue interests outside of rugby.

So to sum up although things didn’t go to plan in the World Cup or in Europe you can’t ask for much more than three of Ireland’s sides making the Pro 12 Semi’s. Roll on Ireland’s three match tour of South Africa where they will hope to pick up at least one Test victory although knowing Joe Schmidt  he will want more than one win……

By

Cian Mc Gibney

09/05/2016

 Leicester City – Unlikely Hero’s

Leicester City were last night crowned Premier League Champions after Tottenham drew 2 all with Chelsea. The result capped the end of the most exciting title races that didn’t include the old reliable sides like Man United, Arsenal or the new breed of Chelsea or Manchester City.

Claudio Ranieri has guided Leicester City to one of the most unlikely title wins in the history of the game. The team is built on solid foundations with Keeper Kasper Schmeichel  , Skipper Wes Morgan and Robert Huth a man that Ranieri has admitted he wanted to sell in his time as Chelsea manager.

They have also got some hard working midfielders like Danny Drinkwater , Marc Albrighton and Riyad Mahrez to supply the main man Jamie Vardy who has fired in a number of key goals for Leicester along with Lenardo Ulloa and Shinji Okazaki.

They have been a real breath of fresh air this season after managing a great escape last season to survive for another season in the Premier League. They have only been beaten 3 times so far this season and that in itself is the mark of a quality side. The “Tinker Man “as he was known in his days with Chelsea has brought together a group of players that have had uninspiring careers up until this season. But now they are the most well-known group of players in world football.

The big question is now how will they cope as Champions , they will also be in next year’s Champions League alongside the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid , how many of the players would have thought that would have been possible when they returned for Pre Season training last July.

Can Leicester continue their run into only time will tell. Mr Ranieri will have more money to spend in the summer transfer market but will also have to fend off interest in some of his key men because the likes of Jamie Vardy , Lenardo Ulloa will be hot commodities as Vardy will lead the line for England as the Euros in June. 

So really the hard work will start now for all behind the scenes at Leicester in terms of getting new improved contracts sorted for all of the squad and trying to sign new players who can improve the team. This is a win for all of the teams that think they will never win a major trophy. People in general can take a few notes on how never giving up and self-belief can really bring you to place you never knew you could get to.

In football terms the win has given hope to every club in the world that they too can win the league they are involved in if they work hard and never stop believing in what you are doing it gives you the best chance of fulfilling your potential.

Leicester City, the most unfancied unlikely side to win a league title have done the unthinkable after being 5000/1 outsiders they won the title and are now entering another exciting chapter in the history of Leicester City Football Club. Leicester City they truly are Unlikely Hero’s……

By

Cian Mc Gibney

03/05/2016