Last Chance Saloon

I am just writing this piece for myself. This past few months have been extremely tough, but with this radio diploma course due to start in September I now finally have something to focus on and to aim for.

I have titled this piece last chance saloon to focus my mind on what could be my last chance at the career I have always wanted. Cian Mc Gibney , sports journalist does have a nice ring to it. Lets hope that I make the most of this last chance.

I have spent the last five years, wasting my time and not putting what skills I have to good use. Yes I have spent the last two years in the Listowel Family Resource Centre. People may say I am boring them by flooding Facebook with Video Blogs and articles but I only do that to get myself out there and I make no apologies for that.

I just hope my writing can help me make my dream come through. Also with this course starting, I can now act instead of talking crap all the time. Actions do really speak louder than words.  My website also has helped me hone my skills as a journalist and lets hope it will open doors for me into the future.

This is really my last chance at this and lets hope I break the habit of a lifetime and grab this chance with both hands and run with it. People will say that this is a pity me piece but I can say that it is not that sort of a piece at all.

I did break one major barrier down yesterday and took a major gamble instead of going for the safe optician I broke out and went with Plan B instead of the always safe Plan A. That is one thing about my character that I have made it my mission to change, stop going with the safe bet and take a risk from time to time. As I was told earlier this year, “You only live once” that should be the motto I take with me wherever I go.

Lets face it, the old Cian, took no gamble, played it safe and took no risk at all. From this point on I hope to change people’s opinion of me from being just a wannabe journalist to hopefully a fully-fledged journalist with real career prospects at the end of my course in Dublin.

By

Cian Mc Gibney.

09/07/2014.

My World Cup Eleven

1 Manuel Neuer

2 Philip Lahm

3 Raphael Varane

4 Thiago Silva

5 Jan Vertonghen  

6 Bryan Ruiz

7 Angel Di Maria

8 Thomas Muller

9 James Rodriguez

10 Lionel Messi

11 Arjen Robben

This is my World Cup eleven. I know we are a week away from the final. But this eleven will not change. It will be interesting to see what people think and what elevens they would come up with.

By

Cian Mc Gibney

07/07/2014.

Player Profile

This is a player profile of Wexford Camogie star Katrina Parrock , who shot to fame last year when she made a now famous appearance as a Maor Uisce for her Wexford colleges as she was out with a hand injury at the time. This caused most of the country to ask, who was this woman??  She is one of this country’s top camogie players with three All Ireland senior medals won in 2007, 2010 and 2011 and also three Leinster titles to her name. She also has three camogie league medals from 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Katrina Parrock

Club  St Ibar’s Shemailers

County Wexford

Honours  3 All Ireland Senior Titles , 3 Leinster Titles and 3 National League Titles. All Star Nominee in 2006 and 2009. Team Of The Championship in 2011.

Katrina has also played Hockey and Football for her country at underage level.

By

Cian Mc Gibney.

07/07/2014.

Diving In Sport

The topic of diving in sport has again come into focus since the 2014 World Cup began on June 12^th. Some analysts have said that diving in now entrenched in Football and no matter what you do to eradicate it from the sport it may never fully leave the game. In the past 24 hours we have seen Arjen Robben say he dived during the Netherlands vs Mexico last 16 tie. He also claimed he did not dive to win the crucial penalty that saw the Netherlands through to the quarter finals of the World Cup.

Since the World Cup started we have again seen a number of decisions made off the back of some questionable “Fouls”. Not everybody who goes to ground are guilty of diving but after hearing Arjen Robben last night say that yes he did in fact dive in the game. Does this mean that he could be sanctioned after admitting to diving during the game.

This may not happen, but it does open the argument for dealing with this in retrospect. Will FIFA have the “Balls” to deal with this if it happens again? It is refreshing in a strange way to hear a player admitting to diving in the game. We often hear players saying that they did not dive to win free kicks and penalties but after Arjen Robben last night admitted to doing this we know that it does happen quite often.

This could be detrimental to the rest of his career because he has now openly admitted to diving in a game. Will we now see most if not all referees taking a second or third look at every move that Robben makes in and around the box.

 It will again open the debate for a third official behind either goal which as we know was trialled in European games this season. FIFA do not want to go down the route of a Television Match Official to help make decisions like this. But again we are talking about a suspected “Diving” case instead of talking about the game between the Netherlands and Mexico.

To come away from football and to move to another sport that has seen a rise in “Diving” cases, Rugby Union has seen a fair share of these incidents in the last 18 months or so, with Bismark Du Plessis and Bryan Habana guilty of “diving” to have an opponent sin binned in different games. Rugby Union seems to be better equipped to deal with these cases on the field than Football at the moment.

