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Only comment on those sports I am very/ somewhat familiar with.
GAA --few comparisons available with equivalent set-ups , so our football can only bear comparison internationally with a recently fairly lack lustre Aussie pick . Well ahead of their most recent offering . Our hurlers are top of any pile I could compile , the skill and commitment level exhibited is truly astonishing given that it's essentially amateur . Take a bow . Hand ball also has its followers , though not sure of current standards myself .
Rugby --on a downward spiral from heady heights of No 3 in the world rankings . Cant see the potential for a rise either based on what I have seen recently . Our winning teams from provincial level owe a bit to the imports in the ranks . Not reflecting provincial success at international level .
Soccer -- deficiencies have been exposed fairly dramatically recently , maybe we should attempt to have the die hard followers / supporters enter a team .
Horse racing -- a la the hurlers . I have only admiration for the consistent skill and results being exhibited by our horses , jockeys , trainers , and owners world wide . And providing a lot of employment must be hugely significant .
Golfers -- again stellar , and keeping us ahead of the game internationally . OK , we have a huge number of the best courses in the world ( take a bow those who started and helped plan the process , and as a lady from Cork reminded me last week at the Irish Open in Portrush the game came originally from across the water with military connections a feature ). And the main players are good ambassadors for the sport here .
Cricket -- given the relative few who play the game here we have done very well recently . Hard to keep up the gallop though , particularly with all the factors involved and the fact that the big 8 dont want any challenge to their bailiewick . But the IPL is going to be a bigger and bigger factor , like to see a few of our lads getting a chance there . Might extend our sphere of influence .
Athletics -- the public only are interested in champions , never was a big spectator sport at grass roots . Hard to follow the early years when Ireland had champions a plenty , but with a few exceptions it is very hard to aspire to the world best needed . Be thankful that some are keeping the flag flying , but a hard act .
Boxing -- we punch above our weight at amateur level particularly , not my favourite sport even if some of us are good at it .
Other sports -- cycling , hockey , swimming , gymnastics , judo , are relatively unknown to me , never did any of them , but they have their supporters and their efforts would be better known to some of you than me . Tennis and squash I did , social though , dont think we figure much internationally these days .
Loads of people also are active in less vigorous sports such as bowls , at which we are pretty good ( grass a factor ? ) .
The missing sports / activities ? Open forum !
GAA --few comparisons available with equivalent set-ups , so our football can only bear comparison internationally with a recently fairly lack lustre Aussie pick . Well ahead of their most recent offering . Our hurlers are top of any pile I could compile , the skill and commitment level exhibited is truly astonishing given that it's essentially amateur . Take a bow . Hand ball also has its followers , though not sure of current standards myself .
Rugby --on a downward spiral from heady heights of No 3 in the world rankings . Cant see the potential for a rise either based on what I have seen recently . Our winning teams from provincial level owe a bit to the imports in the ranks . Not reflecting provincial success at international level .
Soccer -- deficiencies have been exposed fairly dramatically recently , maybe we should attempt to have the die hard followers / supporters enter a team .
Horse racing -- a la the hurlers . I have only admiration for the consistent skill and results being exhibited by our horses , jockeys , trainers , and owners world wide . And providing a lot of employment must be hugely significant .
Golfers -- again stellar , and keeping us ahead of the game internationally . OK , we have a huge number of the best courses in the world ( take a bow those who started and helped plan the process , and as a lady from Cork reminded me last week at the Irish Open in Portrush the game came originally from across the water with military connections a feature ). And the main players are good ambassadors for the sport here .
Cricket -- given the relative few who play the game here we have done very well recently . Hard to keep up the gallop though , particularly with all the factors involved and the fact that the big 8 dont want any challenge to their bailiewick . But the IPL is going to be a bigger and bigger factor , like to see a few of our lads getting a chance there . Might extend our sphere of influence .
Athletics -- the public only are interested in champions , never was a big spectator sport at grass roots . Hard to follow the early years when Ireland had champions a plenty , but with a few exceptions it is very hard to aspire to the world best needed . Be thankful that some are keeping the flag flying , but a hard act .
Boxing -- we punch above our weight at amateur level particularly , not my favourite sport even if some of us are good at it .
Other sports -- cycling , hockey , swimming , gymnastics , judo , are relatively unknown to me , never did any of them , but they have their supporters and their efforts would be better known to some of you than me . Tennis and squash I did , social though , dont think we figure much internationally these days .
