10 September 1998 Edition
Sportsview: Rebels triumph over courageous Galway
Cork 2-13, Galway 0-15
Despite the gallant efforts of a defiant Galway team, Cork's triumph last Sunday was a deserved, albeit difficult, one, in an exhilarating Bord na Gaeilge All Ireland Camogie Final.
For the first time ever, the finals were broadcast live on RTÉ, and following the edge-of-seat excitement of this match, they will certainly be more adequately covered in the future. This was the game at its best and will hopefully attract new interest to the sport, especially with the prospect of next year's All Ireland being 15-a-side on the full pitch, with GAA goals.
Ungovernable winds and lashing rain flew in the face of Galway in the first half. In the opening minutes the teams were evenly matched, and consistently close in scoring. Cork's brilliant Lynn Dunlea's free taking was to ensure their dominance in the half, along with the play of Irene O'Keefe, whose long awaited goals boosted Cork's morale.
After eight years of waiting, O'Keefe's two goals in the space of two minutes was a relief to the player, who had been determined to finally reach the back of the net and silence those critical of her absence of goalscoring in successive finals. The goals also provided a momentum for the Cork team, who now blustered in a flurry of scores and finished the half four points ahead.
But Galway began turning the tide at the restart. Grasping possession for prolonged periods, they knocked over four points from Forde, Curtin, Maher and Nevin, only trailing by a single point on the 40 minutes.
The ensuing battle resulted in a close and heated period of tension for the fans. Cork managed to stay ahead, but only just, and Galway substitute Denise Gilligan's effort at goal surely had hearts beating. Her effort whizzed by to the left, denying a spectacular one point lead only four minutes from the final whistle.
But again, Cork's Lynn Dunlea was to prove her free taking vital to their victory, with two sailing over in the final minutes, completing a reputable achievement of nine successful points from frees.
Next year's season promises to be a good one, with Cork vying for a hat-trick of All Irelands, and Galway's young team hoping for a repeat of their O'Duffy Cup winning performance two years ago.
Back to the old days
The Irish match against Croatia on Saturday was a flashback to the Charlton era, when Irish soccer struck fear into the hearts of big teams and anything was possible.
What a better way to start the European Championship campaign, than a rousing triumph over the third best ranked team in the world; a triumph which did not result from fluke goals or a one off performance, but successful planning, key managerial decisions and a natural resurgence of new talent.
Mick McCarthy's strategy was certainly praised by most commentators. The decision to play his team in the positions most comfortable to their experience and ability was a screaming success. Denis Irwin, who has long been the logical selection for right-back, played a stormer in one of his best showings ever for the team.
Mark Kinsella along with Roy Keane were laudable in their mid field effort. Kinsella's exploits in particular should secure him a bright future with the side - his agressive pursuit of possession and confident play was both professional and inspiring.
Mogul Mordoch to destroy Premiership
Revelations that media mogul, Rupert Murdoch, is planning to further strengthen his monopoly on sport by buying Manchester United has disgusted and worried many fans of the game.
Where will it all end? A man who already controls large and extremely influential segments of the global media, along with several sports teams in the US and international tournaments, Murdoch's growing monopoly in the realms of opinion and sport is a worry to all those who deplore the nouveau dictatorships of financial tycoons.
The effects of a Manchester United takeover have wider repercussions than the club itself, or even the sport. Of course the purchase by a massive financial interest, unparallelled by any other team, would allow United, or more accurately Murdoch, to rapaciously consume all reality of competition and leave the sport in tatters. The possibilities for impropriety and unfairness in the new deal are immense. Murdoch's vast media empire could successully propagate the team, while his fianancial resources sign up a plethora of brilliant players. His influence over the team would almost certainly ensure Sky Sport's domination of coverage and this in turn would herald the opportunity to raise pay per view prices, and the cost of subscription to the channel itself.
If sport in general is to remain a competitive and exciting means of entertainment for all sectors of the public, we must ensure that all efforts to conquer and stifle any sport are opposed vigorously.
