D.C.U. stamp their class to overpower a spirited U.L. in Sigerson Preliminary Round

29-01-2013

D.C.U. (Dublin)                 1-14

U.L. (Limerick)                  0-08

 

 

Under slippery underfoot conditions and with a swirling wind making it difficult for both teams to play against, a star studded D.C.U. team justified their favourites tag with a comfortable win over the home side U.L. in this preliminary round game of the 2013 Irish Daily Mail HE Sigerson Cup.

The visitors, who could count in their ranks inter county stars such as 2012 Donegal All Ireland winning captain Michael Murphy, the Dublin trio of Paul Flynn, James McCarthy and Philly Ryan and Longford’s Michael Quinn, stamped their authority from the outset, and playing with the aid of a very strong wind, they had built up a 0-7 to 0-3 half time lead.

Credit to the home side however for battling away against the inclement conditions in the first half and in particular after finding themselves 0-5 to 0-0 behind after 20 minutes after D.C.U. scores from Philly Ryan(2), Michael Quinn and a brace of frees by Michael Murphy.

Driven on by the Brian McGuire(Kerry), David Nib lock (Cork), Paul Conroy(Galway) and Alan Moloney(Tipperary), U.L. began to fight their way back in to the game and had reduced the deficit to 0-5 to 0-2 by the 27^th minute after points from play by both Conroy and Moloney.

U.L had also introduced Dr Crokes and Kerry’s Fionn Fitzgerald at this juncture and he was helping to shore up their full back line somewhat.  D.C.U. extended their lead once more with quick fire scores in the 30^th and 31^st minutes from Quinn and a further free from Murphy.  Murphy’s accuracy and skill from dead balls was a significant asset to the visitors in such testing conditions.

However, U.L. responded once more with a further point from play in injury time at the end of the first half from full forward Paul Whyte (Waterford) and the teams retreated to the heat of the dressing rooms on a scoreline of 0-7 to 0-3.

U.L. coach Declan O’Keeffe would have hoped that his half time speech and the benefit of the strong wind would lift his team at the start of the second half but instead it was the visitors who kicked on and had extended their lead to 0-11 to 0-4 by the 41^st minute with scores from Murphy(2), Dean Rock and Paul Flynn.  These scores sandwiched a beautiful score from play by U.L.’s full forward Paul Whyte(Waterford) who was starting to cause the visitor’s full back line some problems.

And they had a glorious goal chance to reduce the deficit even further in the 43^rd minute but Paul Conroy’s goal bound effort was half blocked by a D.C.U. defender and it whizzed over the bar.  And the game was put to bed 3 minutes later when a quick fire move by the visitors resulted in Flynn playing a high ball in to the square and Dean Rock rose above keeper and defender to fist to the net leaving the score 1-11 to 0-5.

Points were traded by D.C.U.’s Philly Ryan and Fiontan O’Curraoin(Galway) and U.L.’s  Whyte(2) and sub Denis Keoghane(Cork) before U.L. had one last goal chance.  However, sub Barry John Walsh’s(Kerry) piledriver was expertly saved by keeper Conor Boyle and the subsequent follow up was fisted wide.

There was time for D.C.U to tag on one final point through Philly Ryan again before referee Conor Lane blew his full time whistle with D.C.U. running out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-8.

The winners were best served on the day by the industry of Paul Flynn at centre forward, the accuracy of Michael Murphy from placed balls and the four points from play by the livewire corner forward Philly Ryan.  U.L. were best served by Brian McGuire, Paul Conroy, Alan Moloney and full forward Paul Whyte who was a constant outlet for his teammates, particularly in the second half.

Scorers:

D.C.U.:  Paul Flynn (1 pt), Michael Murphy (5 pts, 4 frees), Michael Quinn (2 pts), Dean Rock (1 gl, 1 pt), Philly Ryan (4 pts), Fiontan O’Curraoin (1 pt)

U.L.: Paul Conroy (2 pts), Alan Moloney (1 pt), Paul Whyte (4 pts), Denis Keohane (1 pt)

Star Man: Paul Flynn, D.C.U.

One to Watch: Paul Whyte, U. L.

 

Finuge firepower to the fore as they advance to All Ireland Intermediate Club Football Final

Finuge (Kerry)                              0-09

Monasterevin (Kildare)              0-05

On a bitingly cold day at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick, Kerry and Munster champions Finuge advanced to the AIB All Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship final after a hard earned, but well deserved, victory over Kildare and Leinster champions Monasterevin.

At the end of a low scoring first half, Finuge had played against a very strong wind and would have been happy to reach the half time break on level terms.  In the second half, the star names in their team such as Paul Galvin, Eamon Fitzmaurice and Maurice Corridon came to the fore and started to dictate matters.  Even though they had a substantial wide count in this second half they had the necessary firepower to drive them to victory in the end.  Monasterevin, although very spirited opponents, were very Kildare-esque in that they failed to covert large periods of possession in to scores, particularly in the first half when playing with the very significant wind.

Finuge made one change to the team selected with Stephen Power coming in for Jack Corridon at wing forward while Monasterevin made two changes with Christy Dempsey coming in for Cormac Brady at wing forward and Wayne Fitzpatrick replacing Gavin Holligan at full forward.

As the game commenced Finuge switched Paul Galvin out to midfield with Michael Conway moving in to the full forward line and corner forward Raymond Galvin moving out to the wing.  Full Forward and new Kerry Manager, Eamon Fitzmaurice, fresh from his maiden success in the McGrath Cup with his charges, also drifted out towards midfield to assist his colleagues in playing against the elements.

Monasterevin started the brighter and had the first wide of the game in the opening seconds.  Finuge responded however and opened the scoring in the 3^rd minute with a deflected shot by wing back Paudie Galvin which split the posts.  And not to be outdone, Monasterevin corner back David Maher, who was roaming up the pitch at every opportunity, levelled the scores from play immediately.

