Feb 24 2007

You are my sunshine - Redux

Published by Fence under Shiny, Sport

My only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are grey!

What a match. What a result. Role on Scotland and Italy.

Super Saturday or what? The fun started before I went to bed on Friday[1] when B#5 texted me to say he’d gotten his hands on a ticket for the big match. Bad news was that he couldn’t get me one, his was a schoolboy one that some fella didn’t want. Don’t know why, he asked no question just grabbed it. His train got into Dublin around 3 on Sat., so I was busy texting him the insane opening scores from the Italy Scotland match. 21-0 after 7 minutes, and Scotland’s nightmare start was all down to their own sloppiness. Part of me really wanted Scotland to make a come back, I was giving out to Mr. Paterson for not taking any of the points on offer. Constantly kicking for touch and never getting near scoring a try! But a little part of me wanted Italy to win[2] Historic, seeing as they’d never won a Six Nations away match before. And if they’d lost after those early tries it would have been heartbreaking. It’ll be really interesting to see them face Wales, I’m thinking that the Wooden Spoon might be headed Wales, despite the fact that they finally managed to score some tries in this year’s competition. But I’m getting ahead of myself. After the Scotland match came the Ireland match.

And the tension was such that I had to put away the beer, couldn’t be drinking as I had to concentrate on the match. But before that came the appearances by the teams, and the crowd gave the English team a great reception. Nothing compared to the reception they gave Ireland, but still nice to see. And after all that had been written and talked about regarding GSTQ, there wasn’t even the slightest hint of trouble[3] Instead it was sung and listened to with respect, before Amhrán na bhFiann and Ireland’s Call were belted out, with so much emotion[4] that tears were shed. And then, the match itself.

The opening was a bit dodgy. England took the lead, 3-0 and a slow start from Ireland looked likely. But not this time. Not a bit of it. O’Gara evened the score up with a penalty of his own, and from there on it was all Ireland. England were totally outplayed in one of the most intense first halfs I have ever seen. O’Driscoll was back and although quiet by his usual standards was still hugely influential. Stringer was back and as game as ever. Paulie too was back, I know he hadn’t missed a game, but he hasn’t been playing as well as he can recently. But in this match he was fantastic, back to his best, and Man of the Match, although maybe O’Gara could have claimed the award as he totally dominated the match. But then again, so too could Wallace, he was immense. And with Horgan back to his preferred position, and displaying some GAA high-fielding talents to score that try.

What a day, and what a result, 43-13! Forty-three points we scored. Gwan Ireland!

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Image from IrishRugby.ie

Then I had to leave the on-screen celebrations and head out and find de brudder in the seething mass of happy fans coming down Parnell St. And headed home to hope Wales would finish off a perfect day by beating France.

It was not to be however, Wales may have gotten off to a good start, but in the end France’s class showed out and they won, playing well-within themselves. Bloody French spoiling our party ;)

Linknotes:
  1. after midnight so it was Sat, but still ↩
  2. Sorry Alan ↩
  3. I did see footage of the so-called protest before the match. Two fellas carrying around 5 or 6 signs each ↩
  4. We love Jerry Flannery ↩
Tags: 6nations2007, Amhrán na bhFiann, anthem, B#5, Brian O'Driscoll, Chris Paterson, Croke Park, England, France, GSTQ fuss, Ireland, Ireland V England, Ireland's Call, Italy, Jerry Flannery, Paul O'Connell, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, rugby, Scotland, Shane Horgan, Six Nations, w00t!, Wales, Wooden Spoon

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Feb 11 2007

Gutted

Published by Fence under Sport

Gutted! Revisited.

There is no denying that Croke Park is an impressive venue. I haven’t been there all that often. I don’t remember who was playing for my first visit, but I do remember being asked if anyone had asked us to carry anything into the stadium. It must have been a Sligo game as Dad took us, though I’m not too sure when Sligo would’ve made it to Croker before. My last visit there was for the International Rules, and really, the less said about that the better. ;) My ticket was for the Cusack Stand. Upper tier. So plenty of steps to be climbed, but you get a great view of the surroundings.