By Michael Pierse
Despite the gallant efforts of a defiant Galway team, Cork's triumph last Sunday was a deserved, albeit difficult, one, in an exhilarating Bord na Gaeilge All Ireland Camogie Final.
For the first time ever, the finals were broadcast live on RTÉ, and following the edge-of-seat excitement of this match, they will certainly be more adequately covered in the future. This was the game at its best and will hopefully attract new interest to the sport, especially with the prospect of next year's All Ireland being 15-a-side on the full pitch, with GAA goals.
Ungovernable winds and lashing rain flew in the face of Galway in the first half. In the opening minutes the teams were evenly matched, and consistently close in scoring. Cork's brilliant Lynn Dunlea's free taking was to ensure their dominance in the half, along with the play of Irene O'Keefe, whose long awaited goals boosted Cork's morale.
After eight years of waiting, O'Keefe's two goals in the space of two minutes was a relief to the player, who had been determined to finally reach the back of the net and silence those critical of her absence of goalscoring in successive finals. The goals also provided a momentum for the Cork team, who now blustered in a flurry of scores and finished the half four points ahead.
But Galway began turning the tide at the restart. Grasping possession for prolonged periods, they knocked over four points from Forde, Curtin, Maher and Nevin, only trailing by a single point on the 40 minutes.
The ensuing battle resulted in a close and heated period of tension for the fans. Cork managed to stay ahead, but only just, and Galway substitute Denise Gilligan's effort at goal surely had hearts beating. Her effort whizzed by to the left, denying a spectacular one point lead only four minutes from the final whistle.
But again, Cork's Lynn Dunlea was to prove her free taking vital to their victory, with two sailing over in the final minutes, completing a reputable achievement of nine successful points from frees.
Next year's season promises to be a good one, with Cork vying for a hat-trick of All Irelands, and Galway's young team hoping for a repeat of their O'Duffy Cup winning performance two years ago.
Back to the old days
The Irish match against Croatia on Saturday was a flashback to the Charlton era, when Irish soccer struck fear into the hearts of big teams and anything was possible.
What a better way to start the European Championship campaign, than a rousing triumph over the third best ranked team in the world; a triumph which did not result from fluke goals or a one off performance, but successful planning, key managerial decisions and a natural resurgence of new talent.
Mick McCarthy's strategy was certainly praised by most commentators. The decision to play his team in the positions most comfortable to their experience and ability was a screaming success. Denis Irwin, who has long been the logical selection for right-back, played a stormer in one of his best showings ever for the team.
Mark Kinsella along with Roy Keane were laudable in their mid field effort. Kinsella's exploits in particular should secure him a bright future with the side - his agressive pursuit of possession and confident play was both professional and inspiring.
Mogul Mordoch to destroy Premiership
Revelations that media mogul, Rupert Murdoch, is planning to further strengthen his monopoly on sport by buying Manchester United has disgusted and worried many fans of the game.
Where will it all end? A man who already controls large and extremely influential segments of the global media, along with several sports teams in the US and international tournaments, Murdoch's growing monopoly in the realms of opinion and sport is a worry to all those who deplore the nouveau dictatorships of financial tycoons.
The effects of a Manchester United takeover have wider repercussions than the club itself, or even the sport. Of course the purchase by a massive financial interest, unparallelled by any other team, would allow United, or more accurately Murdoch, to rapaciously consume all reality of competition and leave the sport in tatters. The possibilities for impropriety and unfairness in the new deal are immense. Murdoch's vast media empire could successully propagate the team, while his fianancial resources sign up a plethora of brilliant players. His influence over the team would almost certainly ensure Sky Sport's domination of coverage and this in turn would herald the opportunity to raise pay per view prices, and the cost of subscription to the channel itself.
If sport in general is to remain a competitive and exciting means of entertainment for all sectors of the public, we must ensure that all efforts to conquer and stifle any sport are opposed vigorously.
By Michael Pierse