2 July 1998 Edition
Sportsview: Meath the Germans of GAA
Louth have to be one of the Championship's unluckiest sides after their defeat by neighbours Meath in Croke Park. A lively match played at a fast pace (23 scores from play) saw the Meathmen draw on all their famed resources and big time experience to claw back into the game in the second half to beat the Louthmen by a point.
Louth's spirits were not helped by a controversial point for Meath in the 45th minute. Louth obviously put tremendous effort and preparation into the match. Travellers on the early train from Belfast to Dublin have watched the Louth team training in Dundalk every day as they passed through the town at 8am. Louth, like Kildare in previous years, are knocking on the door and will be back having undoubtedly learned from their mistakes. A county to watch next season.
In Ulster Derry, after recent years' championship set-backs, made it into the Ulster Final after defeating Armagh in Clones. Derry's experience left Armagh behind after the Orchard County drew level with ten minutes to go. Derry however scored 1-4 without reply to finish the Armagh men off. The seven-point winning margin did was not justified as Armagh gave a very credible performance, and were only a point behind at the break. The defeat came on the back of unprecedented confidence in Armagh. For several years now they have had two of the top club teams in the country - Crossmaglen and Mullaghbawn - but they seem unable to transfer it to the inter-county scene. Derry now face Donegal in the Ulster final
Tipperary made it through to the Munster Final after a spirited performance by their success-starved footballers in Limerick's Gaelic Grounds. Clare were the victims of a Tipp team that only had one wide from 20 shots.
World Cup knockout
The World Cup is now into the exciting knockout phase where every match is a cup final between quality teams.
Paraguay gave tournament hosts France a fright on Sunday last, the French having to win the game with the World Cup's first ever `golden goal'. One of the most annoying things about the South Americans has to be their tendency to break down and cry in hysterics when they lose a game. Maybe Gazza has Paraguayan blood.
Italy slipped past the Norwegians with a Vieri goal, and now take on the French, in what should be a classic. Denmark will face the mighty Brazil, who beat Chile 4-1 in a lovely flowing display. But judging by the Danish performance against Olympic champions Nigerians this won't be any walkover.
On Monday the mighty Germans looked beatable as they too got a bit of a fright from Mexico. But, like Meath footballers, the Germans are never beaten till the final whistle and they came back from 1-0 down to score twice in the last fifteen minutes. They now take on Croatia.
The Dutch saw off the Yugoslavians with an assured 2-1 victory in Toulouse and are improving with every match.
And so to Argentina versus England. As a game of football it had everything from goals, penalties (two distinctly dodgy ones), a sending off, extra time and then the heart-stopping drama of a penalty shoot-out. Like the Iran-USA game it was tinged with political overtones, with the Malvinas war being the main issue.
The English were unlucky, and Beckham's sending off certainly contributed to them losing the game. Michael Owen is undoubdtedly one the few world-class players they have. It was certainly the game of the tournament so far; the word classic springs to mind.
Quote of the week goes to Argentinian coach Daniel Passarella: ``To send the English back home is wonderful,'' he said on Tuesday night. The English fans who were interviewed afterwards were mostly speechless. It is the third time in a row that they have gone out of a major tournament on penalties. ``Why did it have to be Argentina?'' moaned one despairing fan.
This is a wonderfully open World Cup and each of the quarter finals could end up a cracking match.
Fans of the tournament would have to be the Japanese. They apparently took blue plastic bags to each game, which they waved enthusiastically in support of their team. After the game they cleaned the area of terracing they occupied and put the rubbish in the plastic bags. ``The sectors occupied by Japanese fans were actually left cleaner than when they arrived,'' said FIFA Communications Director Keith Cooper.
On the other end of the footballing scale the USA went home as the tournament's worst team. Well, it'll probably keep the Iranians happy anyhow.
BY CIARAN HEAPHEY
Louth's spirits were not helped by a controversial point for Meath in the 45th minute. Louth obviously put tremendous effort and preparation into the match. Travellers on the early train from Belfast to Dublin have watched the Louth team training in Dundalk every day as they passed through the town at 8am. Louth, like Kildare in previous years, are knocking on the door and will be back having undoubtedly learned from their mistakes. A county to watch next season.
In Ulster Derry, after recent years' championship set-backs, made it into the Ulster Final after defeating Armagh in Clones. Derry's experience left Armagh behind after the Orchard County drew level with ten minutes to go. Derry however scored 1-4 without reply to finish the Armagh men off. The seven-point winning margin did was not justified as Armagh gave a very credible performance, and were only a point behind at the break. The defeat came on the back of unprecedented confidence in Armagh. For several years now they have had two of the top club teams in the country - Crossmaglen and Mullaghbawn - but they seem unable to transfer it to the inter-county scene. Derry now face Donegal in the Ulster final
Tipperary made it through to the Munster Final after a spirited performance by their success-starved footballers in Limerick's Gaelic Grounds. Clare were the victims of a Tipp team that only had one wide from 20 shots.
World Cup knockout
The World Cup is now into the exciting knockout phase where every match is a cup final between quality teams.
Paraguay gave tournament hosts France a fright on Sunday last, the French having to win the game with the World Cup's first ever `golden goal'. One of the most annoying things about the South Americans has to be their tendency to break down and cry in hysterics when they lose a game. Maybe Gazza has Paraguayan blood.
Italy slipped past the Norwegians with a Vieri goal, and now take on the French, in what should be a classic. Denmark will face the mighty Brazil, who beat Chile 4-1 in a lovely flowing display. But judging by the Danish performance against Olympic champions Nigerians this won't be any walkover.
On Monday the mighty Germans looked beatable as they too got a bit of a fright from Mexico. But, like Meath footballers, the Germans are never beaten till the final whistle and they came back from 1-0 down to score twice in the last fifteen minutes. They now take on Croatia.
The Dutch saw off the Yugoslavians with an assured 2-1 victory in Toulouse and are improving with every match.
And so to Argentina versus England. As a game of football it had everything from goals, penalties (two distinctly dodgy ones), a sending off, extra time and then the heart-stopping drama of a penalty shoot-out. Like the Iran-USA game it was tinged with political overtones, with the Malvinas war being the main issue.
The English were unlucky, and Beckham's sending off certainly contributed to them losing the game. Michael Owen is undoubdtedly one the few world-class players they have. It was certainly the game of the tournament so far; the word classic springs to mind.
Quote of the week goes to Argentinian coach Daniel Passarella: ``To send the English back home is wonderful,'' he said on Tuesday night. The English fans who were interviewed afterwards were mostly speechless. It is the third time in a row that they have gone out of a major tournament on penalties. ``Why did it have to be Argentina?'' moaned one despairing fan.
This is a wonderfully open World Cup and each of the quarter finals could end up a cracking match.
Fans of the tournament would have to be the Japanese. They apparently took blue plastic bags to each game, which they waved enthusiastically in support of their team. After the game they cleaned the area of terracing they occupied and put the rubbish in the plastic bags. ``The sectors occupied by Japanese fans were actually left cleaner than when they arrived,'' said FIFA Communications Director Keith Cooper.
On the other end of the footballing scale the USA went home as the tournament's worst team. Well, it'll probably keep the Iranians happy anyhow.
BY CIARAN HEAPHEY