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24 September 1998 Edition

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Sportsview: Kildare look a good bet

The build-up to Sunday's All-Ireland Football Final between Galway and Kildare has been relatively low-key, except in the competing counties where of course the scramble for tickets is frenzied. Neither team has a recent history of success so their supporters aren't going to miss this big day out. They don't want to have to wait another thirty or forty years for a September trip to Croker.

Kildare last won an All-Ireland in 1928 and Galway in 1966 so it's no wonder there is such anticipation. And to be fair, that anticipation is also felt by neutrals. This is a fresh, untested pairing and that generates the expectation of an open match although, in these days of maximum fitness, finals are rarely showcases of flowing football.

Kildare, in particular, have impressed with their fitness. That is not unexpected, given that they are managed by Mick O'Dwyer who took Kerry to eight All-Ireland victories in the 1970s and 80s with the fittest team of that era.

O'Dwyer helped usher football into the modern age with his professional approach to training and preparation. He is also a renowned `man-manager' who took a Kildare team in the early 90s from down and out second raters to this year's triumphs, though not before some lean years when they couldn't get past the Championship first round.

It is as if the 90s has been a slow, psychological toughening up for Kildare and I think that will stand to them on Sunday. I'm going for Kildare to put a lifetime's disappointment behind them.

The bookies seem to agree. In Dublin they have Kildare at 4/7 and Galway at 2/1 with a draw at 10/1.

In the minor final a strongly fancied Tyrone take on Laois and it is hard to see past the Ulstermen.

 


The death of US sprinter Florence Griffith Joyner - Flo-Jo - from a heart attack at the age of 38 has once more raised the issue of drugs in sport.

Flo-Jo came from relative obscurity to win three Olympic titles in Seoul in 1988. Her 100 metres record still stands - in fact, no-one has got near it since - and there has long been suspicions that her performance was enhanced by steroids and testosterone. Heart attacks as a result of the use of these drugs are not unknown. A report into cycling revealed that a higher than normal percentage of professional cyclists died in their early forties, possibly as a result of drug use in their earlier careers.

At a time when it appears that sport's governing bodies are losing the battle to keep drugs out, perhaps the premature deaths of athletes will convince today's sportsmen and women to stay clean.

 


In Dublin last weekend a wonderful sporting event was held to help combat the growing racism in Irish society. Sport Against Racism Ireland held a soccer tournament in the Law Society of Ireland's sportsground in Dublin. In warm sunshine and to a background of world music and food, 23 teams took part, including many African refugees. It was a small but important event in the fight against racism.

By Brian Campbell

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland