2012. A year of new and renewed challenges.

So January is almost over. And I have finally managed to get off my arse and do two things (well maybe three actually) I said I would do at the start of the month.

I firstly said that I would stand on the weighing scales. The thought of doing this was as depressing as the result. More than a stone (or 6 kgs) overweight. Not good. Not good at all. But this isn’t really much of a surprise as I haven’t swam, cycled or run since completing the Ironman 70.3 triathlon in Galway last September. Added to a Christmas of eating and drinking, it was time to reverse this upward trend.

I recently agreed with Dave to do the Galway race again (who I beat by 88 seconds), so I knew this would present a few issues. Firstly, he is going to be even more motivated to beat me this year. And secondly, I could face the dreaded ‘‘second-season syndrome’.

So to help lose the weight and improve my triathlon skills, I finally joined a triathlon club. I have put my trust in the coaching team of Piranha Triathlon Club, and hope that it will help to carry me nicely along throughout the nice cold evenings of the Irish spring and summer.

Lastly, I said I would start back writing. So, hey presto! My first blog entry of the year. Not everything on this will be triathlon (some) or weight-loss (very little). In fact, rugby, EURO 2012 and the Olympics may well feature along the way as well.

So here’s to tomorrow’s 7am swim. More fool me!

Ronaldo no role model

Earlier this month Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA World Player of the Year. The Portuguese international is a superstar; no question. He is one of the best footballers in the world; no question. He is a role model for kids; questionable.

While his skills on the pitch cannot be doubted, there is not a lot else to admire. A hero or role model he is not! A role model is someone worthy of imitation. Apart from his step-over, there is not much you would want to see imitated.

David Beckham, soon to turn 34, for all his dalliances with the media due to his celebrity marriage, has continued to do what he knows best – play football. Sure he has modelled Calvin Klein underwear, has an increasing percentage of his body covered in tattoos and drives lavish cars; but he continues to confound his critics on the football field.

And on the field, the current AC Milan player is one who will play for the betterment of the team, even if it is not necessarily in his own self-interest. The same unfortunately cannot yet be said of Ronaldo who only seeks to inflate his own ego.

Last May when Edwin Van der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka’s penalty to win the Champion’s League for United, his team-mates charged to celebrate with him, including Ronaldo. The Portuguese checked his run. He was not the centre of attention. Crisis.

So he collapsed on the ground as easily as he would under a challenge from an opponent and ‘cried’. Cue every camera in the ground to zoom in on Ronaldo prostrate on the pitch. Once again centre of attention. Crisis over.


Compare this to Beckham’s reaction on guaranteeing England’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup with his last minute goal against Greece. Unbridled joy and excitement. Of course he was the centre of attention, but that attention was shared with his teammates.

This interest in his team has seen Beckham return on sabbatical from LA to play for a number of months in Milan to prove his worth to England supremo Fabio Capello. His fitness levels have remained at the levels that often saw him cover more than ten kilometres for Manchester United as he sought to cover every blade of grass on the pitch.

And yet, Beckham would one of the first to say that while he had the natural talents to become a professional footballer, it took much more than that to make him the best dead ball specialist in the world.

This dedication to the ‘practice makes perfect’ philosophy provided people with an insight into the man. It made him more human. Beckham, too, has to work hard to get better. Ronaldo, well he believes it is his divine right to be called the best in the world (he’s not, just ask anyone who watches Spanish football). The former England captain’s dedication to his sport and the teams he played and plays on is something worth holding up to be admired.

So popular is the Premiership that people often forget to look nearer to home for role models. Irish kids need only look at Padraig Harrington to understand what dedication and self-belief can achieve.

Harrington is one of the best golfers in the world and he could very easily go down in history as Ireland’s greatest sportsman ever.

Harrington’s well known devotion to practice verges on the extreme. However if the capture of three golf majors out of the last six is the return, where can people sign up? While it is said that Tiger Woods did not play in the last two that the Irishman won, he could only beat those playing on the day. Even if the World number one was playing, who’s to say the Dubliner would not have beaten him, such is his self-belief; one that few other sportsmen or women across any field can match.

