Sports Desk Blog

Can someone come up with a real reason not to introduce video technology to football?

Tony — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:59:00 +0000

Tony Leen, Sports Editor

THIS Parisien palaver about Thierry Henry's helping hand may all amount to nought, but it's done wonders for the Republic of Ireland and the FAI.

Such has been the sense of wounded injustice on the airwaves, from first light yesterday, that the FAI had little option but to plough headlong into open conflict with their parent body, FIFA, yesterday. It was a ghastly 24 hours for world football's governing body, Sepp Blatter and co buried in a bureaucratic bunker, without a word on the controversy, even though everyone was weighing in with an opinion.

Whereas the fifa rulebook may be their ally in denying the Irish the rematch they crave, the real embarrassment is the sleight of hand which brought about a fundamental change to the seedings for the eight team play off. That Trapattoni chose to refer again to it yesterday at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown was important.

My information is that FIFA are not averse to the second leg of the France-Ireland play off being replayed, but they require the French football federation to first accede to Ireland's request for same. In doing this, they are employing the precedent of Arsenal's offer of a replay to Sheffield United after an FA Cup controversy when the Gunners scored a goal in ungentlemanly circumstances. The offer was taken up and the FA simply sanctioned the rematch. They didn't order it.

In calling for a rematch, the FAI has done what it had to do. Had it accepted the Republic's unfortunate fate, John Delaney would have been rightly accused of turning his back on his country. That was never going to happen; Delaney's as good a politician as he is an administrator. He's also just seen the guts of €20m large ones go west, money that would have knocked a large hole in the shortfall for their end of the Aviva Stadium tab. In a strange way, it's difficult to conceive of any other circumstance in which the FAI chief's stock would have risen so much after being knocked out of the World Cup.

Ditto his €2m a year manager, and the Republic of Ireland players, who've had a decidedly lukewarm relationship with the broad sporting public in this country over the qualifying campaign. The performance in Paris, the shirt-throwing connection with the fans, and the real sense of the little guy being denied natural justice have all conspired to bring a new dynamic to the affair. The only pity is that Ireland have to wait the guts of a year, to the first of the 2012 European qualifiers, to nourish it.

Naturally, in all this hysteria, there are convenient casualties of fact. The suggestion that Thierry Henry robbed Ireland of a place in South Africa is a stretch for starters. There were more than fifteen minutes left for either side to avoid the dreaded drama of penalties, a climax for which Ireland appeared to have an underwhelming choice of kickers.

Also, the Republic could and should have been out of sight and in no need of extra time in paris. They took only one of half a dozen clear cut chances over the two legs - two falling to John O'Shea, and one each to Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Liam Lawrence and Kevin Doyle. In such a rarefied environment, that's not good enough.

Amid all the reflective wisdom, two points emerge alongside the unexplained change in seeding arrangement. One from Trapattoni himself - why the need for extra time in the second leg, when it manifestly favours the home team? Go straight to penalties after 180 minutes, he argued.

Secondly, a more complex issue: technology intervention. As a longtime advocate of same, I would still draw the line at the American Football and Tennis concept of each team/player having a specific amount of "challenges" per game. If a side has used its challenge by the time an outrageous injustice is visited on them, it hardly inspires the notion of true justice.

No-one, including Sepp Blatter, has presented a plausible opposition to the introduction of television technology. FIFA has got to come up with something more convincing than the difficulty of introducing technology to the full global football family or the delays while key decisions are being examined. In the time it would have taken Shay Given to retrieve the ball from his net on Wednesday night and take the subsequent free out for handball, the television match official would have communicated the correct decision to the referee.

There has been critically important decisions (not) made - one put Chelsea out and Liverpool in a Champions League final - but has there been a "goal" controversy so broad in its ramifications as the one which extinguished Ireland's World Cup finals ambitions on Wednesday night? The sheer breadth of the global news cycle yesterday suggests not.

Thierry Henry? That carefully-cultivated halo may require some garage work after his extra-time handy work. Nil points too for the nauseating series of conversations and embraces with Richard Dunne et al on the Stade de France pitch after the game. It's fanciful,if uplifting, to think how he could have glorified his reputation forever by owning up to the handball, but it's asking a lot. Some will namecheck the examples of Robbie Fowler and Paolo di Canio, but the context of both are relevant - League games away from home. Hardly the same as a World Cup play off in front of 80,000 desperate French fans.

