29 October 1998 Edition
Sportsview: Waterford blow Monaghan away
It was hard to believe they could do it again but on Sunday the women of Monaghan and Waterford served up another classic in the replay of the All-Ireland Women's Football Final.
The strong wind helped Waterford to a six-point lead in the first half, but it also threatened to spoil the game. Certainly, that first half was anything but a classic, with its rhythm interrupted constantly by mistakes and frees.
Gaelic footballers at any level hate playing when there is a strong wind. Almost any other conditions are preferable in a sport which is affected by wind like no other. Certainly Monaghan's goalkeeper, Brenda McAnespie will curse the gale that blew down towards her Hill 16 goal in that first half. A long wind-assisted drive dropped just under the bar and over her head to give Waterford the boost they needed when they were struggling to take advantage of the wind.
McAnespie had no such excuse in the second half when player of the match Julie Torpey lobbed the ball over her head for a goal which put Waterford ten points ahead. Then began a brave Monaghan fightback with an immediate goal. Two more goals saw them draw within a point with ten minutes left but they weren't able to bridge the gap despite almost constant pressure.
With Waterford players dropping with cramp all over the pitch and with the match clock stopping every time, over eleven minutes of injury time was played. It is worth noting that if there hadn't been a scoreboard clock, the referee would not have added on so much time, but it was entirely fair to do so. It won't be long before it is introduced to big matches in the men's game.
Langan's anguish
David Langan was on RTÉ last Saturday night, back in Ireland to visit family in Ringsend, Dublin. Davy was one of the Irish players that were there pre-Charlton, pre-Euro `88 etc. He spoke of his agony at injuries that ended his career and his heartache at being left out of the Euro `88 squad by Charlton.
Although the FAI has established a benevolent fund and the sports paper the Title has been one of the few journals to highlight Davy's case, one outstanding omission has Testimonial for Davy. When one thinks of the money earned by the overpaid `brat-pack' players of today and looks at the situation Davy Langan finds himself in it makes you think more should be done for players in his position.
One man who knows how Davy feels is Martin McGuinness, who broke his leg in a charity game in Derry. Poor Martin will now never reach the dizzy heights of an interntional football career which he had held as a fall back in case a Ministerial brief continues to prove illusive.
On a happier note, last word and fair play to the lads from Naomh Pádraig Celtic Supporters Club, Dublin, who showed what is is to be a real football fan.
Title journalist David Kelly accompanied the lads on their weekly trip to Paradise by boat and bus, travelling at all hours of the morning and night to follow the Celts through bad times and good, a trip known to all Celtic fans throughout the 32 Counties.
To quote one of the lads: ``And these so-called United and Liverpool fans, they make me sick. The only games they ever see are the ones on Sky Sports and they just sit in a nice warm pub with their jerseys on or else at home while they're having their dinner. It makes me laugh. And they think they're real football fans. Give us a break.''
BY BRIAN CAMPBELL & CIARAN HEAPHEY
The strong wind helped Waterford to a six-point lead in the first half, but it also threatened to spoil the game. Certainly, that first half was anything but a classic, with its rhythm interrupted constantly by mistakes and frees.
Gaelic footballers at any level hate playing when there is a strong wind. Almost any other conditions are preferable in a sport which is affected by wind like no other. Certainly Monaghan's goalkeeper, Brenda McAnespie will curse the gale that blew down towards her Hill 16 goal in that first half. A long wind-assisted drive dropped just under the bar and over her head to give Waterford the boost they needed when they were struggling to take advantage of the wind.
McAnespie had no such excuse in the second half when player of the match Julie Torpey lobbed the ball over her head for a goal which put Waterford ten points ahead. Then began a brave Monaghan fightback with an immediate goal. Two more goals saw them draw within a point with ten minutes left but they weren't able to bridge the gap despite almost constant pressure.
With Waterford players dropping with cramp all over the pitch and with the match clock stopping every time, over eleven minutes of injury time was played. It is worth noting that if there hadn't been a scoreboard clock, the referee would not have added on so much time, but it was entirely fair to do so. It won't be long before it is introduced to big matches in the men's game.
Langan's anguish
David Langan was on RTÉ last Saturday night, back in Ireland to visit family in Ringsend, Dublin. Davy was one of the Irish players that were there pre-Charlton, pre-Euro `88 etc. He spoke of his agony at injuries that ended his career and his heartache at being left out of the Euro `88 squad by Charlton.
Although the FAI has established a benevolent fund and the sports paper the Title has been one of the few journals to highlight Davy's case, one outstanding omission has Testimonial for Davy. When one thinks of the money earned by the overpaid `brat-pack' players of today and looks at the situation Davy Langan finds himself in it makes you think more should be done for players in his position.
One man who knows how Davy feels is Martin McGuinness, who broke his leg in a charity game in Derry. Poor Martin will now never reach the dizzy heights of an interntional football career which he had held as a fall back in case a Ministerial brief continues to prove illusive.
On a happier note, last word and fair play to the lads from Naomh Pádraig Celtic Supporters Club, Dublin, who showed what is is to be a real football fan.
Title journalist David Kelly accompanied the lads on their weekly trip to Paradise by boat and bus, travelling at all hours of the morning and night to follow the Celts through bad times and good, a trip known to all Celtic fans throughout the 32 Counties.
To quote one of the lads: ``And these so-called United and Liverpool fans, they make me sick. The only games they ever see are the ones on Sky Sports and they just sit in a nice warm pub with their jerseys on or else at home while they're having their dinner. It makes me laugh. And they think they're real football fans. Give us a break.''
BY BRIAN CAMPBELL & CIARAN HEAPHEY