Indeed, Harrington is one of the few world golfers who does not cower from the challenge of Woods when coming up the straight. In fact he revels in it.

However, it has taken 13 years to get to where he is now. Harrington was cautious about turning pro, so much so that he did not do so until he was 24 having gained an accounting degree. Just in case. But year-on-year his performances have improved and now in his prime and only more will be expected of him. The greatest expectation will only come from Harrington himself.

The Dubliner has simply refused to rest on his laurels and has continually sought ways to improve his game. And yet as he has moved steadily up the sporting ladder, he has continued to keep his feet on the ground. A worthy role model.

Our hero thought he could fly last week. But we all know what happens when you try to fly too near the sun.

Dare to Believe

The air buzzed with electricity, anticipation and expectation. The Munster supporters had waited a long time to have another go at the much vaunted All Blacks. Even the dogs on the street knew about the game in 1978, such was the coverage given to last night’s game over the past month. And last night gave us a reminder of just what it is that Munster rugby stands for. Dare to believe.

The famed Limerick ground could not have been officially opened by a more exciting edge-of-your-seat thriller. This was pure Munster.

For everything that has been said about Ireland last Saturday – lack of pressure on the opposition, lack of control, poor kicking, poor first up tackling, lack of ambition from deep, poor execution of chances – read the opposite for Munster last night.

This was old school. Pull on the red of Munster and play for yourself, your team members, the squad and for all who were there to watch you play. This game could easily have been played in the amateur era; such was the pride and veracity with which every tackle was made by each and every Munster player.

It might not have been the most experienced team, but this Munster team did not let the emotion of the occasion get to them. Even when the four kiwi squad members – Doug Howlett, Rua Tipoki, Lifemi Mafi and Jeremy Manning – performed the Haka before the All Blacks. Not just any team is allowed to do that.


In the first half, Niall Ronan, captain Mick O’Driscoll and Frankie O’Driscoll appeared everywhere on the pitch, wilfully taking the ball into contact – importantly retaining it – as well as in defence where they were asked to tackle their noticeably larger opposition time and again. Each time they dusted themselves down and threw their bodies on the line

Such was the pride and raw aggression shown in the first half by Munster that the debate at half-time was how long could it last.

The All Blacks had an inexperienced line-up and that showed when none of their key players took full control of the game or their possession. They sought to finish off the game before they had even managed to score.

Munster took the lead in the first half through a Paul Warwick penalty, followed by a sublime opportunist drop-goal from outside the 10 yard line. The lead did not last long. Stephen Donald, who had a poor overall game on the night, kicked a successful penalty once the All Blacks returned immediately up the pitch. But Munster still believed.

However, they began to take too much out of the ball and ran from too deep. And they were punished. Three minutes after his penalty, Donald, taking one of his team’s first chances, broke through the Munster defence to score under the posts. But the All Blacks could still not properly wrest control of the game away from the inspired Irish province and only looked likely to score on the break.

Munster persevered and from a five yard scrum, Peter Stringer broke to the blind side to find himself inexplicably with a two-on-one and he successfully put Barry Murphy away, while shipping a heavy challenge, for their first try.

13-10 at half-time. But with so many of their players apparently out on their feet, the test of nerves in the second half was sure to test even the hardiest of supporters. But then this is Munster we are talking about. Expect the unexpected. Dare to believe. As their sponsors so often say, Impossible is Nothing.

And for thirty four minutes of the second half, every Munster supporter in the sold out crowd dared to believe. Munster repelled attack after attack. Then with the ball in hand ran directly at the All Blacks with a conviction that was sorely missed in Croke Park last Saturday.

All Blacks coach started to make changes after only ten minutes of the second half, but he only sent on the less experienced substitutes. But the sign that world’s best team was worried came on seventy minutes when Mils Muliana and Brad Thorn were sent on to add some experience to the team.

Earlier, Warwick was successful with another penalty, which was cancelled out by Donald. However, it only took Muliana four minutes to make an impact. The sign of the world’s top teams is that they can control enough of the game to create the chance to win.