Finuge were playing a two man full forward line at this juncture of the little and large combination of James Flaherty and Mike Conway.  However, with very little quick ball coming in they were starved of possession and their colleagues were struggling to break down the blanket their opponents had across their half back line.

Things improved in the 8^th minute when Eamon Fitzmaurice was fouled and Maurice Corridon converted.  It then looked like the scores would be tied up once more in the 11^th minute when Monasterevin corner forward Gary Kelly kicked for a point but he was unlucky that his shot came back off the upright and Finuge cleared.

The first clear goal chance of the game arrived in the 16^th minute when, after a defence splitting move, Flaherty set up Conway whose shot was expertly saved at point blank range by keeper Colin McCabe.  In the ensuing scramble there was a further block down by the Monasterevin defence and finally the ball was cleared.  The cheer from the Monasterevin fans, who far outnumbered their opponents, were raucous and lifted their team for the remainder of the half.

Maurice Corridon extended Finuge’s lead with a further free in the 17^th minute after Flaherty was held back.  A strong gale had picked up at this stage and Finuge were finding it difficult to play their way out from the back.  Their ploy of playing back to their keeper to instigate moves was met with agitated groans from their supporters in the stand.  Monasterevin continued to play themselves in to favourable scoring positions but were struggling to convert these chances.

Full Forward Wayne Fitzpatrick, roaming out the field now found his scoring boots and after a 45 was tipped over by Finuge keeper Cillian Fitzmaurice, he kicked a booming point from play in the 28^th minute to tie up the scores.  With the momentum now with them they had an opportunity to take the lead heading in to half time, but after a dangerous free which was fisted across goal, Finuge cleared and the half time whistle went with both teams tied at 0-3 apiece.

The whispers in the stand at half time were that with Finuge having the wind at their backs in the second half, they should revert to a three man full forward line with Eamon Fitzmaurice the focal point at the edge of the square.  The results were not immediate however and as in the first half, Monasterevin took the initiative and the lead for the first time in the game when midfielder Leonard Havens surged forward and pointed form play.  Within two minutes however Fitzmaurice made his first meaningful impact when kicking a beautiful score which sailed from left to right to tie the scores once more by the 39^th minute.

The Finuge machine was now clicking in to gear and, after a slow start to second half, Paul Galvin was now winning break after break around the middle.  He fed his colleague Fitzmaurice once more in the 53th minute and he showed great strength to fist over and give Finuge the lead once more at 0-5 to 0-4.  Monasterevin had a great opportunity to level again but kicked a very poor wide from a close in free.

The game was now very much turning Finuge’s favour and they extended the lead in the 41^st minute with a point from play by diminutive, but dynamic, corner forward James Flaherty.  And the lead should have been extended further but for wides from Flaherty, Stephen Power, Corridon from a free and Paul Galvin after another Corridon attempt from play had come back off the upright.  Thankfully, on this day, these misses were not to prove costly.

Monasterevin continued to battle away, and after impressive wing back Paul Kelly had driven forward once more, he set up midfielder Leonard Havens for his second point of the game.  This, however, was as good as it got for the Kildare men.

After two influential catches by Corridon in the middle, Finuge drove on and kicked three quick fire points from play by wing back Paudie Galvin, Corridon again and Flaherty between the 23^rd and 26^th minutes.  In a game played in difficult conditions, with the scoreline so close up to this point, these scores were enough to drive Finuge to victory and they closed out the game without any anxious moments.

Finuge now advance to an All Ireland Final appearance against Cookstown of Tyrone on Saturday, February 9^th.  Manager John Colbert will be delighted that his team have made it to that stage as semi finals are all about just winning.  Although they struggled against the conditions and the oppositions packed defence in the first half, their main men came to the fore in the second half and they will need these men to perform at an even higher level in the showpiece if they are to bring home the spoils.

As for Monasterevin, they put it up to their more vaunted opponents but did not create enough scoring opportunities to win the game.  They had very accomplished performers however in wing back Paul Kelly, the roaming full forward Wayne Fitzpatrick and midfielder Leonard Havens whose two points from play could not be faulted.

Man of the Match: Paul Galvin, Finuge

Teams and Scorers:

Finuge: Cillian Fitzmaurice, C. Allen(c), T. McKenna, D. McCarthy, P. Galvin (2 pts), P. Corridan(c), Conor Fitzmaurice, M. Conway, M. Corridon (3 pts, 2 frees), P. Galvin, J. Griffin, S. Power, J. Flaherty (2 pts), E. Fitzmaurice (2 pts), R. Galvin

Replacements:  E. Galvin (for R. Galvin 49 mins), F. Fitzmaurice (for S. Power 57 mins), R. Heffernan (for J. Flaherty 61 mins)

Monasterevin: C. McCabe, T. Kennedy, J. Dempsey (c), D. Maher (1 pt), P. Kelly, M. Cornish, J. Gorry, L. Havens (2 pts), E. Stapleton, S. O’Loughlin, A. Kavanagh, C. Dempsey, M. Kelly, W. Fitzpatrick (2 pts), G. Kelly

Replacements: C. Stapleton (for S. O’Loughlin 28 mins), G. Holligan (for G. Kelly 28 mins), S. O’Loughlin (for M. Kelly 51 mins), C. Brady (for C. Dempsey 59 mins)

Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)

 

 

Italia '90 - the magical nights of "Toto" Schillaci

Jackie Charlton, Eoin Hand, Johnny Giles, Ireland
Mick McCarthy, Stephen Staunton, Cascarino
Tony Galvin, Niall Quinn, Packie doesn't let em in
North of Ireland, South of Ireland, Only one can go

Paul McGrath, Back Four, Aldridge got another score
World Cup, English Clubs, Kevin Moran and the Dubs
European Championship, How can we forget the trip
Andy Townsend, Kevin Sheedy, Stapleton's a supersub

We're gonna start a fire, And when Rome is burning
there'll be no returning
We're gonna start a fire, We have Jack to mind us
and the fans behind us

I was 12 years of age.  I had the sticker album.  I can even remember the World Cup motto so vividly – “Italia ’90, I’d watch out for it if I were you!