Loads of people also are active in less vigorous sports such as bowls , at which we are pretty good ( grass a factor ? ) .
The missing sports / activities ? Open forum !
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Hurling is a great sport, but why is it top of any pile that you could compile?
It is played to a high standard in few counties and there is no international comparison to be made (unless you bring shinty into it).
The fact that Kilkenny are so dominant is not only a testament to them, but also to the fact that many counties are not up to scratch and have not progressed the way the cats have.
It is played to a high standard in few counties and there is no international comparison to be made (unless you bring shinty into it).
The fact that Kilkenny are so dominant is not only a testament to them, but also to the fact that many counties are not up to scratch and have not progressed the way the cats have.
The point I would make about hurling , Bassanio , having played a fair number of sports at varying levels , is that the standard over the last 10 years plus has reached an unbelievably high level . In isolation . No other field game in the world has the inherent skill levels I see every summer in ( generally) tough but sporting encounters . Sitting on a gold mine the GAA , if only we could cash in on it .
Kilkenny are the best team we have ever seen , that occasoinally they get a match is testament to those providing the opposition . But the other counties too are playing better hurling than anything I saw in my youth generally .
Kilkenny are the best team we have ever seen , that occasoinally they get a match is testament to those providing the opposition . But the other counties too are playing better hurling than anything I saw in my youth generally .
Anything international we're rubbish at, even the international series was turned into a gaelic match before we could compete, Aussie even have to use a different shape ball ffs. Soccer you see where we were with that, Rugby a sport where despite only have a few team we've never managed to get by a quarter final of the WC's, 60-0 v NZ last weekend says enough. Ireland does not do Team sports, we're a hopeless nation in pretty much every way possible.
All the basketball players now play Gaelic football , Mr Mischief , at least that is what it looks like most days I watch . Gave up counting the consecutive hand passes last match I watched , sequences of 9-10 handpasses basketball movement style were commonplace , its called FOOTball , not HANDPASSball .
Boring game anyway basketball , might be good to play , hands up anyone who prefers to watch basketball in preference to hurling ( is there anyone in the world ? ) .
Boring game anyway basketball , might be good to play , hands up anyone who prefers to watch basketball in preference to hurling ( is there anyone in the world ? ) .
Kelly, Interesting post
I would like to take a chance to disagree with your view on provincial rugby in Ireland. I'm speaking as someone who played in the Leinster youth development sides and have friends in the current squad and friends who got contracts with Leinster and where not quite up to standard but have made careers at either Connaught or in English Rugby I'll and give an insight.
Our winning teams from provincial level owe a bit to the imports in the ranks
At Leinster not really, Isa Nasewa is indispensible to the Leinster team and Strauss is certainly a good player but that's it. Cronin is not massively inferior to Strauss and can replace him. In winning their first European Cup Leinster were reliant on the talisman that was Rocky Elsom but this has changed, a lot of great young players have been pushed through
Leinster Rugby have some of the best coaches behind the scenes you will see anywhere in the club rugby scene. Foreign coaches such as Matt Williams brought in top conditioning coaches from Australia and further afield. The expertise was not there 8-9 years ago. This expertise has been built on by Cheika and Schmidt. The Leinster youth program is still bringing through some very good young players. Leinster can keep these players due to strong finances and tax incentives for players to stay.
Ulster have signs of heading in similar direction and Munster eventually rebuild as well. I think we are too quick to put our own sports down and while we have had help with provincial Rugby we have done well.
I would like to take a chance to disagree with your view on provincial rugby in Ireland. I'm speaking as someone who played in the Leinster youth development sides and have friends in the current squad and friends who got contracts with Leinster and where not quite up to standard but have made careers at either Connaught or in English Rugby I'll and give an insight.
Our winning teams from provincial level owe a bit to the imports in the ranks
At Leinster not really, Isa Nasewa is indispensible to the Leinster team and Strauss is certainly a good player but that's it. Cronin is not massively inferior to Strauss and can replace him. In winning their first European Cup Leinster were reliant on the talisman that was Rocky Elsom but this has changed, a lot of great young players have been pushed through
Leinster Rugby have some of the best coaches behind the scenes you will see anywhere in the club rugby scene. Foreign coaches such as Matt Williams brought in top conditioning coaches from Australia and further afield. The expertise was not there 8-9 years ago. This expertise has been built on by Cheika and Schmidt. The Leinster youth program is still bringing through some very good young players. Leinster can keep these players due to strong finances and tax incentives for players to stay.