The All Blacks rarely created cohesive attacks, possibly only two in each half. But most importantly they scored from one in each half. Stringing a number of powerful runners from the base of rucks, Number eight Liam Messam one of the few shining lights, Muliana received a pass which took out one too many Munster defenders and he was able to release Joe Rokocoko who beat Howlett on his inside shoulder. Donald failed with the conversion and with only four minutes on the clock Munster still believed. But this time is wasn’t to be.

When the final whistle went, almost all the Munster team were frozen to the spot, with barely an ounce of energy to move. Many were tears. This game meant that much to them.

The All Blacks only beat the European Champions by two points. It should never have been that close. All logical pointed to a facile victory to the World’s number one team having sustained an initial spirited front up attack. But then again this is Munster we’re talking about. They don’t believe in logic. They dare to believe.

Another Kidney twist

And so how much Irish coach Declan Kidney actually learn from the drubbing given to Canada by his first selection last weekend?

Judging by his selection for this Saturday’s not too much but only a few players managing to make that lasting impression. Much has been made of the fact that of last weekend’s starting line-up, only four finished in the same position. And while the coaching staff may have been trying out different options, in the end it did not appear to sway the selection strategy for this weekend’s game against Ireland’s bogey team, New Zealand.

The two changes made in the back-line, Girvan Dempsey starting at full-back and Tómas O’Leary at scrum-half, are the only two of this weekend’s team who took no part in Thomond Park against Canada. These two are also selections, along with the selection of the back row that would have most caused Kidney selection issues.

While Keith Earls immediately impressing on his international debut, New Zealand is not the team to throw him in against for his second start, and his demotion to the bench was always likely. However that did not clearly identify Kidney’s preferred full back. Rob Kearney, selected on the wing, has continued to impress both for Ireland and Leinster but has had limited exposure this season at Number 15. Geordan Murphy and Kearney’s Leinster colleague Girvan Dempsey were the other options available. The Leinster man won out and despite turning 33 this year, Dempsey’s continued sublime reading of a game has seen him excel in this era of the ELVs.

O’Leary’s swift elevation to Ireland’s starting scrum half has only been usurped by the progress of Earls. Kidney made the tough decision of starting O’Leary ahead of Peter Stringer during last year’s Heineken Cup and while the new man has not started yet for Ireland, the coach has again shown the confidence in the player to start him against the All Blacks. His defensive abilities and physical presence deemed more suitable, giving him the edge over incumbent Eoin Reddan, who reverts to the bench. Stringer who impressed as a substitute against Canada is not included in the match 22.



The man, so long the playing partner of O’Gara, must not lose heart for his exclusion just yet. The same must be said for Murphy. Malcolm O’Kelly was one of the first culled from the training squad two weeks ago however he was recalled to the squad this week. Kidney picks on form, so all three should not fear their international careers are over just yet.

Stephen Ferris and Shane Jennings were two players who had most to gain against Canada last weekend. Ferris won the man of the match award but is unlucky not to make this weekend’s starting line-up. Jennings had the chance to pit himself against the world’s best number seven this weekend, but his performance last weekend was not enough to remove Ireland’s regular number seven, David Wallace. Ferris, who has had limited game time this year, loses his place to the outstanding blindside of this season, Alan Quinlan but provides Kidney with plenty of options if plan A does not work. Rory Best starts ahead of Jerry Flannery at hooker.

So for those selected must perform as they have not done for more than a year. Croke Park February 2007 against England is a long time ago. And then they must beat the only team that they have never beaten. Played 21. Lost 20. Drawn 1. O’Driscoll’s 50th time as captain could not be marked better than with that elusive victory.

Last weekend’s selection provided much cause for thought. However, such was the paucity of the opposition, Kidney was not in a position to learn too much from the victory. However, those selected against the All Blacks are well aware that the coach will cull as required.

In the end it may have been the players who were given more to think about after last weekend’s match than the coach. And maybe that was always the aim. Let’s hope Kidney’s aims are reached on Saturday.

Kidney up to his tricks again

Declan Kidney’s first team announcement has been long in coming since his appointment in May. Much had been anticipated about this selection as much as an indication of how his team would play.