If Henry is culpable, he is no more so than the procrastination by football's politicans on the video technology issue. If FIFA can't find a way to get a refixture then they can surely listen to Trapattoni and start limiting the potential for a repeat.

Ireland? Well, the FAI have a Board of Management meeting today and Lausanne's Court of Arbitration for Sport is still an option. There's a few twists in this controversy yet, and while it may all end up in nought, there's valuable lessons going forward for all concerned - Trapattoni, the FAI, Thierry Henry and Herr Blatter.

An eye gouging film coming to a cinema near you

Simon — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:45:00 +0000

I sit here at my laptop almost completely Ngog, sorry agog. Not from watching baseball's World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies, though that is developing into a compelling spectacle.

No, for once, it is an advert between the innings that has me gripped in a strange, almost catatonic state invoked by a disturbing mix of hilarity and abject horror.

The ad in question is a trailer for the forthcoming movie called 'Invictus', which is the Latin word for 'unconquered'.

Apparently, it comes out in a movie theatre near me on December 11 and if I hadn't seen the trailer I would have sworn it was cooked up as a spoof.

All you need to know is that Invictus will star Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela (well you can only play God so many times and Mandela is pretty darn close after all) while, get this, Matt Damon stars as Francois Pienaar.

Yes folks, it's a Hollywood blockbuster directed by Clint Eastwood about the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Now, it took me a full 24 hours to even summon up the courage to type that out and commit what any logical human being would regard as a hallucinogenic mixture of words to print but it appears that the phrases “Hollywood”, “Clint” and “rugby” have now appeared in an English language sentence for the first time in history.

As far as I can recall, the last time rugby featured in an American movie in which a bunch of starving Chilean egg chasers trapped on a snowy Andean mountain-top decided to eat the entire front row in order to stay alive only to be rescued minutes later and therefore required to play uncontested scrums for the rest of the tour.

'Alive' it was called and a blockbuster it was not, featuring no star names unless you count Ethan Hawke. Invictus is at the other end of the scale and if Damon and Freeman are served up in the trailer we can be sure Mr Eastwood cast plenty of other familiar faces to portray the characters of that momentous tournament.

I'm just guessing, but do not be surprised if The Rock turns up playing Jonah Lomu with Abigail Breslin as hapless England wing Rory Underwood. Well that can't be anymore ridiculous than Damon as Pienaar. Can it?

An important Bridge to cross for Ancelotti

tcm — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:54:00 +0000

Darren Norris

IT may only be the first week of October but the significance of Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea on Sunday should not be underestimated.

We didn’t know it then but 12 months ago it was Liverpool’s victory in this fixture, a result that ended Chelsea 86-game four-year unbeaten run, that marked the beginning of the end of the Luis Felipe Scolari era. As significantly, Liverpool’s win then signalled they were, at last, ready to make a sustained title challenge.

While Sunday’s match, whatever its result, is unlikely to have the same implications for Carlo Ancelotti as it ultimately did for Scolari it is undoubtedly the Italian’s biggest match since his arrival at Stamford Bridge.

Last season Chelsea’s dismal record against the other members of the big four - they lost four out of six games - taking just four points from a possible 18, ultimately wrecked their title hopes. The London side will know improving that record this season is vital.

Sunday provides them with an opportunity not only to put last weekend’s shock defeat to Wigan and an unconvincing Champions League win against Apoel Nicosia behind them but to issue a real serious statement of intent.

As importantly it would push one of Chelsea’s title rivals six points in arrears, an important consideration given that Chelsea will want and probably need to be out in front by the end of December if they are to win the title given that they could struggle in January when they lose key players Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel to African Nations Cup duty.

For Liverpool the stakes are just as high. They come into this game off the back of a disappointing Champions League display when they surrendered tamely to a 2-0 defeat to Fiorentina.

However, after losing two of their opening three games, the Reds have recovered well in the league to move to within touching distance of leaders Manchester United and Chelsea. Rafael Benitez will demand a response after Liverpool’s listless showing in Italy and his team will need to produce one.

