I just want to say thanks to Eddie O'Sullivan for being so safe and predictable in his team selection for the forthcoming Six Nations game against Italy. You proved me right Eddie (see 28th Jan Blog entry 'Steady Eddie'). I owe you a pint!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Long Live Luke
This Wednesday, January 30th, will mark the 24th anniversary of the death of one of the greatest singers of all time. I don't hesitate one moment when I call Luke Kelly one of the greatest singers of all time. His voice was both powerful and unique, while the audience always heard every word he sang. He immortalised such song like 'The Auld Triangle', 'The Town I Loved So Well' and 'Raglan Road' amongst others. My personal favourite Luke Kelly song was 'Night Visiting Song'. Luke was a member of The Dubliners from 1962-63 and from 1964-84.
In June 1980, while performing at a concert in Cork, Luke collapsed onstage. It was later discovered that Luke had a brain tumour. Luke bravelly continued to perform, sometimes forgetting the lines of songs on stage. On January 30th, 1984, Luke passed away. He was only 43 years of age.
As long as we remember Luke, then his legend will live on.
In June 1980, while performing at a concert in Cork, Luke collapsed onstage. It was later discovered that Luke had a brain tumour. Luke bravelly continued to perform, sometimes forgetting the lines of songs on stage. On January 30th, 1984, Luke passed away. He was only 43 years of age.
As long as we remember Luke, then his legend will live on.
"On Raglan Road of an Autumn day I saw her first and knew, That her dark hair would weave a snare That I might one day rue, I saw the danger and I passed, Along the enchanted way, And I said let grief be a fallen leaf, At the dawning of the day…."
Safety First for Steady Eddie
Right off im going to name the starting 15 players to play Italy in Croke Park this Saturday (Febuary 2nd). They are Fullback Girvan Dempsey, Centers Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon Darcy, Wings Geordan Murphy and Andrew Trimble with Ronan O' Gara and Eoin Reddan as the half backs. The back row forwards will be David Wallace, Dennis Leamy and Simon Easterby. Second Rows will be Donnacha O'Callaghan and Malcolm O'Kelly. Finally the front row will be John Hayes, Marcus Horan and Rory Best.
In typical Eddie O'Sullivan fashion you can safely assume there will be little if no suprises to the starting line up for Ireland's Six Nation Opener against Italy this weekend. Eddie plays it safe. There's no suprise there and there's nothin wrong with that. But after the disaster that was Ireland's World Cup Campiagn last year, surely it's time to look forward and not back. Surely it's time to push the boat out a bit Eddie.
But Eddie is stubborn. He doesn't take kindly to any criticism. He says the squad of 22 was picked based on form yet the likes of Shane Jennings and Keith Glesson who have being in fine form Leinster this year, were'nt even considered for the orginal training squad. I believe Easterby will start the Italy game as without Paul O' Connell the forward pack is lacking a strong and experienced pack leader. Reddan will start ahead of Stringer because Eddie dropped Stringer for Reddan during the World Cup and Eddie doesn't like saying or showing he was wrong. Even after the diaster that was Ulster's Heineken Cup Campaign this year I believe Trimble will start on the wing ahead of Munster's Brian Carney. I'm basing this selection on his try against Gloucester in the last round of the Heineken and Eddie's unwavering support of Trimble. The person most likely to suffer this campaign is once again Geordan Murphy. Eddie doesn't have faith in Murphy's ability (which is startling!!) and has dropped him numerous times. Geordan needs to be loved and believed in, which he is at his club Leicester, where his performances have been excellent. I fear only a hat-trick of tries against Italy will stop Geordan losing his place to Shane Horgan (if fit) for the France game. Also Geordan didn't have the best of times the last time he faced France. Eddie remembers don't you worry! Finally Jamie Heaslip will, like Tony Buckley, will come off the bench to replace Easterby and Hayes respectively. Heaslip has been one of the most consistant players this year and only for the fact that the forwards need an experienced pack leader he would be starting.
By tommorrow Eddie may have read this and just to spite me he may push the boat out and name a different starting 15. Go on Eddie. I dare you!
In typical Eddie O'Sullivan fashion you can safely assume there will be little if no suprises to the starting line up for Ireland's Six Nation Opener against Italy this weekend. Eddie plays it safe. There's no suprise there and there's nothin wrong with that. But after the disaster that was Ireland's World Cup Campiagn last year, surely it's time to look forward and not back. Surely it's time to push the boat out a bit Eddie.
But Eddie is stubborn. He doesn't take kindly to any criticism. He says the squad of 22 was picked based on form yet the likes of Shane Jennings and Keith Glesson who have being in fine form Leinster this year, were'nt even considered for the orginal training squad. I believe Easterby will start the Italy game as without Paul O' Connell the forward pack is lacking a strong and experienced pack leader. Reddan will start ahead of Stringer because Eddie dropped Stringer for Reddan during the World Cup and Eddie doesn't like saying or showing he was wrong. Even after the diaster that was Ulster's Heineken Cup Campaign this year I believe Trimble will start on the wing ahead of Munster's Brian Carney. I'm basing this selection on his try against Gloucester in the last round of the Heineken and Eddie's unwavering support of Trimble. The person most likely to suffer this campaign is once again Geordan Murphy. Eddie doesn't have faith in Murphy's ability (which is startling!!) and has dropped him numerous times. Geordan needs to be loved and believed in, which he is at his club Leicester, where his performances have been excellent. I fear only a hat-trick of tries against Italy will stop Geordan losing his place to Shane Horgan (if fit) for the France game. Also Geordan didn't have the best of times the last time he faced France. Eddie remembers don't you worry! Finally Jamie Heaslip will, like Tony Buckley, will come off the bench to replace Easterby and Hayes respectively. Heaslip has been one of the most consistant players this year and only for the fact that the forwards need an experienced pack leader he would be starting.