While the Cork-man could have taken much enjoyment from his arrival at the top table of Irish rugby, such is the man’s nature he will simply now want to get on with the job.

The message was already sent out during the week that no sentimentality will affect this team. While Malcolm O’Kelly has continued to confound the critics by playing out of his skin for Leinster, that was not enough for his inclusion and was cut from the squad last Friday.

In the run-in to today’s selection Kidney, well aware of the pitfalls of any failure in the next three games, had stated that he was not going to meddle too much with the team. Too much relied upon these games to experiment.

And yet, it cannot be expected that the team which starts on Saturday in Thomond Park will start against the All Blacks one week later in Croke Park. However, the chance is now there for a number of players to assert their claims for a starting place against New Zealand.

Keith Earls’ first senior selection at full back is perhaps the most surprising, but not wholly unexpected. His excellent form for Munster has shown that he has the talent to step up to the next level. He must now take his chance if he hopes to be included against the All Blacks or the Pumas a week later.

With Shane Horgan and Girvan Dempsey both omitted, the message from the coach may well be that he is looking forward and not back. However, he may also be providing new players and partnerships with the opportunity to prove their worth. Kidney knows what Rob Kearney, who has been selected on the wing, can do from full back. Equally he knows what Dempsey offers. Earls may only get one chance to prove his worth at number 15 for this season.

Tony Buckley in the front row and Stephen Ferris in the back row are also somewhat surprise inclusions; most notably due to the lack of game-time the two have under their belts this year for Munster and Ulster, respectively. Both now have the opportunity to repay the manager’s confidence in them by turning in performances on Saturday.

Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip finish off the back row. Jennings is Ireland’s best ground-hog open-side and if Ireland are to win against the All-Blacks, they must stop Ritchie McCaw at the break-down. But he needs to perform against Canada first. But even then that may not guarantee his selection ahead of David Wallace.

The most exciting selection is the centre partnership of captain Brian O’Driscoll and Luke Fitzgerald. Originally selected for the first summer test before Fitzgerald returned home injured, the two have started to prosper as a partnership for Leinster. Now is the chance to test it at the top level.

The mix of the experienced and new in Kidney’s first selection appears, at first look, to have a good balance. Enough experienced players to take responsibility alongside a good mix of younger players to bring a new dimension to the team. Let’s hope this is a sign of things to come.

Let the games begin

According to Paul Azinger, Nick Faldo is a “prick”. While Seve Ballesteros, once described the American team as “11 nice guys and Paul Azinger”. But all the fighting and shouting is almost at an end as the players will take centre stage and shine. Almost since the two captains were appointed, they have been going hammer and tongs at each other.

Much was made of Faldo’s wild card selections and his omission of the in-form Darren Clarke. That must now all be left behind and the 12 European players present at Valhalla must be allowed to concentrate on the task at hand.

In contrast to Faldo, who had a number of options available to him when choosing his wild cards, Azinger was not so lucky. The US captain delayed his selections in the hope of some in-form players shining following the USPGA Championship. None did and he chose his four wild cards based on the rankings rather anything more inspiring.

On the face of it, much is in the European’s favour. They have four rookies while the US team have six. Padraig Harrington is the only European Major winner. The US have four. Harrington has won three of the last six Majors. The last time a member of the US team won one was 2006 – Phil Mickelson at the Masters.

Oh and the US team are missing World No.1 Tiger Woods who is absent due to injury. He will also not make an appearance at Valhalla. And while the TV networks and sponsors might not be overly pleased with this, Azinger and his team will most likely be quietly happy with this decision. Any appearances by the World No.1 at Valhalla would take from the American team and their tough task of seeking to stem the flow of recent European wins.

But there is not doubt that Woods will not be losing any sleep about not being able to tog out in the US colours at Valhalla. He simply doesn’t do team golf. It goes against everything he his strived for. Ryder Cups ultimately count for nothing. As Woods has said before, “how many people remember Nicklaus’ Ryder Cup record?” Enough said.