You have referees who will tell the player in no uncertain terms to get up and get on with the game. In Football the referee does not have the same authority as he or she has in Rugby Union. They are two different sports but the discipline levels are worlds apart. In Football you can touch the referee and say what you like, but it is very different in Rugby Union. From an early age you are taught to respect the match official and understand that what he or she says goes.

Diving is a massive problem in Football, is it purely down to the pressure that is on the players in every game to win or is it a deeper problem and will it ever leave the game. It is not just happening at elite level. It also happens at grass root level which is not good to hear. We in Ireland seem to think that the game at grass roots level is perfect and that this does not happen but unfortunately it does happen!!

One solution that could be brought in at elite level that would eradicate “Diving” is severe penalties be they financial or by long term suspension. Yes this is a black and white solution but what else can the powers that be do the help get rid of” diving” from the game that the world adores.

By

Cian Mc Gibney.

30/06/2014.

Katie Taylor’s Ireland Forgotten Hero

Katie Taylor claimed her 6^{th European crown last week. Back in 2012 she was the pride of Ireland with her gold medal win over Sophia Ochegava. But her win in the past week was greeted with very little fan fare and although her win has been covered in the media it doesn’t seem to have had the same impact as her win in 2012.}

She and her father have had an interesting journey since London 2012, they have battled with the IABA over new contracts for both Zaur Antia and Peter Taylor. Also Katie has flirted with the idea of turning professional before deciding to stay amateur for Rio 2016 to defend her Olympic crown.

Has the appetite for amateur boxing died down since her win and can the lost ground be made up in time for Rio 2016. The National Amateur Boxing championships take place every year and although the finals are covered the ordinary fan doesn’t seem to have an interest in the outcome. I think with better marketing the Championships could be a highlight of the sporting year with the GAA championships.

Back to Katie, she is one of Ireland’s greatest female athletes right up there with Sonia O Sullivan and Catharina Mc Kiernan and I just hope that the Irish Public get out to support her before she hangs up her gloves. Brian O Driscoll has had a full year of good byes before he went into the sunset. Let’s hope Katie gets the same treatment before she retires. I urge anyone who can to go and see her box before Rio 2016.

Katie Taylor is one of Ireland’s greatest, lets just hope she doesn’t become a forgotten hero….

By

Cian Mc Gibney.

08-06-2014.

Heineken Cup Final Preview

This is my Heineken Cup final preview; Toulon will face Saracens in Cardiff on May 24^th. Both teams will fancy their chances of turning the other side over and will go hell for leather to win this one. Toulon will want to defend the title they won back in May 2013. Both sides are littered with International stars of the World game. On the Saracens side you have Brits, Farrell, Ashton and both the Vunipola’s Mako and Billy. On the Toulon side you have real quality with Wilkinson, Botha , Rossouw , Smith , Habana and the Armitage brothers Steffon and Delon.

Both sides are well coached by Bernard Laporte and Mark Mc Call , Mc Call has already won this competition as a head coach back in 1999 with Ulster so he will have no fears about facing Toulon. His Saracens side will be well prepared for this one as this is their first European final and that may also play into Toulon hands because of their previous final experience in both the Amlin and Heineken Cup finals of 2010 and 2013.

I just feel after both sides respective semi-finals where Munster ran Toulon so close and Saracens dispatched Clermont with such ruthless aggression that this final is set up to be a classic and a fitting way to bring the curtain down on this competition as we know it. Can Toulon do what Leicester Tigers did back in 2001 and 2002 and win back to back titles or will Saracens and there wolfpack defence led by Jacques Burger seize the day and win a first European crown for Saracens.

Owen Farrell and Jonny Wilkinson will have major roles to play in their team’s quest for victory. As it stands Wilkinson leads the one on one match ups 1-0 after handing Farrell a lesson in the 2013 semi final. Can Farrell redress the balance and make it 1-1 before Wilkinson hangs up his boots.

For me I just think Toulon may just have too much for Saracens on the day and could do the double and win a 2^nd European crown in a row. I am going to but my neck on the line and say Toulon will win this won by 30-18. Toulon’s experience in European final to be the difference.

 

By

Cian Mc Gibney.

14/05/2014.

Letter Of Thanks

I am writing again this time to thank everyone for their support and kind words since last Thursday  when I put my open letter out there. Since I did it I feel much better and at ease with myself. The level of support I have received amazed me and touched me deeply. I hope my openness can help anyone that may find themselves in a similar situation in the future.

 I have done a lot of thinking in the last few days and after speaking to both close friends and family I now realise that I have a lot to live for. I made a massive mistake last February by not asking for help but I now feel strong enough to open my mouth and say something. Also after reading a book on Donal Walsh I realise the true meaning of his message to” live life”.