By tommorrow Eddie may have read this and just to spite me he may push the boat out and name a different starting 15. Go on Eddie. I dare you!
Motive behind Strike is Right.
If you support the Cork players in their strike or not isn't the point for this rant. The point is that their motive behind striking is right. The players want to win All Irelands and Munster titles for Cork, be it football or hurling.
If you play for Cork you're expected to win. That's just the way it is. Granted people are going to say this is more Cork arrogance, but screw them!! In terms of GAA honours the supporters and players in Cork have the right to feel arrogant if they want. There's nothing wrong with being confident. Confidence breeds success.With 113 titles at all levels in football and hurling, we have earned that right (as you may have guessed I am from Cork).But i digress...
This strike is the same as the one in 2002, with the exact same principles. The player's are once again fighting for better player conditions, a lack of confidence in the management structure and a county board, who resemble the dark side from Star Wars, yearning for complete power.But on the basis of what happened after the 2002 strike (Cork won three out of the next four Munster championships and reached four consecutive All-Ireland finals, winning two) the player's strike was proven right. The player's were left with no option but to go out and prove they were right to stike by winning a few All Irelands. Hopefully the same will follow after this strike ends. But only time will tell.
The man i feel most sorry is Teddy Holland, the Cork football manager(for the time being anyway). Teddy served as a Cork senior and U-21 selector and managed the Cork minor footballers to two Munster titles and an All-Ireland in 2000. Unfortunetly for Teddy he took up the post of senior football manager while the players were protesting about the process of appointing selectors. Some people might think it was a foolish and naive thing to do but in retrospect he had no choice. Teddy has being involved with football in Cork for over 30 years and finally the chance presents itself for him to manage at the highest level. You may only get one chance to fulfill this ambition so you have to take it. If he had said no to the job he would have alienated himself from the Cork County Board members who put his name forward.
Personally I think Teddy Holland was made a scape goat by the blazers in the Cork County Board who must have seen this strike coming after the departure of Billy Morgan. The row was well under way before Teddy was appointed manager. The Cork County Board needed the heat taken off them for awhile so they appointed the first person who would accept the job.Teddy was that man. Personally i think the player's had no issue with Teddy before he took the post. Before being the key word here. Once he accepted the job Teddy alienated himself from the players and was seen to be in cahoots with the County Board.
So who knows what is going to happen. The possibility of a Hurling and Football All Ireland Campaign without Cork could happen. On both sides off the equation (players and County Board) are some very strong willed and proud individuals. Are the County Board going to reverse a decision they have made twice? If the players give in the strike is pointless.
Ironically the Cork arrogance i mentioned above may come back to haunt us. Whoever represents Cork on the field will be expected to win by the Cork public, which may come at a cost of losing some of the most established and experienced players on both panels. Whatever happens the whole scenario has left a nasty taste in everybodies mouth....well everybody in Cork that is!
If you play for Cork you're expected to win. That's just the way it is. Granted people are going to say this is more Cork arrogance, but screw them!! In terms of GAA honours the supporters and players in Cork have the right to feel arrogant if they want. There's nothing wrong with being confident. Confidence breeds success.With 113 titles at all levels in football and hurling, we have earned that right (as you may have guessed I am from Cork).But i digress...
This strike is the same as the one in 2002, with the exact same principles. The player's are once again fighting for better player conditions, a lack of confidence in the management structure and a county board, who resemble the dark side from Star Wars, yearning for complete power.But on the basis of what happened after the 2002 strike (Cork won three out of the next four Munster championships and reached four consecutive All-Ireland finals, winning two) the player's strike was proven right. The player's were left with no option but to go out and prove they were right to stike by winning a few All Irelands. Hopefully the same will follow after this strike ends. But only time will tell.
The man i feel most sorry is Teddy Holland, the Cork football manager(for the time being anyway). Teddy served as a Cork senior and U-21 selector and managed the Cork minor footballers to two Munster titles and an All-Ireland in 2000. Unfortunetly for Teddy he took up the post of senior football manager while the players were protesting about the process of appointing selectors. Some people might think it was a foolish and naive thing to do but in retrospect he had no choice. Teddy has being involved with football in Cork for over 30 years and finally the chance presents itself for him to manage at the highest level. You may only get one chance to fulfill this ambition so you have to take it. If he had said no to the job he would have alienated himself from the Cork County Board members who put his name forward.
Personally I think Teddy Holland was made a scape goat by the blazers in the Cork County Board who must have seen this strike coming after the departure of Billy Morgan. The row was well under way before Teddy was appointed manager. The Cork County Board needed the heat taken off them for awhile so they appointed the first person who would accept the job.Teddy was that man. Personally i think the player's had no issue with Teddy before he took the post. Before being the key word here. Once he accepted the job Teddy alienated himself from the players and was seen to be in cahoots with the County Board.
So who knows what is going to happen. The possibility of a Hurling and Football All Ireland Campaign without Cork could happen. On both sides off the equation (players and County Board) are some very strong willed and proud individuals. Are the County Board going to reverse a decision they have made twice? If the players give in the strike is pointless.
Ironically the Cork arrogance i mentioned above may come back to haunt us. Whoever represents Cork on the field will be expected to win by the Cork public, which may come at a cost of losing some of the most established and experienced players on both panels. Whatever happens the whole scenario has left a nasty taste in everybodies mouth....well everybody in Cork that is!
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