It was such a historic occasion with the Republic of Ireland’s first appearance in a World Cup Finals.  Group games against England, Egypt and Holland was enough to whet any soccer fans appetite.  The memories come flooding back of the first group game against England in Cagliairi on a Monday evening, June 11^th 1990.  England’s ace marksman Gary Lineker had put the English ahead with a bundled finish in the 9^th minute.  However, Everton’s favourite son, Kevin Sheedy, equalised with a sweeping finish across Peter Shilton in the 73^rd minute and the game finished all square.  We were up and running!  

As hosts the Italians had gone in to this tournament as favourites to win the competition on home soil.  In their opening group game against Austria in Rome, they had struggled to break down a rugged Austrian side.  In the 75^th minute coach Azeglio Vicini took the bold decision of replacing the misfiring striker Andrea Carnevale with the virtually unknown Salvatore “Toto” Schillaci.  It took the little man from Palermo just 3 minutes to shake off obscurity and head what would be the winner in the 78^th minute from a perfect whipped cross by Gianluca Vialli.  The Notti Magiche di Totò Schillaci (magical nights of Totò Schillaci) had begun.

 

As an Irish fan being well accustomed to the underdog role, the tale of Schillaci was intriguing. Signed by Juventus in the summer of 1989 for his debut Serie A campaign, Schillaci made the step up seamlessly, netting in important matches such as the UEFA Cup ¼ Final first leg in Hamburg.  The season ended with Juventus winning both the UEFA Cup and the Italian Cup.  “Toto” finished as Juventus top scorer with 15 goals in 30 games, behind only Marco Van Basten (19 goals), Roberto Baggio (17 goals) and Diego Maradoona (16 goals) in the Italian top goalscorer chart.  He had timed his run perfectly and was called in to the Italian squad by coach Vicini just months out from the start of the World Cup.

In their second group game against the USA in Rome, “Toto” was once more sprung from the bench by coach Vicini for the underperforming Carnevale.  The Italians scraped through on a 1-0 scoreline and had in turn qualified for the second round of the competition.

Meanwhile, as the Irish Nation was shutting down for our Group F games, we now faced the pretty much unknown Egyptians in our second group game in Palermo.  It was a Sunday evening game which ended in a underwhelming 0-0 draw.  Should we have shown the Egyptians more respect after they had a very creditable 1-1 draw against the Dutch in their opening group game?  Regardless, my only abiding memory of that game is returning home that evening after a Track & Field event, interrupting my poor grandmother who was watching the News to check the up to date score and slumping in the coach with the realisation that we were not putting a cricket score on these unknown Africans.  And of course it was the night of Eamon Dunphy’s famous reaction stating that he was “embarrassed and ashamed of the performance”.

Butragueño, Hungary, We scared the Dutch in Germany
Charlie Hurley, Liam Tuohy, Opel Invest
Ray Houghton, Liverpool, Ronnie Whelan's so cool
O'Leary in the Sunday World, Con is in the press

Stuttgart was no dream, now we have a winning team
Billy Bingham, Budapest, Man of Magic, Georgie Best
Eamon Dunphy writes it down, Dalymount to Landsdowne
English Football in a mess, Trouble on the Terraces

We're gonna start a fire, And when Rome is burning
there'll be no returning

We're gonna start a fire, We have Jack to mind us
and the fans behind us

Having already been assured of their place in the second round, “Toto” and his teammates would now top their group if they defeated Czechoslovakia in their final group game in Rome.  He was paired up front with Roberto Baggio and they both scored in a 2-0 win.  Schillachi had now cemented his place in the team and was fastly becoming a firm fans favourite.

Meanwhile, on a balmly Thursday evening in Palermo, my beloved Irish team were taking on a Dutch team of superstars such as Frank Rijkaard, Ronald Koeman, Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten to see who would qualify for the next stage of the competition.  Both teams had drawn their opening two fixtures so a win would be viewed as essential in order to ensure qualification.  It did not take the Dutch long to stamp their undoubted class on the game with Gullit firing them ahead in the 11^th minute.  Our no nonsense style of play drew criticism from those wanting a more sophisticated style of play.  But while we may have lacked the individual brilliance to win games like some of the other top teams, we as a team fought to the bitter end.  And so it proved again.  Oh, the memories! Packie Bonnar’s grimace,  his long punt down field.  Hans Van Breukelen fumbles and Niall Quinn stretches to capitalise and equalise in the 71^st minute.  Big Jack’s simple formation of 10 defenders, 10 midfielders and 10 strikers with Packie in goal behind had worked once more.  The nation rejoiced.  With 3 draws each and an identical goals tally, both teams went through to the second round along with the English who topped the group.  How three teams qualified from the group I still find hard to fathom!  After the drawing of lots for positions in the second round of games, the Dutch drew the short straw with a meeting with West Germany (the game of the famous spitting incident between Rijkaard and Rudi Voller) and we went on to Genoa to play Romania.  Happy Days!

Schillaci continued his astonishing tournament to date in the second round game in Rome against Uruguay.  In the 65^th minute he smashed home an unstoppable, swerving drive to send the Italians on their way to a comfortable 2-0 win. 

Matters were by no means as clear cut in Genoa between Ireland and Romania and after 120 minutes of sterile, safety first football, a penalty shoot out would decide if we would make it to Rome to face the hosts in the quarter finals.  Step forward Sheedy, Houghton, Townsend and Cascarino to equal the efforts of Hagi, Lupu, Rotariu and Lupescu.  Up next is Romanian sub Daniel Timofte.  Bonnar stares him down and dives to his right and saves.  The old warrior Dave O’Leary then steps up.  If he scores then we can start planning the trip to Rome.  He duly obliges, at our first World Cup we are now through to the ¼ finals.  Sick leave is extended, houses are re-mortgaged, cars are sold off, marriages are in danger, all to take in this historic occasion.  And a meeting with the Pope by the players thrown in to the mix!!