So now as we head into summer 2014 I just hope I can put the last 6 months behind me and now focus on the here and now. To Anyone who offered me help if I ever got into bother again I will be on the phone ASAP. Thank you all so much , I am so grateful to have people who care for me.

Regards

Cian.

An open letter to my friends

I am just writing this letter to tell the people closet to me what I have been going through over the last few months , I have expressed my feelings to a few people which has elevated some of my pain. On the night Ireland played England I was at my lowest point and I came to a place I find helps me relax my grandparents home.

Then I began what I thought was the last few moments of my life. I began to write a number of goodbye letters to the people that I am now writing this letter too. I just felt on that day that I couldn’t go on. This is not the first time this has happened to me, in fact it is the 3rd time I have thought about suicide.

Not an easy thing for me to admit but now that I have I find things are much better and I thank one person in particular because if he did not phone this house on that night , I may not be here now writing this letter. Thanks to a number of close friends who I am truly grateful to. They know who they are I don’t need to name check them.

 But everyday since that night I thank my lucky stars that I let them know how I was feeling and they were a great help to me. To my friends I am grateful that you are such a good bunch and also that you have always been there for me at every turn. I am feeling much better since that night and I am trying my best never to end up in that place again.

To you all I thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart.

Regards

Cian.

 

Semi – Final Review

So it is Toulon and Saracens into the Heineken Cup final on May 24^th after the weekend’s semi final action in London and Marseilles. Saracens did a clinical and ruthless job on Clermont Auvergne at Twickenham winning 46-6 with tries from Owen Farrell and Chris Ashton along with a try from Chris Wyles. Also a solid kicking display from Alex Goode helped Sarries on their way.

 Jaques Burger was Saracens key man on this occasion making 27 tackles and stopping every Clermont attack at source. This is down to the defensive system put in place by Paul Gustard called the “ Wolfpack” defence.

 Coach Mark Mc Call can now plan for a European final with his captain Steve Borthwick and off the back of such a dominate display in a semi final winning the game in record fashion. Can Sarries now put in another huge shift and win a first Heineken Cup title , only time will tell !!

2^nd Semi Final

Toulon are through to their 2^nd final in a row after a 24 -16 win over Munster and are on course to win a Heineken Cup , Top 14 double. With the help of Jonny Wilkinson ‘s boot and some poor Munster discipline, Toulon went into a 15-9 lead in reply Ian Keatley added 3 penalties for Munster. Just before half time Delon Armitage kicked a huge penalty to put Toulon 18-9 up at the break. This was the first nail in the Munster coffin.

 After the break Munster did come out with renewed vigour and scored a try through Simon Zebo and a conversion from Ian Keatley after Steffon Armitage had a try chalked off for a foot on touch. Munster were on the front foot for the next ten minutes but when Keith Earls was sin binned for tackling a player without the ball , Wilkinson kicked another penalty to stretch the Toulon lead to 21-16.

 Munster then got one final chance in the 71^st minute when they won a penalty and kicked for the corner and won the line out but their maul  was sacked and with that went Munster ‘s last chance , Wilkinson Kicked a late penalty to put Toulon 24-16 up and into their 2^nd straight  final. Who would bet against Toulon making it two from two in Europe certainly not this writer….

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My Love Affair with Rugby

My love affair with the oval ball started 18 years ago or so when I travelled to watch Listowel and also going to watch the AIL. People look me when Munster play and think I am daft as a brush with the way I am when they play whether they win, lose or draw. I am quite an emotional person and rugby seems to trigger those emotions time and again.

 In the last few years it has happened more and more when my younger brother has been involved with Garryowen, Munster or this year Crescent. Like most rugby supporters I feel like I have a duty toward the team I am following to get behind them in whatever way possible.

 For those that remember me in my teenage years while supporting these teams I can now admit that I went overboard at times but with the passage of time and a few life lessons learned I have grown up  and some may even say it isn’t bad sitting near me for a game. With my attention now drawn to the journalism world and my growing ambitions to become a sports journalist I just felt it was time to put my feeling down on paper.

 Rugby has given me more pleasure that I could have ever imagined a few years back. Getting to watch Fionn develop as a rugby player has been such a journey that has taken in Ravenhill , Dooradoyle and of course Thomond Park. He has pulled on the sky blue of Garryowen , the green and gold of Listowel and the red of Munster and maybe one day the green of Ireland.

The last two years have thought me so much about the game I love. From a personal point of view I would like to thank my parents for bringing me to all those games ,  I would also like to thank Munster and Ireland for giving me some of the greatest moments of my now nearly 24 years on this earth. A Huge thank you too to Fionn for going as far as he has. I think it may now be time for this author to start achieving and making dreams of my own. One final note , What you achieved this year Fionn has given me back the hunger to fight for my dream , Thank You For That…

 

By Cian Mc Gibney.

24/04/2014.