Ulster have signs of heading in similar direction and Munster eventually rebuild as well. I think we are too quick to put our own sports down and while we have had help with provincial Rugby we have done well.
Greyhound Racing - we're as good if not better as any in the world
Golf and horse racing well ahead of the rest. Too little attention given to athletics, amazing that there has been stellar performances periodically over the years, although most have had to train abroad. Still plenty of time for a visionary minister of sport (don't laugh)to propose a home academy.
It's been said before but the GAA has the whole sporting area more or less wrapped up with support both from those in the stands and at government level. Regardless of the community profile of the GAA and those benefits, if you look at it impartially that has had a detriment to the advancement of other sports, most notably athletics. Again, the lack of a large grassroots although there are many local clubs. Also, and I may be criticized for this here, but who cares, many here give more prominence to the county club championship that they do to anything international. That's the parochial nature of Ireland really.
For such a small country we have some who are/have been to the top of their sports. Too numerous to mention. I can see the cricketers improving further over the coming years. Nowhere else has any interest in GAA except where there are expats. It's never really going to grow outside of Ireland.
It's been said before but the GAA has the whole sporting area more or less wrapped up with support both from those in the stands and at government level. Regardless of the community profile of the GAA and those benefits, if you look at it impartially that has had a detriment to the advancement of other sports, most notably athletics. Again, the lack of a large grassroots although there are many local clubs. Also, and I may be criticized for this here, but who cares, many here give more prominence to the county club championship that they do to anything international. That's the parochial nature of Ireland really.
For such a small country we have some who are/have been to the top of their sports. Too numerous to mention. I can see the cricketers improving further over the coming years. Nowhere else has any interest in GAA except where there are expats. It's never really going to grow outside of Ireland.
Anything international we're rubbish at
have to say I object to this sentiment and find it so depressing that it would make you wonder why you bother getting out of bed in the morning....
First and foremost there are two limiting factors in virtually all sports here: population and cash
Where we excel, say, in a quasi sport like horseracing its all about the cash investment and then our inherent ability with the horse shines through. If Ireland didn't have the investment our trainers, breeders and jockeys would be prominent all over the world. As I've often said, if Sheikh Mohammed had surrounded himself with all Irish advisors and trainers from the get-go and split his operations between Ireland and England they would be winning all the Group One's nowadays and they wouldn't have left the door open for John Magnier and a then moribund Ballydoyle in the late 90's.
If you take it that to become "world champions" at any activity based on personal commitment, facilities, coaching and a myriad of other factors then I think its remarkable we get so many representatives in so many sports that are close to the elite if not challengers(I'm not sure how New Zealand compares with Ireland across so many diverse sports)
Lack of cash and socio-economic factors is also a factor that causes us to lose many aspiring champions: there are many, many young men in particular who have the ability to make it in soccer but their upbringing, economic circumstances and lack of family values and support means they easily fall off the wagon when they need 1000% commitment. Every town and city is littered with them and you'll find them unemployed and angry at the loss of the dream. It fails soccer but, ironically, boxing manages to harness the energy perhaps by providing an outlet for aggression and frustration.
Ireland once threatened at the highest level in soccer and can do so again: every thing we see in the game today suggests the coach is the starting point and we need €5-10m from Denis O'Brien to attract the right candidate (money again!). We also sit regularly at the top table in rugby and have come agonisingly close to making the breakthrough in recent years (Spain were once a "nearly team" too). Trap is too old, inarticulate, set in his ways and a thousand miles from modern coaching concepts to be of any more use to us.
I've read Matthew Syed's inspirational biography "Bounce" a few times (he was a champion in England in table tennis of all sports) and he believes in the 10,000 hours of practice phenomenon or simply that "practice makes perfect".
In my youth Sean Kelly, a number of years older than me, lived close by and he had a group of supporters that recognised his talents and followed him through thick and thin including amazing odysseys every year into the Alps and Pyrenees to follow him in the Tour. They also had agonising trips to follow him in the world championships when the was third in two events (including at Goodwood when, I think, Lemond outsmarted him in the final sprint) sometimes in the 80's. Kelly was a freak and a prodigy and came from a very under-privileged farming background to become THE cyclist of the eighties. A bit off theme but, coincidentally, I was chatting to a relation of his yesterday who still spoke with a twinkle in his eye about those road trips. Celebrate in the here and now is the lesson to be learned.