Dasayev, Sócrates, Maradona, Ardiles,
Puskás, Bessonov, René van de Kerkhof,
Hamilton, Jim Magee, Saint And Greavsie on TV,
Maradona, Hand of God, Brady should be in the Squad

Chris Morris, score draw, Don Givens, Denis Law,
Eusebio, Junior, Ronnie Whelan Senior
Pelé #10, We'll never see his like again
Goycockea's meaner, Champions, Argentina

We're gonna start a fire, And when Rome is burning
there'll be no returning

We're gonna start a fire, We have Jack to mind us
and the fans behind us

Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Saturday 30^th June 1990.  The day the country stood still.  Jimmy McGee’s commentary.  Paul McGrath wrongly called back for offside in the early minutes.  Walter Zenga in goal for Italy.  I always wanted to pull that chain off his neck!  And then in the 17^th minute, disaster struck.  I can still hear Jimmy vividly....Donadoni.................Schillaciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii as Bonnar stumbled when parrying  Donadoni’s effort.  We battled gamely but Schillaci was unlucky not to double his tally with a thunderous free kick in the second half which cannoned off the crossbar and a dubious offside decision in the final minute.  He was later quoted as saying “it was the hardest goal I had to score.  Ireland under Jack Charlton was the most robust team we faced”.  So the dream was over for us.  However, the national morale boost was enough to kick start a sleeping giant.  Or the Celtic Tiger as it became known!!  But the man who had only one cap to his name prior to the tournament now had 4 goals in 5 games at the World Cup finals.  The name Schillaci was resonating around the world. 

And the Schillaci fairytale continued in the semi final meeting with defending champions Argentina in Naples.  In the 17^th minute “Toto”, with the eyes of a hawk, hammers home the rebound after a thumping volley from Vialli was parried by Argentina keeper Goycochea.  However, in what developed in to a very cynical encounter, the Argentinian defence would not allow Schillaci such freedom again.  As the game went on, and with the weight of expectation of a nation on their shoulders, the Italians became more anxious and Argentina finally equalised through Claudio Caniggia.  The game went to extra time and a subsequent penalty shoot out.  Goycochea became the hero saving from both Donadoni and Aldo Serena.  Schillaci did not take a spot kick and gave the reason as follows “I had a muscular injury to my leg and I was tired so I thought I would leave it to someone in better condition than me and someone better at taking penalties”.  He looked on in horror as Italy’s World Cup dream was brought to a shuddering and painful halt.

Netherlands, Egypt, England got a free trip
Pleaded, Seeded, Because of their supporters
Ruud Gullit might be out, Holland wouldn't have a shout
Hoddle and Waddle, Have they got the bottle?
We have England in the draw, And the Dutch like before
One thing that we're grateful for, We didn't get the Mafia

We're gonna start a fire, And when Rome is burning
there'll be no returning

We're gonna start a fire, We have Jack to mind us
and the fans behind us

Toto was not done yet however.  In the 3^rd/4^th place play off in Bari against England, he scored, ironically, an 86^th minute penalty to secure a 2-1 victory.  Italy had finished third and Schillaci had won the Golden Boot award with six goals ahead of Czechoslovakia’s Thomas Skuhravy.  He became the second Italian footballer to do so after Paulo Rossi in Spain in 1982.  He also won the Golden Ball award – handed to the best player of the tournament – in recognition of a string of performances that captured the imagination of the watching world and made him a hero in Italy.  There was even a racehorse in Australia named after him following his exploits.

“Toto” retired from international competition with seven goals in sixteen caps, his seventh and last goal scored against Norway in 1991.  Alas, he had failed to keep up this scintillating form for either club or country.  Injuries persisted during his next two seasons at Juventus where he added just eleven further goals before being sold on to Inter Milan.  Pundits began to label him with the unfortunate tag as a one hit wonder.  He will forever be remembered however for the big grinned, screaming celebrations as he took Italy on a rollercoaster ride through the 1990 competition.

He was quoted in 2010 as saying “The World Cup experience was amazing and unique.  Every player would dream to take part in a World Cup like that one.  It was amazing for me which allows me to be known all over the world, even twenty years on.  It feels like yesterday, they were really magic nights”.

He was the very definition of an underdog story, one that no-one saw coming, and who better to appreciate that than our own nation of followers who appreciate, and sit more comfortably with, the underdog tag better than almost any other nation in international sport.

Seeded in Sicily, Off the coast of Italy
6 hour boat trip, We can take the hardship
But the fans couldn't care, They can travel anywhere
No one else can match the sound, Our supporters bring around

June 11, English Game, We can do the trick again
Egypt next and then the Dutch, Its the second round for us
When we finally get to Rome, No one will be left at home
Aldridge is about to score, Listen to the Irish Roar

We're gonna start a fire, And when Rome is burning
there'll be no returning

We'll bring the Sam Maguire, We have Jack to mind us
and the fans behind us

 

    

Duagh end 50 year wait to capture coveted North Kerry Senior Football Championship

06-01-2013

Duagh                   0-09

Beale                    0-06

The famine is finally over! When Duagh last captured the North Kerry Senior Football Championship back in 1962, the Late Late Show was aired for the first time, Fianna Fail were in power under Sean Lemass and Kerry had just lifted the Sam Maguire for the 20^th time.

A lot of water under the bridge in that time so there were great scenes of joy as captain Kieran Quirke lifted the Eamon O’Donoghue cup aloft.  In a rousing speech he remembered all those who had soldiered manfully in the Duagh jersey over the years without any success and remembered the great men of the last Duagh winning team including Matt Dillon, Dan McAuliffe and captain on the day Billy McCarthy.  