After all defeat here would mean Liverpool will lost more games already this season than they did in the whole of last season when they finished four points behind United. Psychologically, even this early in this season, that would be a hammer blow and is the main reasons why I expect Liverpool to adopt a negative, defensive strategy on Sunday.

And given that, despite the fact Chelsea began the season with six successive wins, they’ve struggled at times to break defensive teams down with Frank Lampard unable to find space in their diamond midfield, it could be a strategy that allow Liverpool to leave Stamford Bridge with a point on Sunday.

Keeping Trap is a positive step

Darren — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:03:00 +0000

Andy Reid and a handful of pundits may not agree but Giovanni Trapattoni’s decision to sign a two-year extension to his Republic of Ireland contract is a massive boost for soccer in this country. Ireland may not have played the most expansive or exhilarating soccer under the Italian but it has been superbly efficient and organised.

That is no small achievement for a team that was a shambles prior to the Italian’s arrival. Remember the 5-2 defeat to Cyprus?

And while its nigh on impossible to imagine Italy collapsing sufficiently in the final two games to surrender top spot in Group 8 the fact that we’re still in with a slim shout of topping the group is testament to Trapattoni’s ability.

While those who say he doesn’t attend enough games in Britain may have a point those who criticise him overlook one key point: While we have some quality players, notably Shay Given, Richard Dunne, John O’Shea, Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle, we simply have not got the calibre of players of Europe’s elite or indeed past Irish teams.

The most talented Irish player in his generation, Stephen Ireland won’t play while injury has deprived us of our second most talented midfielder, Steven Reid, for most of the campaign.

Trapattoni has been criticised for his failure to convince Ireland to end his international exile but the simple fact, as the Manchester City star’s most recent comments on the subject make clear, is that he simply does not want to play for the national side.

All Trapattoni can do, as he has done, is make clear that he does want Ireland to return. The Ireland issue is a tricky one for Trapattoni but his most recent comments on it, that he still wants Ireland back despite reports of the City star accusing him of arrogance were quite clever. Had Trapattoni hit out at Ireland’s comments, any lingering hopes of his return would have been effectively over.

By not getting involved in a war of words, Trapattoni ensured that there may yet be a route back for the Cobh man in the unlikely event of his changing his stance.

Trapattoni’s refusal to bring Andy Reid back into the squad is somewhat surprising but the fact remains that while talented Reid simply isn’t a top international player.

Trapattoni’ s contract extension may have been bad news for some but few would deny that, until now at least, he’s done a pretty good job with limited resources. And with a bit of luck he might just lead us to South Africa.

No 2 becomes Number One

JohnR — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Talk of 9/11 is dangerous territory for non-New Yorkers (non-Americans in general) but it would be petty in the extreme to avoid the canny timing of the New York Yankees’ famed captain and second-baser Derek Jeter breaking the franchise’s record for most career hits.

Yankees legend Lou Gehrig, whose last hit came in 1939 just two years before his death, was surpassed on Friday by Jeter who was already well-placed to be as adored as that tragic pre-war hero.

Rain-soaked Yankee Stadium was the setting and it looked chaotic. Eventual defeat to the Baltimore Orioles rendered the scene bleaker still, the capacity crowd making for home long before the final inning whittled away. They'd seen what they came for.

Prior to the game, I’d received a trans-Atlantic text saying the game had been rained off. It was almost a sense of relief: “Jeter and Jay Z doing their thang on this day of all days would have been far too 'Merica,” was my provocative reply.

(Yankees fan and self-proclaimed God MC Jay-Z was holding court at Madison Square Garden, a 9/11 benefit concert.)

I wasn’t going to lose much sleep about Jeter’s ongoing quest, a mini-saga given the breakneck speed of the baseball world with its daily match-ups and multiple series. Hard to have sympathy for a multi-millionaire hitting and catching balls for what is widely regarded as the Dark Side of the Force in American sport.

That said, the famous No 2 did seem to be having an arduous time as he got ever closer to being Number One. It must have been irritating to field daily ‘when's-it-gonna-happen’ questions from media and fans.

With post-season all but assured, the only way to place on ice the debate over the franchise's ever-tightening odds on a first World Series since 2003 was to expend some ink on the Gehrig chase. Winning actual ball games became secondary; it was all about watching how the captain would cope at-bat.

