6 August 1998 Edition
Sportsview: Lilywhites have their day at last
After seeing Kildare beat Meath it's not hard to see why the Championship is special. The crying and leaping and whooping when the final whistle went at Croke Park on Sunday was exorcising 42 years of failure in Leinster for a County who have always been the stylish also-rans. Praised and patted on the back all spring, Kildare managed every summer to take a thumping from Meath or Offaly or Dublin and to depart with a patronising pat on the head. Good try, lads, see yous next year.
But this year was different. And it took a marvellous goal near the end of a pulsating match to show that Kildare have got tough. At that stage Meath had come back from being 10-7 down to draw level and, as they have done so often, they were ready to grind out another victory. It was typical Meath, shooting over hard-won, simple points in the crucial last minutes. They - above all teams - know how to dominate the last ten minutes of a match and there wasn't anyone who didn't see history repeating itself as Raymond Magee kicked Meath's equalising point in the 69th minute. Then came the goal.
A kickout, two perfect passes and Brian Murphy drove the ball under Meath full-back Donal Curtis and keeper Conor Martin. Cue the whooping.
Kildare manager Mick O'Dwyer, who piloted his native Kerry to so many triumphs in the 70s and 80s, now takes on his old county in the All-Ireland semi-final. It will be a great day out.
Kerry will be there after beating a valiant Tipperary. For now, they are the ones being patted on the head in Munster and that might remain the case for a few years yet.
In the other semi-final Derry meet Galway, who overcame Roscommon after extra time. A late goal also decided things in that clash but one of a different hue from Brian Murphy's. Roscommon's keeper, Derek Thompson, will be a long time trying to explain how he spilled an attempted handpass into a melee of Galway forwards.
So, who will win through to the All-Ireland Final? It is one of the most open races for a while and given that this column's only accurate prediction of recent times was when Ciaran Heaphey wrote that the Tour de France would degenerate into a drugs scandal, it is rash to try to pick a winner. But I'll take Kildare to beat Kerry and Derry to beat Galway.
The Scottish Premier League started at the weekend with Celtic knocking five past Dunfermline - three of them in the last seven minutes, suggesting a slight gap in fitness - and Hearts beating Rangers 2-1. What could be called an encouraging start for the dissatisfied Celtic fans.
Meanwhile, that old Glasgow flute player, Paul Gascoigne, played for Middlesborough against Newcastle in a pre-season tournament on Sunday and proved that his ``re-fuelling problem'' may not be a thing of the past. He lasted one half and, according to reports, contributed nothing. Certainly judging by newspaper photographs of him in training recently, his health is not good. His bloated face may not suit the sleek Premiership.
By Brian Campbell
But this year was different. And it took a marvellous goal near the end of a pulsating match to show that Kildare have got tough. At that stage Meath had come back from being 10-7 down to draw level and, as they have done so often, they were ready to grind out another victory. It was typical Meath, shooting over hard-won, simple points in the crucial last minutes. They - above all teams - know how to dominate the last ten minutes of a match and there wasn't anyone who didn't see history repeating itself as Raymond Magee kicked Meath's equalising point in the 69th minute. Then came the goal.
A kickout, two perfect passes and Brian Murphy drove the ball under Meath full-back Donal Curtis and keeper Conor Martin. Cue the whooping.
Kildare manager Mick O'Dwyer, who piloted his native Kerry to so many triumphs in the 70s and 80s, now takes on his old county in the All-Ireland semi-final. It will be a great day out.
Kerry will be there after beating a valiant Tipperary. For now, they are the ones being patted on the head in Munster and that might remain the case for a few years yet.
In the other semi-final Derry meet Galway, who overcame Roscommon after extra time. A late goal also decided things in that clash but one of a different hue from Brian Murphy's. Roscommon's keeper, Derek Thompson, will be a long time trying to explain how he spilled an attempted handpass into a melee of Galway forwards.
So, who will win through to the All-Ireland Final? It is one of the most open races for a while and given that this column's only accurate prediction of recent times was when Ciaran Heaphey wrote that the Tour de France would degenerate into a drugs scandal, it is rash to try to pick a winner. But I'll take Kildare to beat Kerry and Derry to beat Galway.
The Scottish Premier League started at the weekend with Celtic knocking five past Dunfermline - three of them in the last seven minutes, suggesting a slight gap in fitness - and Hearts beating Rangers 2-1. What could be called an encouraging start for the dissatisfied Celtic fans.
Meanwhile, that old Glasgow flute player, Paul Gascoigne, played for Middlesborough against Newcastle in a pre-season tournament on Sunday and proved that his ``re-fuelling problem'' may not be a thing of the past. He lasted one half and, according to reports, contributed nothing. Certainly judging by newspaper photographs of him in training recently, his health is not good. His bloated face may not suit the sleek Premiership.
By Brian Campbell