In perfect playing conditions and in front of another exceptional crowd at Frank Sheehy Park, Listowel, this second joust between Duagh and Beale was every bit as riveting as the drawn encounter a week previously.  It was a great team performance by Duagh and they seemed to have learned more from the drawn game.  The calmer conditions seemed to suit their light, but buzzing, forward line and they did not allow Beale a cushion on the scoreboard early on which they had done the previous week.

Beale lined out as selected on the match programme while Duagh made two changes with Diarmuid Foley coming in for John Sheeran at wing back and Denny Lane replacing Stephen Moran at midfield.  There were positional switches also at the throw in with Beale’s Jeremy King moving out from his corner back berth to midfield to mark Anthony Maher and James McMahon also switching with Declan Bambury in the middle.

As in the drawn game Beale hit the ground running and Beale playmaker James McMahon opened the scoring in the first minute with a curling effort from play.  They had an opportunity to extend their lead in the 3^rd minute but corner forward Ian Blake was wide to the right from a 45.

After Duagh full forward Martin Scannell had their first opportunity of the day which he kicked wide, Beale broke at pace and after great work by James McMahon and Tom Joy, they had a great goal opportunity but the ball landed in to the hands of a grateful Duagh defender on the goal line and they cleared the danger.

It was a let off for Duagh and they responded immediately with quick fire points from play from both Kieran Duffy and Nigel O’Connor by the 10^th minute.  Beale then had a further goal chance but wing forward Jake O’Connell hesitated for a split second and his attempted shot was deflected out for a 45 which came to nothing.

Duagh extended their lead in the 13^th minute with a concerted free by Anthony Maher after a late challenge on him by Ian Blake.  And Maher had a chance to extend the lead further in the 18^th minute but was unsuccessful after great approach work by Nigel O’Connor.  The corner forward was roaming out the field at this juncture and was winning a lot of breaking ball and causing his marker plenty of problems.

The pressure continued to mount on the Beale defence and Martin Scannell extended Duagh’s lead with two converted frees in the 19^th and 22^nd minutes.  Duagh were a little aggrieved in the first instance when the referee blew for a free when they felt advantage could have been played with corner forward Kieran Duffy through on goal.

Beale had moved Jeremy King to centre forward at this juncture on Kieran Quirke with Declan Bambury moving back to his more customary midfield berth.  Beale’s Ian Blake was wide from a free and from play before corner forward Tom Joy was hauled down when heading straight for goal after a great solo run along the sideline.  Blake converted this time and when Duagh lost possession from the kick out, they were penalised and Blake converted once again to leave them trailing by 0-05 to 0-03 at the half time break.  

Beale hit the ground running at the start of the second half and a mazy run by James McMahon resulted in him fisting over the bar and now the game was really hotting up.  Tensions were high at this juncture and Kieran Quirke was yellow carded for a high challenge and Anthony Maher was lucky not to be booked for an off the ball incident.

James McMahon had the chance to level matters in the 36^th minute but his attempt was short in to the keeper’s hands.  Duagh responded with a converted free by Martin Scannell to extend their lead to 0-06 to 0-04 but this was cancelled out in the 39^th minute with a further free converted by Blake.

Beale then received a hammer blow in the 42^nd minute when influential centre back Paul Collins was dismissed for striking Nigel O’Connor off the ball after referee Seamus Mulvihill has consulted both the linesman and his umpires. 

The play was now swinging from end to end with chances cropping up on both sides.  Firstly, Beale substitute Paul Horgan had an attempt for a point which was well held by Duagh keeper Jer Kelly under his crossbar.  The play then went up the field and Nigel O’Connor had a great goal chance which was well saved by Beale keeper Sean Dee.

Beale reduced the deficit to the minimum in the 48^th minute when, after a free taken short by James McMahon, wingback Shane Joy fetched the ball expertly, swivelled and lofted the ball over the bar.  Duagh showed their mettle however and responded immediately with a point from play by centre forward Maurice O’Connor.

Beale now seemed to be panicking a little and were going for goal when the easier option of taking a point would have been the better way to go.  And Duagh drilled home their advantage in the 54^th minute when, after a great run by wing forward Joey Shanahan, he kicked an inspirational point from play.  You could now sense from the Duagh players and from the vociferous supporters in the stand that they were not to be denied this time around.

Entering the final minute of the game, Beale midfielder Declan Bambury went for goal with a final desperate attempt to salvage matters but his shot flew across the face of goal and wide.  The game was now up for Beale and substitute Jason Carmody kicked the insurance score for Duagh with a booming point from play.  Que the hysteria as referee Seamus Mulvihill blew the final whistle. 

Man of the Match: Jer Kelly, Duagh

Teams and Scorers:

Duagh: J. Kelly, T. McMahon, J. O’Brien, A. O’Connor, T. Scanlon, K. Quirke(c), D. Foley, A. Maher (1 free), D. Lane, P. Sheeran, M. O’Connor (1 pt), J. Shanahan (1 pt), K. Duffy (1 pt), M. Scannell (3 pts, 3 frees), N. O’Connor (1 pt) Replacement: Jason Carmody (1pt)

Beale: S. Dee(c), J. King, C. Kissane, J. Griffin, S. Joy (1 pt), P. Collins, P. Blake, P. Murphy, D. Bambury, A. O’Connell, J. McMahon (2 pts), J. O’Connell, T. Joy, B. O’Mahoney, I. Blake (3 pts, 3 frees)

 

 

Abject Munster left singing the blues by Cardiff at Musgrave Park

5^th January 2013

Munster                 6

Cardiff                  17

This was not how the script was meant to pan out.

It was the night that Ronan O’Gara became Munster’s most capped player making his 234^th appearance in all competitions in his home ground of Musgrave Park.  Munster were also due to beat the travel sick Welsh side fairly comfortably and set themselves up nicely for their crucial Heineken Cup double header against Edinburgh and Racing Metro over the next fortnight.  And the perception was that the Blues would be the lambs to the slaughter which they have been for most of this season on their travels and no more so than in their inept performance against Leinster at the RDS in late October. 

