Bright lights offer hope

Munster paraded the Heineken Cup through the streets of Cork City last night when more than 30,000 fans turned out to welcome their rugby heroes. At the same time Ireland were playing a one-sided game against The Barbarians.

While the Baa-baa’s match could be labelled a largely meaningless game, and the team facing Ireland lacked the cavalier skills to rightly carry off the illustrious team name, there are a number of positives that can be taken from the game. Most notably the continuing form of some young lights, which could show that the future of Irish rugby is not as bleak as many had expected.

For such a game, the choice of Luke Fitzgerald at centre allowed the young Leinster player to get his hands on the ball and demonstrate his undoubted talent. And now with two years of professional rugby under his belt, his confidence in both attack and defence bodes well for the Irish midfield in years to come. While he has the potential to be heir apparent to his cousin, Brian O’Driscoll, centre might not be the position to unleash his pace, step and aggression.

While full-back may provide another outlet for Fitzgerald’s talents, there is quite a queue building up to take over from Girvan Dempsey. Geordan Murphy still has a year or two, but the emergence of Rob Kearney during the Six Nations and the more recent form of Munster’s Denis Hurley have provided, initially Michael Bradley and then Declan Kidney with a bit of a selection conundrum.

Another area of over-supply is in the back-row. Jamie Heaslip, for one, again demonstrated his excellent footballing ability and with the Munster back-row joining up with the squad in the next 48 hours, Bradley will again have some tough decisions to make down under. The enthusiasm of the squad will come as welcome relief to all following the dismal World Cup and Six Nations endured in the last year.

Indeed Ireland’s ‘blip’ lasted a bit more than the IRFU and the rugby supporting public expected, and O’Sullivan, correctly, paid for the blip with his job. But he did not leave the squad in good shape, mentally or physically.

However, following Munster and Leinster’s wins in the Heineken Cup and Magners League respectively, and the continued emergence of a group of bright young prospects, the squad Kidney inherits might not be in as bad a shape as expected.

Munster abu!

It has been a long road for Munster rugby. They have knocked on the door a number of times, but they have finally been allowed to take their rightful place at the top table of European Rugby.

Having learnt how to win in 2006, the pressure was not the same going into Saturday’s final.

Previously, I said that if Tomas O’Leary started Toulouse would win. I was wrong (obviously), and while the service to Ronan O’Gara was not as slick as the outhalf is accustomed to, O’Leary marshalled his pack well and remained calm under pressure when clearing his lines on a number of important occasions. And he cannot be to blame for the Toulouse try, despite it being he who kicked the ball into touch.

Having soaked up so much Munster pressure and scored a try while captain Fabian Pelous was in the sin-bin, many would have expected the French team to step it up another gear and put increased pressure on the Munster line. But it wasn’t to be.

While many a Munster fan would not have been so positive after the first 20 minutes of the game, having endured a ferocious Toulouse onslaught and only down three points, a lot of heart was taken from it.

The French side would not have been happy with such a small lead from three attempted drops at goal. Not a good return on investment.

It was a game for the purists, while it ebbed and flowed, the final 20 minutes of warfare were the most intense this Heineken Cup Final has ever seen. The manner in which the Munster pack doggedly attacked the fringes time and again was a joy to behold. Not once did you see a player in navy lie prostrate waiting for the next play. Immediately back on their feet, ready to go over the top once more. Twice they gave away penalties. Twice they quickly retrieved possession from Toulouse with some almighty line-out and midfield defence. Where the strength was found to physically rip the ball from the French players is anyone’s guess. A 16th player always welcome and boy did the supporters play their part.

But to hold possession for the guts of 15 minutes at the end of such a battle truly showed this team’s physical and mental mettle. Quite how Alan Quinlan has been overlooked for selection on the Irish team is anyone’s guess.

So Declan Kidney leaves Munster a much happier man than his last exit in 2002 after the loss to Leicester Tigers. And he can attack his new Irish role with a renewed vigour, and as one of Europe’s most successful coaches.