001

We had a great rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann[1] and Ireland’s Call. I’m still not sure about Ireland’s Call[2] It sounded great on Sunday, but often it sounds shite, maybe it needs the numbers singing it, or maybe we just aren’t comfortable singing it yet. Whatever, it was great. And yes, the French thingy sounded grand too.[3]
002

But the match itself didn’t really go to plan. France came out all guns blazing, and the ref had issues with his mic tugging as he ran, nothing like listening in to the ref’s mic is there? Still Ireland never panicked, and although errors were made, there were also some wonderful moments. Boss charging down a kick and the sudden hint of a try. Murphy’s wonderful interception to prevent a definite try for the wrong side. But at half time it was France in the lead. And a deserved lead. We were lucky two be only to points behind. And O’Gara’s kicking out of hand wasn’t great. Does he just miss Lansdowne?

Second half and it was almost a reversal, but we couldn’t get the scores, although I think we deserved them. I’m not going to moan about the lack of advantage played by Walsh when Murphy would have scored. Nor about Horan being tackled without the ball. Swings and roundabouts as they say.

Still we went in front, only a point, but still. Victory was within our grasp. And then that lineout, and maul. And a penalty. And we went four in front. With two minutes to go. But we had a problems with the the restarts all day, and before we knew what was what the French were over the line. And with no time left for us to do anything.

So that is it, our Grand Slam dreams over, and only a faint possibility of winning the championship. We gotta hope France slip up and that we win the rest of our games. But this should have been our year.

I’m a fan of Eddie O’Sullivan’s, but I think he messed up bringing Horgan in from the wing. I would have played Trimble in the centre and left Horgan in his usual position. He was just back from injury, and expecting him to slot in and play like BOD was unfair.

There is still England to play at home[4] and then we’re away, travelling to play Scotland and Italy. Fingers crossed that we have no more injuries, and that O’Driscoll is back quickly. And that O’Gara’s ankle injury is the nothing they are all making it out to be.

There are more photos on flickr but they aren’t great quality, too far away. I need a shiny new camera. And also, tickets to the Ireland V England match would be lovely, you know, if you have any to spare.

Linknotes:
  1. wikipedia ↩
  2. wikipedia ↩
  3. see, I can be magnanimous in defeat ↩
  4. and we CANNOT lose that match ↩
Tags: 6nations2007, Amhrán na bhFiann, Croke Park, DAvid Trimble, Eddie O'Sullivan, England, flickr, Geordan Murphy, injury, Ireland, Ireland V France, Ireland's Call, Isaac Boss, Ronan O'Gara, rugby, Shane Horgan, Six Nations

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Mar 21 2006

For the four proud provinces of Ireland

Published by Fence under Honk

Personal opinions are strange things. The way I view something can differ wildly from another perspective. I’m all about the seeing both sides, but sometimes you just want to shout at people to stop being such fucktards and tools. Sometimes.

Today, in the Times there are two letters bemoaning the fact that Amhrán na bhFiann wasn’t played in Twickenham. That the IRFU are sullying our national anthem by playing Ireland’s Call at away matches.

But the IRFU is one of the few all-Ireland bodies on this island. Cross-community initiatives and all that malarky. Why should unionists and loyalists be represented by the anthem of another country? Because whatever you may want, the fact of the matter is that the Republic of Ireland (Éire) and Northern Ireland are two separate entities[1]

Of course, this does then raise the point, well why don’t NI have their own rugby team, and how can we unite two states together to form one national team. But thats the problem with real life. It isn’t all straight lines and easy answers.

“Madam, - Will the IRFU have the decency to play our national anthem in Croke Park?
[subs req'd]

Amhrán na bhFiann will be played in Croke Park, because, if the rugby team do play there next year it will be their home stadium, and they always play both Amhrán na bhFiann and Ireland’s Call at home matches.

In a few days of great celebration here in the UK for Ireland, I had to suffer the indignity once again of hearing an announcement on Friday evening at Kingsholm at the A rugby international and on Saturday at Twickenham that a cheerleaders’ song called Ireland’s Call is my national anthem.
[sub req'd]

Is it really an indignity? and an insult? Really?
Ireland’s Call is not the Irish national anthem, I’ll agree with you there. But it is the anthem the Irish rugby team use. I would prefer is both the anthem and Ireland’s Call were played, but then again I’m not a Northern Irish unionist who wants no part of the republic, am I?

I doubt the Scots complain when we refer to Flower of Scotland as their anthem, when it isn’t, not officially.

Linknotes:
  1. - and no discussion of the politics here right, I’m not interested at the moment ↩
Tags: Amhrán na bhFiann, anthem, Ireland’s Call, IRFU, people are strange

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