However, due to a combination of Cardiff not reading the script and Munster performing well under par, making a number of unforced errors and with a general malaise that spread through the team, the visitors ran out somewhat easy winners in the end and even denied Munster the losing bonus point which could be crucial towards the business end of the season.

It was hard to fathom from a Munster point of view as to how this game turned out as it did.  O’Gara controlled matters from the boot throughout and penned the Welsh side back in the corners as he has done on so many occasions in his illustrious career.  The Munster scrum was also on top for the majority of the game and their lineout functioned efficiently even though Mike Sherry had to go off injured early in the game to be replaced by Sean Henry.  However, due to the mounting error count the home side could never make their set piece or territorial dominance count and credit must go to Cardiff for taking their opportunities when they came around and by the end Munster had run out of ideas and the Blues were comfortable winners.

Munster made a number of changes from the team that defeated Ulster at Thomond Park last weekend.  Both Donncha Ryan and Tommy O’Donnell were the only surviving members of the pack, O’Gara returned for Ian Keatley at outhalf, Keith Earls returned to partner James Downey at outside centre and Denis Hurley was a late call up for Johne Murphy who had to cry off with a hamstring injury.

After much shadow boxing between both sides in the early exchanges, it was the away side who had the first scoring opportunity of the game.  After Munster pressure in the Cardiff 22, the ball was spilled and fly hacked down the field.  Outhalf Rys Patchell outpaced Dougie Howlett to the chase, but after a poor soccer touch with the line at his mercy, it afforded the retreating Donncha Ryan the opportunity to slide in and carry the ball in to touch.  However, from the resulting Cardiff lineout, the home side were penalised for taking out the support lifters, and outhalf Patchell made no mistake to give Cardiff the lead at 3-0.

The Cardiff backrow were showing they were well up for the fight at this stage and they nearly extended their lead in the 14^th minute when Robin Copeland made a great break from the base of a ruck and it took an equally good cover tackle from fullback Felix Jones to force a knock on and relieve the pressure.  Munster scrum half Conor Murray was injured in this phase of play and he was replaced by Duncan Williams.

With the home crowd now trying to lift their team, Munster made their scrum dominance count in the 20^th minute when Cardiff were penalised for collapsing in their own 22.  O’Gara converted and the sides were now level at 3-3.

Mike Sherry, who had also received a knock in the same phase that forced Murray off, was taken off as a precaution in the 24^th minute with Sean Henry coming on to replace him.  Munster were continuing to go wide at every opportunity at this stage which was commendable but as the unforced errors continued to mount, they seemed to be undoing all their good work.

Patchell had a further opportunity to give Cardiff the lead in the 29^th minute but he was right and wide with a drop goal attempt.  And with half time approaching, centre James Downey ran hard and straight to make some significant yards and after offloading to James Coughlan, he was unlucky to put a foot in touch with the try line yawning.

Both sides retreated therefore to the dressing rooms on level terms with Cardiff obviously the happier side and sensing that there was a great opportunity for them to record their first away victory against Munster since they defeated them at the same venue back in 2007.

And they got off to the perfect start at the beginning of the second half.  After Munster were penalised for not rolling away, Patchell kicked down the line and Cardiff had a good attacking position in the Munster half.  From the resultant line out centre Jamie Roberts popped an inside pass to winger Owen Williams and he knifed through the Munster defence to silence the home crowd.  Patchell converted and Cardiff now led once more by 10-3.

But the men in red got the opportunity to hit back immediately when Bradley Davies was penalised from O’Gara’s kick off and O’Gara himself converted to reduce the deficit to 10-6.  This however was  as good as it was going to get for the home side.

O’Gara’s tactical kicking continued to be on the money but as the fog descended and it became hard to make out the players, it was symbolic of Munster’s struggles to find their men in positive attacking positions.  There seemed to be a collective malfunction, the play was very flat and the groans continued from the crowd with each dropped pass.

Cardiff had an excellent opportunity to kill off the home side in 68^th minute when centre Roberts knifed through once more but winger Williams seemed to overrun him at the crucial time and Roberts pass was deemed to be forward with the try line at Williams mercy.  However, they did not have to wait long to make amends.

After a fumble by scrum half Duncan Williams when Munster were breaking out of their own half, backrow Copeland picked up the loose ball, evaded a couple of would be tacklers and touched down in the corner.  The conversion was converted expertly by Patchell from the touchline to extend the Cardiff lead to 17-6.

Munster tried to raise a gallop in the last ten minutes but to no avail.  They had one final penalty which was kicked to the corner by O’Gara.   From the resultant lineout Cardiff were penalised once more but the ball was miscontrolled at the base of the Munster scrum and the away side cleared to close out the game. 

Munster Coach Rob Penney and his backs coach Simon Mannix will have sleepless nights after this capitulation and some serious work will have to be done on the training paddock before the big Heineken Cup games on the horizon.  This was a very listless performance and as we are now half way through the season, the excuses that the team are still getting used to the Kiwi’s style of play are now wearing thin.  The leaders in the team will now need to stand up so that the constant handling errors and flatness of this performance will not be repeated.  Penney will hope also that the injuries that forced both Conor Murray, Mike Sherry and Stephen Archer off are not that serious and that they will be available for next weekend’s trip to Edinburgh. 

Cardiff will be delighted with how they ground out this victory on the road and much of the plaudits must go to their backrow who were very competitive in the trenches and also to outhalf Patchell who penned Munster back at regular intervals to ease the pressure on his defence.

Munster remain in 6^th place in the Rabo Pro12 table and outside the playoff positions while Cardiff jump up one place to 7^th before they face the daunting trip to Toulon in the Heineken Cup next weekend.

