Sporting Weekend of Irish Interest
This is one of those weekends where Irish ex-pats follow all sorts of sporting events in and concerning Ireland.
Yesterday Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien - the man who took over from his namesake Vincent the Ballydoyle training stables in Tipperary after which the pub in Downer’s Grove, IL is named - tried to capture the Epsom Derby by filling the field with his horses.
O’Brien however didn’t add to his two previous wins in the Derby, with none of his 8 (that’s eight) horses coming home first this time.
This race is rather old, with records going back well over two hundred years. Also, like the English City, Derby, and in contrast to the Kentucky Derby, “Derby” is pronounced “Dar-by. This is also the case for the Irish Derby run at the Curragh.
In rugby Ireland lost a test match to Argentina 16-0 in Buenos Aires yesterday. But I don’t care about that. This is just them getting ready for the World Cup which takes place in France from September through October of this year.
In soccer the Czech Republic failed to beat Wales in Cardiff in a Euro 2008 qualifier from Ireland’s group. This increases Ireland’s chances of qualifying. Meanwhile the group leaders, Germany, beat European minnows San Marino 6-0 with nobody saying afterwards that there are no easy games in international football any more.
The Wales game got more attention in Ireland for it being Ryan Giggs’ last international game. The most decorated footballer in the English premiership is retiring from international football to prolong his club career with Manchester United. Man U have far too many fans in Ireland, and DJ Rico is their most vocal fan in Kansas City.
The world of international football is a poorer place without the Welsh wizard. Please note that there are no Irish or Scottish wizards. Wales however has a long tradition of great footballers acquiring wizard status, by virtue of Wales beginning with the letter ‘w’.
And today is a big gah-day. Gah is sometimes how you say the letters “GAA” Other times you say the letters, g-a-a. It’s a championship Sunday. And while I should care about Waterford playing Kerry, I can’t right now - because Dublin are playing Meath and I have some nails to bite.
It’s one of Gaelic Games’ great rivalries, and a moment when I love parochialism. Because I hate Meath. I don’t hate easily. And I love my country. Even Cork. But I’m strictly a 31-county man. There’s nothing worse than not getting a ticket for Hill 16 and finding yourself in the upper Cusack surrounded by mouthy men - shouting Come on the Royal, in that accent.
Well there is something worse. It’s when Colm O’Rourke casually makes space and gracefully kicks over a point in the last minute. No amount of comedians coming out of Navan will ever make up for that.
Oh yeah. And 1991. This isn’t like American sports that have their best of seven series of games to pick a winner. A knockout competition such as the GAA Championship or the FA Cup in soccer in England, pitches teams against each other in once-off games. A draw will necessitate a replay. 1991 took four games.
Dublin lost, and probably took the scars with them to convert into the complacency that lost them the 1992 crown, and the self-doubt that prevented them winning in 1993 and 1994, great Ulster football notwithstanding.
Dublin fans are forever scarred by that series that finally winning the championship with those players in 1995 - including the 10-point drubbing of Meath on the way one gloriously sunny Sunday - never eradicated.
From that 1991 series, something I don’t like to watch, the car crash in slow motion that was Foley’s goal in the 4th game:
You can watch the Leinster quarter final between Meath and Dublin today live on Setanta Broadband, but if I’m reading the details right the price has increased 50% in two years. I may check out the dark side of the internet. Or you can listen online.
For those of you interested in history, the All-Ireland football championship - of which this Leinster Championsip is a part of - dates from 1887.
UPDATE: Oh my! Dublin 1-11 Meath 0-14 - A draw, so the teams will have to meet again just after your nails have grown back.
See Other Irish Sporting Gems:
• Meeting Diego Maradona in Ireland
• Irish Lose: O Dear, O-dear O-dear O-dear
• Wearing Green and Ignoring Ireland
• Ireland & USA: Little Differences #2 - Watching Soccer
• Wanting Ireland to Lose
• The All-Ireland Football Final in Kansas City
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