The Winner takes all

The talking is over. Let the games begin. Tonight’s game is the ultimate Gladiators warfare. Two protagonists with little love lost between them.

Chelsea will take the mantle of the wounded animal in more ways than one. Having let the Premiership slip away, the London club will be seeking revenge. And no better place than on the biggest club stage in the World.

And preparations have not been ideal. Initial injury worries surrounding Didi Drogba and Terry were further compounded by Claude Makelele’s reckless challenge on Ashley Cole during yesterday’s run-out. How such incidents will sit in the dressing room is anyone’s guess.

But if Cole starts and is slightly hampered by the ankle injury, this could spell trouble as Cristiano Ronaldo will seek to exploit any weakness. In recent matches Cole has kept Ronaldo quiet. When he was at full fitness. And while Ronaldo has scored 41 goals this season, he is not the only match winner for United.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s team will take the role of the Champion Gladiator who will proudly strut around, chest out, owning the arena. With the experience of European Finals more prominent in their ranks, ‘United will go into the Final with a better knowledge of what to expect.

There will be much shaping-up between the two teams but for the neutral supporter there must be a hope that the two warriors do not cancel each other out. A dour affair like last year’s FA Cup would be everyone’s worst nightmare.

For the manager’s, it may well be a defining moment in their careers. For Ferguson, a win will confirm him as one of the greatest British managers and for Avram Grant, he can only hope that a win will confirm his position as Chelsea manager for next season.

With defence at a premium, the gladiator who can spring the surprise attack will take all the spoils.

Last one out turn off the lights

Once again, the mass exodus from Munster begins as all roads lead to Cardiff. Any train, plane, automobile, ferry, helicopter or speed boat leaving these shores this week will be full to the brim of red jerseys. The most circuitous routes will be taken to ensure arrival in the Welsh capital in time for Saturday’s 5pm kick-off.

Munster have almost made the Millenium Stadium a home-from-home as they challenge for the Heineken European Rugby Cup (to give it its full and correct name) in Wales for the third time in seven years. It is their fourth final in nine.

As a twice previous pilgrim, the search for transport, let alone accommodation only adds to the adventure. Do not be surprised to see Munster jerseys on any flight out of Ireland this week, regardless if you are heading to Newcastle, East Midlands, Southampton or even Glasgow.

Those flights are not restricted to Friday and Saturday, fully expect some people to begin travelling from Wednesday. Indeed it was reported that it is now even hard to avail of the use of a camper van to travel across, such has been the demand. And with so many hotels, inns, hostels, B&Bs full from Cardiff to Bristol and beyond, the camper van is an inspired decision. Let’s just hope the ferries travel. And on time.

Having battled through arguably the toughest-ever group in European Cup history, beaten Gloucester in Kingholm and then seen off a dogged Saracens team, Munster must be wondering what they have to do to get their hands on the trophy.

And the final doesn’t get any easier. Playing against the Kings of Europe, Stade Toulousain, there is no room for error, as the three times Champions will take full advantage. However, with their ace finisher Vincent Clerc out injured, a respite has been afforded the Munster men.

Playing against the European Royalty, Munster will have to be at the top of their game and have their best 15 players on the pitch. That should include Peter Stringer. The Irish scrum-half was dropped for the quarter-final and Tomas O’Leary had a storming game against Gloucester. But the same cannot be said for his semi-final performance. That he was not taken off at any stage in the second-half, let alone at half-time, beggared belief as O’Leary failed to provide the required calm and leadership sought by the pack.

If the same number of mistakes are made and the ball kicked away so aimlessly in the final by either O’Leary or Stringer, the European Cup will be returning to the South West of France. This match is too important to not start Stringer who is pivotal to the marshalling of the Munster pack, as well as the vital extra time he allows Ronan O’Gara on the ball.

This game is too close to call. The bookies only have the handicap at two points in Munster’s favour. If Stringer starts, Munster will win. But that is far from guaranteed.

The clash between these two teams will of biblical proportions. Let the pilgrimage begin. Last one out, turn off the lights.