I think we can hold our heads up high and I won't criticise anyone for effort and commitment.
have to say I object to this sentiment and find it so depressing that it would make you wonder why you bother getting out of bed in the morning....
First and foremost there are two limiting factors in virtually all sports here: population and cash
Where we excel, say, in a quasi sport like horseracing its all about the cash investment and then our inherent ability with the horse shines through. If Ireland didn't have the investment our trainers, breeders and jockeys would be prominent all over the world. As I've often said, if Sheikh Mohammed had surrounded himself with all Irish advisors and trainers from the get-go and split his operations between Ireland and England they would be winning all the Group One's nowadays and they wouldn't have left the door open for John Magnier and a then moribund Ballydoyle in the late 90's.
If you take it that to become "world champions" at any activity based on personal commitment, facilities, coaching and a myriad of other factors then I think its remarkable we get so many representatives in so many sports that are close to the elite if not challengers(I'm not sure how New Zealand compares with Ireland across so many diverse sports)
Lack of cash and socio-economic factors is also a factor that causes us to lose many aspiring champions: there are many, many young men in particular who have the ability to make it in soccer but their upbringing, economic circumstances and lack of family values and support means they easily fall off the wagon when they need 1000% commitment. Every town and city is littered with them and you'll find them unemployed and angry at the loss of the dream. It fails soccer but, ironically, boxing manages to harness the energy perhaps by providing an outlet for aggression and frustration.
Ireland once threatened at the highest level in soccer and can do so again: every thing we see in the game today suggests the coach is the starting point and we need €5-10m from Denis O'Brien to attract the right candidate (money again!). We also sit regularly at the top table in rugby and have come agonisingly close to making the breakthrough in recent years (Spain were once a "nearly team" too). Trap is too old, inarticulate, set in his ways and a thousand miles from modern coaching concepts to be of any more use to us.
I've read Matthew Syed's inspirational biography "Bounce" a few times (he was a champion in England in table tennis of all sports) and he believes in the 10,000 hours of practice phenomenon or simply that "practice makes perfect".
In my youth Sean Kelly, a number of years older than me, lived close by and he had a group of supporters that recognised his talents and followed him through thick and thin including amazing odysseys every year into the Alps and Pyrenees to follow him in the Tour. They also had agonising trips to follow him in the world championships when the was third in two events (including at Goodwood when, I think, Lemond outsmarted him in the final sprint) sometimes in the 80's. Kelly was a freak and a prodigy and came from a very under-privileged farming background to become THE cyclist of the eighties. A bit off theme but, coincidentally, I was chatting to a relation of his yesterday who still spoke with a twinkle in his eye about those road trips. Celebrate in the here and now is the lesson to be learned.
I think we can hold our heads up high and I won't criticise anyone for effort and commitment.
Anything international we're rubbish at
have to say I object to this sentiment and find it so depressing that it would make you wonder why you bother getting out of bed in the morning....
First and foremost there are two limiting factors in virtually all sports here: population and cash
Where we excel, say, in a quasi sport like horseracing its all about the cash investment and then our inherent ability with the horse shines through. If Ireland didn't have the investment our trainers, breeders and jockeys would be prominent all over the world. As I've often said, if Sheikh Mohammed had surrounded himself with all Irish advisors and trainers from the get-go and split his operations between Ireland and England they would be winning all the Group One's nowadays and they wouldn't have left the door open for John Magnier and a then moribund Ballydoyle in the late 90's.
If you take it that to become "world champions" at any activity based on personal commitment, facilities, coaching and a myriad of other factors then I think its remarkable we get so many representatives in so many sports that are close to the elite if not challengers(I'm not sure how New Zealand compares with Ireland across so many diverse sports)
Lack of cash and socio-economic factors is also a factor that causes us to lose many aspiring champions: there are many, many young men in particular who have the ability to make it in soccer but their upbringing, economic circumstances and lack of family values and support means they easily fall off the wagon when they need 1000% commitment. Every town and city is littered with them and you'll find them unemployed and angry at the loss of the dream. It fails soccer but, ironically, boxing manages to harness the energy perhaps by providing an outlet for aggression and frustration.