Previously, this blog spoke about his non-appearance being a positive for the American team, but without natural leaders in the team – can you see Phil Mickelson really try to gee the up his team-mates in the locker room before Friday’s start – it is hard to see where the US team will get their leadership from. There is too much of an impression that they are an unlikely group of individuals.


Harrington. Lee Westwood. Sergio Garcia. All three are the senior players of the European team. Three, who their team-mates – rookies and non-rookies – will all be easily approached to provide guidance, assistance and quiet words if, and when, required. The European team simply gel more easily and play for each other in a much more natural manner. However, don’t expect Harrington and Garcia to play together.

Recently, Ballesteros was hoping the US would win in Valhalla: “I see the Ryder Cup getting very boring because we are beating them so badly. Everybody is losing interest. My heart is always with the Europeans, but my head is with the Americans for the good of the trophy.”

The enigmatic Spaniard’s opinions may have changed of late, but more than the good wishes of Ballesteros will be required for the US team to win for the first time since the battle of Brookline.

Three of this year’s American team were part of that battle. Who’s to say the Azinger will not seek to rekindle that fighting spirit in deepest Kentucky to lead his team to victory at Valhalla. Don’t put the hammer and tongs away just yet.

Kerry. Kerry. Kerry.

Talk in the Kingdom about the three-in-a-row but there is only one real story that has dominated this year’s GAA Football Championship. Paul Galvin. He has been this year’s GAA story. Full stop. From the minute he was sent off against Clare, right up to the throw-in of Sunday’s All-Ireland final, barely a week has gone by that an update story on the Kerry captain has not appeared in the media.

When made captain of the Kerry team this year, many an eye-brow was raised. While the Finuge-man’s commitment to the green and gold has never been questioned as well as the additional intensity he has brought to the team’s success over the past two years, the question of discipline has always been bubbling under the surface.

While Galvin played in the 2005 final when The Kingdom were beaten by Sunday’s opponents, Tyrone, the style of play undertaken by Kerry since, and Galvin in particular, has changed dramatically. Such was the dominance of Ulster football and the increasing dominance of the blanket defence so well used by Tyrone and Armagh, Jack O’Connor, the then Kerry manager, knew he had to adapt the game-plan.

As the Kerry game evolved, Galvin’s new role in the team was not roundly welcomed by critics of Kerry football and their beautiful game. Think Dunga playing for Brazil. Think Kevin Maggs playing for Ireland. There is nothing pretty about their style, but they are effective and fit into the overall game plan of the team.

Galvin is the Ulster-style footballer, playing for Kerry. He has become the enforcer. The hard nut. He wins the dirty ball, swims in waters where others feared to tread. And his increased responsibility within the Kerry game plan over the last two years has been pivotal to their success.

Last week Galvin’s ban ended and so the debate now centres on Pat O’Shea’s decision to start the Finuge man or not. Even without three month’s competitive football, his involvement at some stage on Sunday is not in doubt. However, can the Kerry captain get up to the speed of the game quickly enough to justify an inclusion from the start?

Inversely, when would he be introduced to the game? If Davy Harte and Philip Jordan can make hay against the Kerry defence as easily as they did in the quarter-final against Dublin, their dander will be up and a late introduction of Galvin could be a case of too little too late. But once again his ability to get up to the speed of the game may be a worry.

In three Championship games, as well as in the League final, Kerry has thrown away significant leads. Their struggle to put away teams is now a recurring and evident weakness. Having lost the upper-hand, their defenders have not been strong enough to stem the flow. Is Galvin the man who can firstly lead the Kingdom to victory once in a position to win, or if under the kosh, can he grasp the game by the scruff of the neck to wrest control back for the green and gold?

A lot will depend on his fitness. It is unlikely that he can last the 80 minutes. If he starts, can he have such an impact on the team that he can be substituted after 55 minutes and remain confident that his team-mates can finish off the deal? Or should he be brought on after 55 minutes to seal the deal?

The expectation of a three-in-a-row sits heavily on Pat O’Shea’s shoulders before he even selects his starting 15. If Kerry are to win on Sunday, O’Shea cannot afford to let Tyrone control the game. One selection could make that difference: Galvin. Galvin. Galvin.