Underdogs fail to ignite FA Cup fire

In a week when more British teams are competing in European finals than ever before, Portsmouth and Cardiff City must be wondering what they have to do to bring attention to themselves and their FA Cup Final on Saturday.

As the top teams fell from grace in the FA Cup, the tournament was once again being talked up and that the old romance in the competition still existed. And yet, with Manchester United and Chelsea competing in the first All-England Champions League final only four days later, there is almost a case for all involved in the FA Cup Final to throw their hands up in desperation. The focus continues to be on the other final.

Ever since they reached the final both Cardiff and Portsmouth’s focus has been on Saturday’s final. While the welsh tried in vain to push on at the end of the season for a Championship play-off, their heart was never fully in it, as they awaited their day in the May sunshine in Wembley. Portsmouth took their foot off the pedal even earlier, satisfied with their lot and aware they could not realistically challenge those ahead of them for a UEFA Cup spot in the Premier League. A win on Saturday was seen as an easier road into Europe.

The romance of tomorrow’s final will not be lost on the two teams, their managers and their players. But to others it might not be the same. The winner will be the first outside the ‘Big 4’ to win the FA Cup since Everton in 1995. The winner will go into next year’s UEFA Cup. But because there is no great love amongst the neutral fans for either club, the romance and the big build-up has simply not materialised.

And when Cristiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Carvalho and Didier Drogba all hint at moves away from their clubs, it is not hard to see why the FA Cup has been pushed down the headlines.

BBC and Sky Sports will build it up tomorrow with pieces about the ball being used, Wembley, the suits, the hotels the teams are staying in and the dressing room superstitions. But it won’t matter because the neutrals won’t be watching.

Manchester United and Chelsea have not finished their seasons yet. They’re still the headline grabbers and as long as they are still in contention for more silverware, they will continue to grab the headlines.

This boy ain't finished just yet!

Both firmly at the bottom of the Magners League, last month’s Ulster-Connacht game was do-or-die for all concerned. With only four points separating the teams beforehand, more than bragging rights were on offer here. Heineken European Cup entry was also on the line.

Holding sway for much of the match, Connacht could not turn the pressure into points. Outhalf Andy Dunne missed three kickable penalties. The last, early in the second half, forced coach Michael Bradley's hand and Dunne was substituted. "It was probably one of my worst games I've had in professional rugby," said Dunne during the week.

The road out to the west has not been a direct one for the Dubliner who will be entering his ninth year as a professional rugby player next season. A couple of stints with Leinster as well as three years in the English Premiership in between before the move to Galway at the start of this season.

Dunne won the European Challenge Cup in his first year with NEC Harlequins and kicked the winning points: "It was tense kicking the final conversion in front of 20,000 people but the best was being part of the winning team. That was the highlight."

A second year with 'Quins and a difficult year with Bath followed before Dunne returned to Dublin for a season with Leinster. Having only played a handful of games at the Recreation Ground, the young out-half was delighted to be playing rugby again: "It renewed my enthusiasm for the game. It was frustrating in Bath because I was basically a professional trainer. I don't think anyone plays professional sport to just train. You train for the matches and the enjoyment that brings."

He is enjoying his rugby at Connacht and more importantly he is playing consistently, making the number 10 shirt his own. But he is not only receiving from the team, he is also giving back.

"The way Connacht play is changing. Dunner has played a big part in that. He's brought a 'let's go out and have a crack' attitude," according to last year's captain John Fogarty.

He is clearly having an effect on his team-mates: "He has a lot of experience. He says the right things at the right time. When things are going bad in a game some players might go quiet. Dunner gets louder," said Fogarty.

This effect has not gone unnoticed. Dunne has been nominated for an award at the Irish Rugby Union Player's Awards (IRUPA) for 'Unsung Hero of the Year'. Why? "He's a great team player. He has helped lift the spirits of the team over the year. He loves what he's doing and he's very passionate about what he does. And it's very obvious. He always has a big smile on his face," said Fogarty

Dunne is chuffed with the nomination: "It's a lovely honour because it's by my own peers and that's as good an honour as I can get."

But the award is only a side line. The Dubliner is not hanging up his boots just yet: "I've been involved at all levels to 'A', so one more step to go. There are chances. There will be chances."

As a 17 year old, Dunne held off Paddy Wallace and Jeremy Staunton for the out-half position on the Irish school's team. When all three played together at Under 21 level, the Dubliner was once again handed the number 10 jersey. And yet, Dunne is the only one not to have represented Ireland at the highest level: "The two guys have gone on and played for Ireland. It makes it a very possible thing to happen. But sometimes when I wasn't selected I thought it was impossible or I was fooling myself."

But he is well aware of what it takes: "All you need is to be playing well and take your chances when they come. Right place. Right time. It can happen. Guys like Bernard Jackman and Shane Byrne are good inspiration. I think they got capped at 31 or 32, so there's no reason why not."

And Dunne does not have to look too far for further inspiration. Connacht's back coach, Eric Elwood, only retired from the Connacht team at the age of 37. "I think I've plenty of mileage. I have more time left in me to play and I have the opportunity to keep doing it for a good while yet," said the 28-year-old.

For the next match, Connacht travelled to play the Newport Gwent Dragons. Dunne started on the bench but entered the fray with 20 minutes left on the clock. Trailing 11-6, Connacht scored a try deep into injury time to draw level. There was never any question about the conversion. Dunne's kick gave his team an unlikely 11-13 win.

Dunne's excellent season with Connacht, Ulster match apart, was duly rewarded when he picked up the IRUPA 'Unsung Hero of the Year' award in Dublin. But he won't be resting on his laurels for too long: "I don't think I've had the perfect performance or anything close to it yet but it is something I continually strive for."

Open and closed case?

This weekend the Irish Open takes place in the wonderful surroundings of Adare Manor with Irish golfers on a high having won an unprecedented three tournaments in a row, culminating in Peter Lawrie’s dramatic sudden-death win at the Spanish Open ten days ago.

This triumvirate of victories has been a much needed fillip to the event as the usual trumpets and furore in the run-in to this weekend’s action have been conspicuous by their absence.

Padraig Harrington, who broke the 25 year John O’Leary curse by winning last year, returns to defend his title but is one of only 6 of the World’s top 50 golfers who will compete this week. This is an increase on last year’s number!

It is a damning indictment that only two years after the K Club hosted the Ryder Cup, that the Irish Open cannot find a sponsor and that the European Open is no longer hosted by the Kildare golf course.

Corporate Ireland cashed in on the Ryder Cup and no longer see value in an association with golf on the island. And yet, Ireland has more golfers playing on the European Tour than ever before.

Without the attraction of the big name golfers, who increasingly follow the big cheques, sponsors have been slow to back the event. Very much catch-22.

The Irish Open’s fall from grace is a sorry sight. Previously hosted on the links at Portmarnock, Co. Louth, Royal Dublin and as far back as Woodbrook, the event was seen as a warm-up to the British Open. Unfortunately that is no longer the case and it has steadily fallen down the European Tour pecking order and no longer holds that prime position one week before the Major.

Tom Kane must be commended for his attitude to the event but his pockets are only so deep.

We can only hope that another Irish victory this weekend can demonstrate the value of this event to a large corporation, because if not, it might not be long before the Irish Open ceases to exist.

Titles on a shoestring. But for how long?

When Arsene Wenger first arrived at Highbury, a relative unknown, the greatest talking point was the similarity of his first name to his new club. Very much a thinking-man’s manager, Wenger quickly moved on to demonstrate he is one of the most astute managers in Europe and has brought the London club success on a shoestring, but has not reached the next level of a European title.

Now more than 12 years at Highbury, there is no sign of his motivation waning and indeed in the midst of another team re-build, this latest team could well be one of the most talented in a number of years.

Most striking about Wenger’s time at Arsenal has been his astute purchases of young, relatively unknown players and his ability to maximise their talents and provide them with a playing philosophy within which to display their undoubted talents.

Some of his first signings included Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka. The following year, as the Arsenal back four began to break up, the French-man controversially signed Tottenham Hotspurs captain, Sol Campbell, as well as Frederik Ljungberg and the French duo of Thierry Henry and Robert Pires.

These signings along with the existing English players in the squad developed into one of the best teams to watch play football in the Premiership; a trait that continues to this day.

And while these signings have thrived under Wenger’s tutelage, it is their exit from Highbury that is most telling.

There has often been uproar from the stands when word circles that particular players are being let go or sold. However, in the years that follow their exit, not many of the players have maintained the same level of success from both an individual or team perspective.

Overmars and Petit, two of the mainstays of the Arsenal midfield, were sold together to Barcelona. Overmars lasted four years with the Catalan club, but it took him a number of years to settle into the club. Petit only lasted a season before returning to London and Arsenal’s arch-rivals, Chelsea, where he did not have any like the impact he previously had in the Premiership.

Nicolas Anelka moved through so many clubs that they are not worth mentioning, and while continuing to be a goal-scorer, has not reached the same heights of success when at Arsenal.

This season Wenger kept his wick dry and did not dip into the transfer market during the January window. This ultimately was to the detriment of their Premiership challenge. While their nearest rivals Manchester United and Chelsea both suffered injuries, players of equal calibre were able to step into the fold without too much disruption. And it was they who ultimately finished first and second.

As the wheelings and dealings of the summer transfer season begin, but most likely to intensify further after the European Championships, Arsenal’s comings and goings will make for interesting viewing.

Already gone to a bigger paymaster is Gilles Grimandi. Will others follow or be pushed out and who will be brought in?

Players like Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor want to play at the highest level. If this Arsenal team does not step up to the mark in the Premiership (last won in 2004) and Europe in the next couple of years, it may be the end of the team or the manager. Only time will tell.

Advantage United

Manchester United hold the advantage over their London rivals, Chelsea, going into next week’s Champions League Final in Moscow. Seeing off the stern challenge of Wigan 2-0, the Red Devils clinched their 10th Premier League title in 17 years.

At the end of a long season, injuries to key players have been critical to both United and Chelsea for their league run in as well as their Champions League semi-finals.

Sir Alex Ferguson had the luxury of welcoming back both defender Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Rooney into his starting 11. Both lasted 90 minutes.

In contrast, Chelsea started without defender Ricardo Carvalho and ended the game without captain John Terry, who left the pitch with a dislocated elbow after a clash with goalkeeper Petr Cech. Didier Drogba also suffered an injury at the end of the game, jarring his knee, and now both are rated doubtful for Moscow. However, Terry did believe he would be in a position to play in the final.

So with United at full strength and Chelsea potentially missing at least one of their talismen, not to mention the United players with Premier League medals around their neck, it is advantage United as they travel to Moscow for the first-ever all-England Champions League final.

Kidney takes top spot

So the IRFU have finally made a decision, the best one from both a PR and a sporting perspective, to make Declan Kidney the new Irish head coach.

The process to find a replacement for Eddie O'Sullivan had become increasingly drawn out, not quite on an FAI scale, but nonetheless increasingly tedious. Calls were made for updates to be provided from Lansdowne Road, but none were forthcoming.

In defense of the FAI, at least they provided information to the media about the process as it became increasingly protracted. In contrast the IRFU circled the wagons, much like the reporting of the Genesis Report, for fear that any journalist may hear anything positive on the grapevine.

Kidney was always the best man for the job. Having coached at all levels, it was only right that he be allowed an opportunity to coach the top team. There have been dissenting voices about his possible promotion to the post but it is now the Cork man's job to silence his critics.

While it has been known for more than a week that all that remained for Kidney to do was sign the dotted line, it has come to fruition that a number of final issues need to be ironed out.

The IRFU must be commended for confirming his appointment, but equally Kidney must be commended for standing his ground and insisting he appoints his backroom staff. Having been an ill-made IRFU appointment under Eddie O'Sullivan, the Munster coach is only too aware of such pitfalls.

Kidney will not take charge of the Irish team until after the summer tour, thereby providing him with enough time to properly put his back-room team together. From an IRFU, a player and a Kidney perspective, this can only be taken as a positive for the four years ahead.