Ireland once threatened at the highest level in soccer and can do so again: every thing we see in the game today suggests the coach is the starting point and we need €5-10m from Denis O'Brien to attract the right candidate (money again!). We also sit regularly at the top table in rugby and have come agonisingly close to making the breakthrough in recent years (Spain were once a "nearly team" too). Trap is too old, inarticulate, set in his ways and a thousand miles from modern coaching concepts to be of any more use to us.
I've read Matthew Syed's inspirational biography "Bounce" a few times (he was a champion in England in table tennis of all sports) and he believes in the 10,000 hours of practice phenomenon or simply that "practice makes perfect".
In my youth Sean Kelly, a number of years older than me, lived close by and he had a group of supporters that recognised his talents and followed him through thick and thin including amazing odysseys every year into the Alps and Pyrenees to follow him in the Tour. They also had agonising trips to follow him in the world championships when the was third in two events (including at Goodwood when, I think, Lemond outsmarted him in the final sprint) sometimes in the 80's. Kelly was a freak and a prodigy and came from a very under-privileged farming background to become THE cyclist of the eighties. A bit off theme but, coincidentally, I was chatting to a relation of his yesterday who still spoke with a twinkle in his eye about those road trips. Celebrate in the here and now is the lesson to be learned.
I think we can hold our heads up high and I won't criticise anyone for effort and commitment.
have to say I object to this sentiment and find it so depressing that it would make you wonder why you bother getting out of bed in the morning....
First and foremost there are two limiting factors in virtually all sports here: population and cash
Where we excel, say, in a quasi sport like horseracing its all about the cash investment and then our inherent ability with the horse shines through. If Ireland didn't have the investment our trainers, breeders and jockeys would be prominent all over the world. As I've often said, if Sheikh Mohammed had surrounded himself with all Irish advisors and trainers from the get-go and split his operations between Ireland and England they would be winning all the Group One's nowadays and they wouldn't have left the door open for John Magnier and a then moribund Ballydoyle in the late 90's.
If you take it that to become "world champions" at any activity based on personal commitment, facilities, coaching and a myriad of other factors then I think its remarkable we get so many representatives in so many sports that are close to the elite if not challengers(I'm not sure how New Zealand compares with Ireland across so many diverse sports)
Lack of cash and socio-economic factors is also a factor that causes us to lose many aspiring champions: there are many, many young men in particular who have the ability to make it in soccer but their upbringing, economic circumstances and lack of family values and support means they easily fall off the wagon when they need 1000% commitment. Every town and city is littered with them and you'll find them unemployed and angry at the loss of the dream. It fails soccer but, ironically, boxing manages to harness the energy perhaps by providing an outlet for aggression and frustration.
Ireland once threatened at the highest level in soccer and can do so again: every thing we see in the game today suggests the coach is the starting point and we need €5-10m from Denis O'Brien to attract the right candidate (money again!). We also sit regularly at the top table in rugby and have come agonisingly close to making the breakthrough in recent years (Spain were once a "nearly team" too). Trap is too old, inarticulate, set in his ways and a thousand miles from modern coaching concepts to be of any more use to us.
I've read Matthew Syed's inspirational biography "Bounce" a few times (he was a champion in England in table tennis of all sports) and he believes in the 10,000 hours of practice phenomenon or simply that "practice makes perfect".
In my youth Sean Kelly, a number of years older than me, lived close by and he had a group of supporters that recognised his talents and followed him through thick and thin including amazing odysseys every year into the Alps and Pyrenees to follow him in the Tour. They also had agonising trips to follow him in the world championships when the was third in two events (including at Goodwood when, I think, Lemond outsmarted him in the final sprint) sometimes in the 80's. Kelly was a freak and a prodigy and came from a very under-privileged farming background to become THE cyclist of the eighties. A bit off theme but, coincidentally, I was chatting to a relation of his yesterday who still spoke with a twinkle in his eye about those road trips. Celebrate in the here and now is the lesson to be learned.
I think we can hold our heads up high and I won't criticise anyone for effort and commitment.
p_r_e_m_i_e_r__f_a_n_t_a_s_y
03 Jul 12 10:14
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| Topic/replies: 2,705 | Blogger: p_r_e_m_i_e_r__f_a_n_t_a_s_y's blog
Greyhound Racing - we're as good if not better as any in the world
I agree but the industry is in decline at the moment..........All grand in shelbourne on a saturday night but out on the ground where it all happens is a different story.