Man of the Match: Rys Patchell (Cardiff)

Teams and Scorers:

Munster: F. Jones, D. Howlett(c), K. Earls (C. Lualala 58 mins), J. Downey, D. Hurley (I. Keatley 60 mins), R. O’Gara (2 pens), C. Murray (D. Williams 14 mins inj), D. Kilcoyne (W. Du Preez 74 mins), M. Sherry (S. Henry 24 mins inj.), S. Archer (BJ Botha 62 mins inj.), D. Foley (B. Holland 58 mins), D. Ryan, T. O’Donnell (CJ Stander 62 mins), S. Dougall, J. Coughlan  Replacements: S. Henry, W. Du Preez, BJ Botha, B. Holland, CJ Stander, D. Williams, I. Keatley, C. Lualala

Cardiff: J. Tovey (L. Halfpenney 52 mins), O. Williams (1 try), R. Smith, J. Roberts, H. Robinson, R. Patchell (1 pen, 2 con.), L. Jones (A. Walker 62 mins), S. Hobbs (P. Tamba 69 mins), R. Williams (K. Dacey 69 mins), B. Bourrust (S. Andrews H/T), B. Davies, L.Redd (J. Down 57 mins), J. Navidi(c), S. Warburton, R. Copeland  Replacements: K. Dacey, P. Damba, S. Andrews, J. Down, L. Hamilton, A. Walker, C. Sweeney, L. Halfpenny

 

Interview with Moyvane, Feale Rangers and Kerry marksman Patrick Curtin

An Interview with Moyvane, Feale Rangers and Kerry marksman Patrick Curtin

It’s the last weekend before Christmas and the streets are full of the hustle and bustle of Christmas shoppers.  People are scurrying around making last minute purchases for their loved ones.  It is symbolic of the career of Moyvane’s Patrick Curtin who’s inter county career with the Kingdom also seems to be going places in a hurry.

I meet the genial Moyvane man to have a general chat with him about his break through season in the Green and Gold and what his aspirations are for the new year ahead.  He is the first man from “The Boro” to play competitively for the Kerry senior team since Johnny Stack made the last of his three appearances for Kerry in the National League against Galway in 1985. 

Factfile:

Name	Patrick Curtin
Age	23
Height	5ft 11 inch
Weight	14 Stone
Club	Moyvane

Debut: 2012 National League v Dublin

Name

Patrick Curtin

Age

23

Height

5ft 11 inch

Weight

14 Stone

Club

Moyvane

P.S.      Firstly, could you give a run down of your underage inter county career with Kerry?

P.C.      I had two years with the Kerry minors in 2006 and 2007.  My first year was a very enjoyable year.  We won the Munster Final.  We had a very strong team.  We had players like Tommy Walsh, David Moran and Shane Enright who all went on to play with the county senior team.  We had a couple of other very strong players also.  We won that Munster Final  and went on to the All Ireland Final that year in Croke Park which was the highlight of my career to date at that time.  It was a great achievement but unfortunately we drew that day against Roscommon.  We probably threw it away.  We should have won it, we were going well, we were up four or five points with maybe 12/13 minutes to go.  We had a replay then in Cusack Park, Ennis and that was kind of a surreal experience.  There were maybe 25,000 spectators there and 20,000 of those were Roscommon supporters cheering them on and I think we kind of froze on the day.  It was a bitter disappointment to lose an All Ireland Final replay.  My second year with the minors was very disappointing for me personally.  You would be expected to kick on with the experience you had in your first year.  I was happy with how I was playing coming up to the Munster Final but unfortunately I did my cruciate against Cork in Fitzgerald Stadium and that set me back about 18 months.  That was a big disappointment at minor level.  The minor team of that year went as far as the All Ireland semi final where they lost to Galway but I was injured at that stage.

P.S.      Moving on then to the Kerry Under 21’s, would you have played many games with them?

P.C.      In my second year with the minors the Under 21’s won the All Ireland, I missed out on that, but whether I would have been a member of that panel or not is unknown as I was injured at the time.  I was just back from injury for my second year and I played and came on as a sub when we were well beaten by Cork down in Pairc Ui Rinn.  And then in my final year Under 21 we got to the Munster Final against Tipperary but we were beaten again so I didn’t have much luck with the Under 21’s.

I played one year Kerry Juniors also which coincided with my last year with the Under 21’s

P.S.      Fast forward then a couple of years, when were you first called up by Jack O’Connor to the Kerry Senior set up?

P.C.      It was the end of 2011.  At that time of year the management team are always bringing in players.  He gave me a call to say that they were keeping an eye on me and that in January there would be trials and to come in.

You had a good County League with Moyvane at that stage and you were injury free.

Yeah, that year 2011 was my first full year without injury and I was happy enough with how the year went.  I had a few games with Feale Rangers in the County Championship and with Moyvane we had two wins in the North Kerry Championship and any games that are high profile will boost your own profile.  Moyvane also got promoted from Division 5 of the County League which was also a boost.

P.S.      You would have played in the McGrath Cup and subsequently then the National League.  What would have been the standout performances?  Would it have been your performance against Donegal in Killarney?

P.C.      When it was my first year every game to be honest stood out.  Making my debut under lights in Croke Park against Dublin was extra special  and getting the nod there to come on for twenty minutes for your debut for Kerry was something you dreamed about all your life so that was obviously very special.

And you laid on the goal that night for Darren O’Sullivan

I did yeah.  I was lucky because you can come on in some games and it often happens that you mightn’t be involved for twenty minutes and never get in to it but it happened that night that the ball came straight in to my hands and I passed it off and Darren got the goal.  That was a great night.

Then in the next game I came on against Armagh.  And my first start was against Down up in Down.  I had an average enough game.  I scored a point and your full debut for Kerry was obviously another big highlight.

Then in the Donegal game it was my first goal and against Laois I got man of the match so that was another highlight.

Overall, there were lots of highlights in the league and I was very fortunate that way.