The Munster man is carefully putting his team together and it may take some time to bed in. We as supporters must allow Kidney and his team time to put their systems in place and not be too quick to judge. To do so would only be to the detriment of the team and the sport as a whole.

Respect the Ref? Two chances!

Hands on hips. His chin lowered to his chest and back to the referee, the player refused to look at the official. Only when threatened with expulsion from the game did the player petulantly make half a turn to receive his yellow card. Having looked the referee in the eye, he was already running away by the time the official’s arm was fully outstretched.

If this was an under ten’s game in the Phoenix Park, the emotion and frustration of the player may be understandable, but when it happens at White Hart Lane and the player is Ashley Cole, any feelings of sympathy toward the player quickly dissipate.

Only four days later Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano received a second yellow card and was dismissed. His offence? Charging more than 20 yards to dispute a challenge made on one of his team-mates.

The issue of player-official respect has once again been brought to the fore.

But a trip down memory lane is not a long one to discover when this was last the favourite bar-stool topic of conversation. It is less than 10 years since Paolo Di Canio infamously pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground after being given his marching orders. Before being banned for 11 games and fined £10,000, politicians and former players were outraged at the Italian’s behaviour. “Chuck the book at him,” said then Sports Minister, Tony Banks MP.

Such fines are nowadays not going to hurt the top professionals where many in the Premiership will be earning about three to four times that amount a week.

Players like Cole now earn more in a week than the referee earns in a year. The Chelsea player believes he is a minor celebrity – he’s not – and therefore has a right to look down his nose at anyone who dares challenge him. Likewise his team-mates.

In football, the players believe they have a God given right to challenge every decision made by the authorities, it doesn’t matter if it took place five or 50 yards away from them.

Indeed, it is not only the players who find themselves in trouble, clubs are increasingly being brought to task for not being able to control their players or 'bringing the game into disrepute'. Arsenal and Chelsea are most often at the top of the list, with the Stamford Bridge club already fined three times this year and assistant coach, Steve Clarke, also fined for abusing an official.

How often in the past number of years has a referee made a decision, or not, and is almost immediately been surrounded by a large number of players. The jostling, barracking and abuse is now seen as a valid tactic to seek to sway the decision about to be meted out. Such incidents do not take place by accident.

In the past week the Football Association (FA) launched a grass-roots campaign to recruit more referees but also improve player behaviour towards match officials. Such a campaign is not an over-night solution but must be welcomed.

Everton manager David Moyes was one of a number of Premiership managers to come out in support of the FA’s proposal to tackle the issue. But he believes respect is a two way thin: “We know they want us to give them respect. They have to give us respect also.”

However Sunderland manager, Roy Keane was highly critical of Premiership managers preaching about players respecting referees. The antagonism shown by players does not happen by mistake. And it is no co-incidence that the teams with the most vociferous managers are those with the most vocal players.

“There are a lot of hypocrites out there. The same bosses talking about players showing respect have been sent off themselves for abusing officials,” said Keane.

The Cork-man who was one of the fiercest competitors on the pitch has been one of the calmest man patrolling the touchlines and believes it is his job to set the example in the club: “I’ve made it clear to everyone here – from the academy to the first team – that a lack of respect towards referees will not be tolerated. How can the players show respect if their managers does not?”

While the FA are seeking to hire the referees at grassroots level, they would do well to include a chapter in the document for managers.

Chief Executive of the Professional Footballer’s Association, Gordon Taylor has called for an exclusion zone around referees to stop players’ dissent. “I have made it clear referees should be a no-go area. It is time managers and players did accept a responsibility because what happens at the top level happens lower down.”

While an exclusion zone is good in principle, any comments can still easily be shouted from five yards away.

If the message is to get across to the players that dissent will not be tolerated, then they must be hit where it will hurt most - on the pitch. Why not take a leaf from the rugby rule-book? Any lip or back chat – ten yards.

If Cole had 10 team-mates shouting at him to shut up as the referee moved a free-kick a further 10 yards up the pitch he might just listen. He respects them.