03 Jul 12 10:14
Joined:
08 Dec 11
| Topic/replies: 2,705 | Blogger: p_r_e_m_i_e_r__f_a_n_t_a_s_y's blog
Greyhound Racing - we're as good if not better as any in the world
I agree but the industry is in decline at the moment..........All grand in shelbourne on a saturday night but out on the ground where it all happens is a different story.
Royal Academy, I was a big fan of Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche in the 80s and marvelled at their exploits on the continent. However, the subsequent drug revelations changed all that. I view their successes back then through heavily jaundiced eyes nowadays (maybe I could take some drugs for that condition).
And Kelly's just said on Eurosport during this afternoon's stage that the boom years here were no help to up and coming cyclists. He's hoping that the hunger for sporting excellence will return as budding sportsmen and women can turn their aspirational intentions back to sporting excellence. He has a point there.
Sean Kelly is a brutal commentator. I struggle to understand him, how on earth do people around Europe understand him (he is on Eurosport)? And that's only the beginning of the problem. When asked a question he talks at length without even coming close to broaching the question matter. Has a few limited points to make and then repeats them during the day. Cringeworthy.
Fair cop reb and as someone who has criticised wildman for his views on Michelle De Bruin's sanctity I have to accept that Kelly was as guilty as anyone in the peloton in those days in a brutalised sport and don't condone it.
I'm reasonably acquainted with him so I'm guilty of rose-tinted glasses. He was found guilty twice of doping (at a moderate level) and chose never to speak about it for fairly obvious reasons-he went to great lengths to avoid Kimmage for years.
As for his EuroSport gig he has shown tremendous staying power in a medium that generally only wants mid-Atlantic accents but his knowledge of the game shines through I think. As to motivation on why he has lasted so long, show me the TV station in any sport that thrives by questioning the status quo. I admire media organisations for rewarding ex-stars and every sport has inarticulate pundits.
I'm reasonably acquainted with him so I'm guilty of rose-tinted glasses. He was found guilty twice of doping (at a moderate level) and chose never to speak about it for fairly obvious reasons-he went to great lengths to avoid Kimmage for years.
As for his EuroSport gig he has shown tremendous staying power in a medium that generally only wants mid-Atlantic accents but his knowledge of the game shines through I think. As to motivation on why he has lasted so long, show me the TV station in any sport that thrives by questioning the status quo. I admire media organisations for rewarding ex-stars and every sport has inarticulate pundits.
RA i don't take any pleasure in saying what i said, but i honestly think it. Correct me if i'm wrong here but we are going to the Olympics and our best prospect is a female boxer. I hope she wins and all, but female is not for me and i don't think it's much of a sport.
I can't disagree there rocket-we're often too keen to locate heros/heroines but I can't have woemen's boxing either. And at the risk of bringing down the wrath of GOD-almighty on me I also dislike that we occasionally have to head to Northern Ireland for our stars. I doubt the "lost" orangeman in Dublin today has too much interest in POD compared to our adopted heros from the the occupied territories.
Just think you are a bit harsh lumping everything into the same bucket as I think there are rare occasions when we box above our weight (forgive the pun) in very competitive arenas.
I genuinely think you can plan for greatness with a serious combination of effort but the list of people to lead it like Hickey (IOC) and Delaney would not be first on the blank page for me. If you take random "native" names from the past like Coghlan, O'Sullivan and Treacy or Brady, Moran and Keane you can see its possible but the brilliance they achieved ultimately fell just a little short and this is always likely to be our lot.
Just think you are a bit harsh lumping everything into the same bucket as I think there are rare occasions when we box above our weight (forgive the pun) in very competitive arenas.
I genuinely think you can plan for greatness with a serious combination of effort but the list of people to lead it like Hickey (IOC) and Delaney would not be first on the blank page for me. If you take random "native" names from the past like Coghlan, O'Sullivan and Treacy or Brady, Moran and Keane you can see its possible but the brilliance they achieved ultimately fell just a little short and this is always likely to be our lot.
Have to disagree with you Ozymandius re Sean Kelly's commentating. His reading of stages usually comes up trumps, his analysis is more often than not spot on. Apart from the racing itself, both the views of the French countryside as well as the commentary to me anyway make for riveting viewing.
Apart from Katie Taylor I can't for the life of me locate one other realistic Irish medal chance. The TV and print media are giving airtime and column inches to team members but I think we'll be lucky to even get top 10 places. That said, they're all always surprises in the Olympics. I just can't see any Irish ones.
Missed out on the greyhound scene , possibly because its mostly about the dog . We have a great record in that sport / industry , on the track starting when Mick Horan trained Mick The Miller to the first of his English Derby successes . Trained dogs for my father way back in the good old days when huge crowds at Celtic Park , Dunmore and Shelbourne were commonplace . Virtually dead now in the North compared with then , sad when you know the beginnings of the track sport in Ireland started ( like the soccer ) in the North .
The coursing scene was always strong throughout the island , still is , but its not like the point to points in popularity .
Squigs , agree that the "foreign " input to our provincial successes is limited , partly because of the rules re "visitors" . But not sure we would have had the success without them , having said that most of the Heinekin teams are not exactly homegrown . But then look how many of the England cricket team grew up in sunnier climes !
A lot of sports we punch above our weight , pity we cant get more outside countries involved in our native games which could both be leaders in enjoyable world team sports ( with a few rule tweaks ) .
The coursing scene was always strong throughout the island , still is , but its not like the point to points in popularity .
Squigs , agree that the "foreign " input to our provincial successes is limited , partly because of the rules re "visitors" . But not sure we would have had the success without them , having said that most of the Heinekin teams are not exactly homegrown . But then look how many of the England cricket team grew up in sunnier climes !
A lot of sports we punch above our weight , pity we cant get more outside countries involved in our native games which could both be leaders in enjoyable world team sports ( with a few rule tweaks ) .
amateur boxing full stop is the only sport we are holding our own at , we will pick up a few medals in london , have a look at the last few euro and world tournament results , when you see russians and cubans basing their training camps here it says a lot
Rocketfingers and Tobywong,two similar type characters,think we are no good at sport,imagine if they were Indian.Over a billion Indians yet they have only produced cricketers,nearly 200 million Pakistanis and they are the same.
Taking into account our size and population I would put us second in sporting prowess to the Australians.When you consider most of our young people play Gaelic games our record in international sports is exceptional.
We are the best in the world in horse racing,greyhound racing and coursing so no point listing our greats in those sports.
SOCCER:
Much beloved sport in our cities and we have produced some greats,Liam Whelan,Liam Brady,George Best,Pat Jennings and Roy and Robbie Keane.
RUGBY:
Our golden age has probably just passed but plenty of all time greats here as well,Jackie Kyle,Mike Gibson,Willie John McBride,Ollie Campbell and Brian ODriscoll.
CYCLING.
Our great era were the eighties when we had two of the best cyclists in the world,Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche.
SWIMMING:
Michelle De Bruin no more to say.
ATHLETICS:
We dominated the hammer for years garnering five Olympic Golds in the process,John Flanagan and Pat OCallaghan,we produced plenty of runners too,Ronnie Delaney,Jim Hogan,Bob TIsdall,Eamonn Coughlan and Sonia OSullivan.
GOLF.
We are in the golden age now,we have four Major winners playing at the moment and historically we produced,Jimmy Bruon,Harry Bradshaw,Joe Carr and Christy OConnor.
CRICKET?
Not so good but we have still recently produced Eoin Morgan,Ed Joyce and Kevin and Niall OBrien
TENNIS:
Again not so good but I am claiming Little Mo the tragic Maureen Connolly.
We are a great sporting nation and have had so many great sporting moments so rather than moan and bellyache pity those poor Indians and Pakistanis.
Taking into account our size and population I would put us second in sporting prowess to the Australians.When you consider most of our young people play Gaelic games our record in international sports is exceptional.
We are the best in the world in horse racing,greyhound racing and coursing so no point listing our greats in those sports.
SOCCER:
Much beloved sport in our cities and we have produced some greats,Liam Whelan,Liam Brady,George Best,Pat Jennings and Roy and Robbie Keane.
RUGBY:
Our golden age has probably just passed but plenty of all time greats here as well,Jackie Kyle,Mike Gibson,Willie John McBride,Ollie Campbell and Brian ODriscoll.
CYCLING.
Our great era were the eighties when we had two of the best cyclists in the world,Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche.
SWIMMING:
Michelle De Bruin no more to say.
ATHLETICS:
We dominated the hammer for years garnering five Olympic Golds in the process,John Flanagan and Pat OCallaghan,we produced plenty of runners too,Ronnie Delaney,Jim Hogan,Bob TIsdall,Eamonn Coughlan and Sonia OSullivan.
GOLF.
We are in the golden age now,we have four Major winners playing at the moment and historically we produced,Jimmy Bruon,Harry Bradshaw,Joe Carr and Christy OConnor.
CRICKET?
Not so good but we have still recently produced Eoin Morgan,Ed Joyce and Kevin and Niall OBrien
TENNIS:
Again not so good but I am claiming Little Mo the tragic Maureen Connolly.
We are a great sporting nation and have had so many great sporting moments so rather than moan and bellyache pity those poor Indians and Pakistanis.
Forgot about the boxers. Yes, they should not come away empty handed. So, we can see maybe 3/4 Irish medals then. It would be nice if a surprise popped up but I'm struggling to find one at this stage.
Just to follow up on my dislike of Sean Kelly as a commentator....he just isn't a natural communicator. No doubt he has the expert knowledge, but just listen when he is asked a question...incapable of giving a succint answer. He speaks for for too long, even when a quick answer would do. Most of his answers will be pointing out the painfully obvious, over and over again.
I think he would be better used if told to contribute only when he actually has something to say, ie as an expert analyser. As it is, he is constantly being prompted to fill air time. Its a difficult gig for someone who is, as I say, not a natural communicator.
I think he would be better used if told to contribute only when he actually has something to say, ie as an expert analyser. As it is, he is constantly being prompted to fill air time. Its a difficult gig for someone who is, as I say, not a natural communicator.
Love the way Wildbore post was just ignored, ahh bliss 
I agree with you about Kelly Ozy. It seemed to me that EuroSport allowed him free rein and encouraged constant participation without any coaching whatsoever. (He did get some coaching that eliminated a very annoying sucking noise he used to make!)
He once said to me that he was terrified about retiring in the 90's because his source of income would disappear overnight with no fallback. In fact he's earning more money today based on his reputation and his appearances and contributions on EuroSport are, as you say, more a reflection on those programme-makers rather than putting kelly's talents to better use.
I'm not certain about this but I recall that kelly was put in direct co-commentator competition on air with the wife of Australian Phil Anderson a number of years ago. Every day on the tour she and kelly would take opposing views as to how the stage might pan out and, in very prickly circumstances, Kelly usually was proven right. He assumed the secondary commentating role on his own shortly after.
One must assume that ES don't get too many complaints about him or surely they would revise his contribution to the format.
There's big hopes in Tipperary that Sam Bennett of An Post might be a future star.
He once said to me that he was terrified about retiring in the 90's because his source of income would disappear overnight with no fallback. In fact he's earning more money today based on his reputation and his appearances and contributions on EuroSport are, as you say, more a reflection on those programme-makers rather than putting kelly's talents to better use.
I'm not certain about this but I recall that kelly was put in direct co-commentator competition on air with the wife of Australian Phil Anderson a number of years ago. Every day on the tour she and kelly would take opposing views as to how the stage might pan out and, in very prickly circumstances, Kelly usually was proven right. He assumed the secondary commentating role on his own shortly after.
One must assume that ES don't get too many complaints about him or surely they would revise his contribution to the format.
There's big hopes in Tipperary that Sam Bennett of An Post might be a future star.
Sucking Noise 
It's a funny old channel Eurosport. I could be wrong in saying that it is free, certainly it is in a lot of cable packages around Europe. When you find it carrying an event you are just delighted to have found it. I make these points to suggest that it is not the type of channel that you complain to per se.
Anyway good to hear Sean is making a few quid. Roche seems to contribute earlier in the day, then disappears. Presumably he is covering the finish for some other network
It's a funny old channel Eurosport. I could be wrong in saying that it is free, certainly it is in a lot of cable packages around Europe. When you find it carrying an event you are just delighted to have found it. I make these points to suggest that it is not the type of channel that you complain to per se.
Anyway good to hear Sean is making a few quid. Roche seems to contribute earlier in the day, then disappears. Presumably he is covering the finish for some other network
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