P.S.      Rolling on then to the start of the championship in May.  Kerry’s first game against Tipperary up in Thurles.  You got the nod to start that day.  That was obviously a special moment?

P.C.      Yeah, that was great.  Playing for Kerry is all about playing championship at the end of the day and probably more so playing championship for Kerry in Croke Park, where every Kerry footballer aspires to play.  I got the nod that day.  Things didn’t go according to plan.  We struggled and I didn’t have a great game myself but that is the way it goes but I was delighted to get the start and it was a great experience.  No matter how much you prepare yourself in training or even some of the League games, the intensity of championship is totally different and levels usually go up about 5 or 10 percent.

You got turned over then by Cork in Pairc Ui Chaoimh in the next round

Yeah, they were strong on the day.  Things didn’t really go according to plan for us.  I think in the end we lost by two or three points, we were unlucky, we had a couple of goal chances.  And like that when Cork and Kerry play there always has to be a loser but there is never going to be that much between the teams so we took it on the chin and moved on.

P.S.      The tie of the round in the qualifiers was the Kerry v’s Tyrone game in Killarney.  A special game to have played in no doubt?

P.C.      Yeah, everything, if you could wish for anything it would be to play in Killarney, Saturday evening game, the weather absolutely unbelieveable, it was fantastic, it was probably one of the most enjoyable games I ever got to play in.  The atmosphere before it, all the build up, the hype about Kerry not being able to beat Tyrone, in the dressing room that day there was a steel in the players eyes that we were not going to lose this one.  That game was a mighty, mighty occasion.

You came on and scored a very good point shortly after

Yeah, I wasn’t on too long and got the score and it settled me down.

Do you think you were still a little revved up when you had that little incident with Colm Kavanagh?

Ah sure, (with a smile), that’s all part of it!! I’m sure those boys wouldn’t be afraid to do it either!!

And what did you make of some of stuff coming out from the recent Tyrone County Convention where I think it was their chairman that said in his speech that Kerry were over the top that day in their celebrations?

To be honest I didn’t hear or read any of that but I don’t know what he’d be trying to get at with that or why he’d be bringing it up at their County Convention about Kerry.  Obviously we were going to celebrate being the type of game it was so I wouldn’t really take any notice of that.

P.S.      The All Ireland Quarter Final against Donegal then in Croke Park, was that your first senior championship appearance in Croke Park

P.C.      Yeah, that was my first championship game in Croke Park.  I didn’t start, I got to come on with about 15/16 minutes to go and it was another milestone for me, playing for Kerry in Croke Park in the championship.

Donegal getting the early goal allowed them to sit back and defend a lead

It did yeah and that was one of the things you would think about Donegal.  If you got on top of them and had them chasing you they might start to lose their shape and you might be able to pull them around the place.  However, they are so good when they get ahead, they then defend and they were very good at that.  We got back in to it and we got the goal with about 10 minutes to go and we then brought it back to a point.  I obviously had a chance to level it and I missed it, you’d obviously be disappointed with a wide but the fact that I didn’t even connect well with it was more of a sickener than kicking a wide as you can always kick a wide, but you have to take them things as well.  It was disappointing to lose especially when we had come so close and when you see what Donegal went on to win in the All Ireland obviously.

Kerry probably ran Donegal closer than either Cork or Mayo did in the subsequent games?

Probably gave them the biggest fright, yeah, and I think with 5 minutes to go Donegal were under fierce pressure thinking that we had them pinned and I do believe that if I had got that point that we would have drawn the game and maybe even beaten them but that’s the way it goes.

What doesn’t break you makes you stronger?

Yeah, please God.

P.S.      Overall, what would have been your high point of 2012?

P.C.      My debut full stop for Kerry will always be very special, especially in Croke Park against the reigning All Ireland champions which was huge.  That was probably for me, when it went well especially, one of the highlights

P.S.      And without going it to it too much further, the low point of 2012?

P.C.      Yeah, obviously losing to Donegal in Croke Park.  When you are knocked out in those circumstances it would be the low point.

P.S.      Your own objectives for 2013, consolidating your place under the new management I presume?

P.C.      In Kerry there is so much talent, I would still be considered a fairly young player, you cannot look beyond the panel so that would be the start.  They’ll probably look at 40/50 players at the start of January so you have to knuckle down and try and make the final 26.  Once you get in to the 26 you will obviously be hoping to try and get a place in the first 15 and I suppose that is the same for the majority of players.  The goal at the start of everyone’s year is just to be able to play as well as you possibly can and try and keep improving on your performance and I suppose stay injury free is the big one.

P.S.      A new management team now in for 2013 under Eamon Fitzmaurice, he is a guy that you would have played with over the past few years.  Looking forward to working with him now in the New Year?

P.C.      Of course, yeah, with Feale Rangers I got to play with him for 3 or 4 years, he’s a great leader, a great talker, he has a great knowledge of the game so I think he will be a great man for the job so please God he can bring success to the county

P.S.      And finally, what’s the one present that Patrick Curtin is hoping to find under the Christmas Tree on Christmas morning?

PC        Oh, I don’t know, that’s a tough one.....(laugh)......if there was some sort of guarantee of an All Ireland medal next year that would be nice!

Quick Fire round

Q.        Paddy or Patrick

A.         Paddy

Q.        Steak & Chips or Bacon & Cabbage

A.         Bacon & Cabbage

Q.        Austin Stack Park or Fitzgerald Stadium

A.         Fitzgerald Stadium

Q.        Family Guy or The Big Bang Theory

A.         Family Guy

Q.        Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho

A.         Alex Ferguson

Q.        The Dark Knight Rises or Skyfall

A.         Skyfall

Q.        Tulisa or Nicole

A.         Nicole

Q.        Left Foot or Right

A.         Right

Q.        Off the Hand or From the Ground

A.         From the Ground

Q.        Fairytale of New York or Band Aid – Do they know its Christmas

A.         Fairytale of New York