Top Issue 1-2024

8 October 1998 Edition

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Sportsview: Deadlocked

16,000 spectators saw a thrilling end-to-end contest end in a draw at Croke Park in the Women's GAA Final last Sunday (by the way, its official title remains the Bank of Ireland SFC Ladies Final but most of the newspapers ignore this archaic terminology). Beneath the scoreboard was a large digital clock (which stopped during stoppages for injuries) and as the crowd saw it ticking away the final seconds, their hearts were in their mouths. Monaghan had incredibly turned around a four point deficit in those final minutes to draw level. Then both teams had chances to win it but they couldn't secure the crucial score.

Monaghan had looked down and out but neither of these teams ever gives up, as last year's classic encounter proved and the Ulster team's fightback was all too typical of women's football at the top level.

Earlier, it was Waterford's turn to rise from the dead. Monaghan were supreme in the first half, cutting through the Waterford defence to score three goals and they led by six points at the break, but it wasn't enough. Waterford surged back in the second half and looked to have it won with a series of well-taken points.

The replay will be in a few weeks, probably after the compromise rules games between Ireland and Australia. Waterford had seventeen scores (1-16) to eleven (4-7) for Monaghan which suggests a certain dominance by Waterford. This was true especially in the second half when (albeit with wind advantage) Waterford sorted out their full-back line and were much less goal leaky. They must be confident of winning the replay.

 


TV pictures of the Final showed the demolished Canal End of Croke Park which will be rebuilt for next year's men's championship. It will have seating for 21,000 spectators when it's finished and is a much awaited piece in the excellent Croke Park jigsaw.

 


Meanwhile the compromise rules games between Ireland and Australia are set to burst into action. And burst into action they may well do, if the mass brawls of previous internationals in the 1980s are anything to go by, though to be fair there is a realisation that if the game is to prosper the rough stuff has to be knocked on the head, as it were.

The media have been reporting that the level of interest in the series is low, which is surprising. I know many Gaels who are eagerly looking forward to the series. The Australians arrived on Wednesday night and I think once the media gets hold of them, the interest will take off.

The first match is at Croke Park on Sunday at 3.00pm.

 


Every week now brings a revelation about drugs in sport. From Michelle Smith de Brun to the Tour de France to the death of Flo Jo to the Italian soccer leagues to this week former Irish rugby international Neil Francis telling us that Irish rugby players have used performance enhancing drugs over the last ten years. Just as the outrage was reaching its height, news came out that an Irish international had failed a drugs test last year.

Does anyone doubt Neil Francis's claim? Rugby is a tough, competitive sport which now pays large sums of money to top players. If drugs can make you train harder for longer and can build your strength, some players will be tempted, particularly if it comes with a big pay packet at the end of it. I'm not sure there are many sports which would be completely free of drugs. How long before gaelic games has its first drugs scandal?

By Brian Campbell

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland