Denis Walsh isn’t exactly brimming with enthusiasm for the Republic of Ireland’s imminent Nations League engagements in Finland and Greece. Walsh perceives the international match schedules as a vexing span of concentrated optimism yet hollow fallout. The current state of Irish football, he reckons, mirrors the bleak state of Irish rugby during the 1990s. Moreover, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) shows no evidence of finding the type of solutions which rugby managed to discover from those troubling years.
In similar context of ‘hopeless and dysfunctional’, Ken Early’s piece today is focused on Manchester United. The international hiatus, Early proposes, is an opening that should have been exploited in the summer to usher in a fresh coaching perspective. He believes the club should severe its ties with Erik ten Hag. As for his replacement, Gareth Southgate emphatically doesn’t have Early’s vote, but Thomas Frank from Brentford may be a worthy candidate according to him.
On the domestic scene, one championship race tightened as another wrapped up. The 2-0 triumph of Shamrock Rovers over frontrunners Shelbourne kept the former’s quintuple streak dream alive. Simultaneously, Athlone Town clinched their first women’s Premier Division crown this past Saturday. Meanwhile, cheers erupted in Drogheda after their team earned a spot in the FAI Cup final against Derry City following a victory over Wexford.
Turning to rugby, John O’Sullivan relays the continuing victories for Emerging Ireland on their South African tour. However, the women’s team faced disappointment in the WXV after Canada’s hosts handed them a defeat.
The article Ingebrigtsen: Born to Run delves into a tale of severed family bonds, while ‘All in the Game: Blunty McBluntface’ narrates how James Blunt accrued popularity. Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United is likened to Liverpool during their dismal years, but seemingly in an even poorer state. There’s also a remarkable account of a 50-year-old who achieved a running journey around Ireland without incurring a single blister.
The provinces experienced various outcomes in the URC over the weekend, with Ulster being the only team to face a loss. Journalist Gerry Thornley observed Leinster’s commanding performance against Benetton at Stadio Communale Monigo, registering four tries within the first thirty minutes. However, concerns abounded over Rónan Kelleher’s fitness for the upcoming matchup with Munster at Croke Park due to a sustained injury during the match.
Connacht scraped a victory against Scarlets on Friday, with their head coach, Pete Wilkins, commending the team’s determination that secured a win he doubted they could have pulled off in the previous season. On the other hand, Munster recovered from their Zebre setback with a thorough 23-0 victory over Ospreys.
Reflecting on the GAA weekend, Seán Moran noted Kilmacud Crokes’ progress towards a potential record-breaking fourth consecutive Dublin football title. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Tuam jockey Rossa Ryan had an exceptional day, partnering English horse Bluestocking to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
For cricket lovers, there’s ample to watch without needing to move from their sofas. The initial test between Pakistan and England and the last Ireland ODI series match against South Africa can be viewed on Sky Sports Cricket and TNT Sports 1 respectively. Also, England’s Women’s T20 World Cup game against South Africa will broadcast on Sky Sports Cricket from 3.0pm.