The show had to go on despite the downpour and I woke up to the news that Jeter had in fact hit a third-inning single to right field which allowed him to run comfortably to first base. Lights, cameras, worship.

Just a quick point/query: is this Jeter feat one of the sport’s more honourable achievements? Ok, so he's going down in history for carrying out a rudimentary requirement: hit the ball and get to first base, or further if you fancy a sprint.

It’s still a skill though, connecting with a ball at that pace without fouling. Excitement greets every monster home run, as do questions about drug use. But no asterix could ever be placed over a decade-plus of consistency fused with a boyhood dream come true.

That Jeter et al lost 10-4 gave it an appropriate frayed edge; sort of like tragedy, sort of like hip-hop - there's glory in the strangest of places.

Are Fifa and UEFA making up the rules as they go along?

Darren — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:34:00 +0000

While Chelsea’s previous in the way they conduct their business in the transfer market makes it difficult to feel sympathy for them the decision to ban the club from signing any new players until January 2011 seems spectacularly harsh.

Many will recall the arrogant manner of their public pursuit of Ashley Cole and John Obi Mikel and understandably conclude that the Blues have, belatedly, got their just desserts.

Perhaps, but on the other hand Fifa’s decision to impose a transfer ban on the west London outfit after finding them guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007, a decision which follows hot on the heels of UEFA’s decision to ban Arsenal striker Eduardo for diving in the Gunners’ Champions League win over Celtic, raises serious questions about the way both organisations conduct their business.

In relation to Chelsea’s ban you’ve got to ask why Fifa have suddenly now decided to take such a strong stand on the issue of tapping up.

After all, the dogs on the street know the practise goes on regularly. What makes the Katuta affair different?

The second point is will all sides found guilty of tapping up or to quote Fifa’s words ‘inducing’ a player from now on be banned from doing business in the next two transfer markets?

Surely if Fifa are to retain any semblance of credibility any club found guilty of similar behaviour from now on, and there are many of them, will have to receive the same punishment.

Otherwise Fifa will leave themselves open to a charge of engaging in a witch-hunt against Chelsea.

UEFA’s handling of the Eduardo case is similarly disconcerting. While the evidence against the Arsenal striker is compelling, UEFA, like Fifa, have shown an utter disregard for legal precedent.

And again, like Fifa, UEFA have signalled out one individual for an issue that is endemic in the sport.

Where’s the consistency? Never before, until Eduardo’s case that is, have UEFA banned a player after a referee, having looked at the incident subsequently, decided he was satisfied with his original decision.

The second point is when players are found to have dived during a game they get booked. That is the standard punishment. Yet in this case Eduardo has been handed a two-game ban.

Ultimately you’ve got to wonder if Fifa and UEFA are simply making and changes the rules as they go along.

Game, set and product placement, Ms Williams

Simon — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:59:00 +0000

We all know that when it comes to athletes, movie stars, celebrities, and even Big Brother evictees, most would cut off your right hand for a chance to plug their latest book, perfume and CD, or endorse a nine iron, gherkin or athlete's foot ointment.

They'll, for the most part, sell their soul for an extra shekel, lend their name to anything in exchange for a fat cheque and go on any lame television show that will have them in order to push an autobiography they've written but haven't read.

From David Beckham in his designer underpants and hi-tech football boots holding a fizzy drink in one hand and shaving with the other while wearing expensive sunglasses to the third-string fly-half in his sponsored Hyundai, everyone is trying their hardest to earn an extra euro.

There is, however, one sporting star who, in my experience, takes the McVities Hobnob – I love 'em, by the way - when it comes to shameless marketeering.

Step forward Ms Serena Williams, who last night in one 10-minute press conference ostensibly about her first-round victory at the US Open over fellow American Alexa Glatch, last night managed to plug her 'memoir', her jewellery, her clothing line and her sports drink.

The tell-tale signs that a multi-layered, many-pronged endors-athon was about to take place were evident the minute she walked into the interview room.

Striding into the media centre under Arthur Ashe Stadium (now that's an endorsement), Williams promptly replaced the strategically positioned bottle of official tournament spring water on the table in front of her with a giant container of isotonic liquid, neatly swivelling it around until the large manufacturer's logo was facing the cameras.

“There,” she said as she took her seat and adjusted her top, no doubt to smooth out the swoosh.

It took just four questions before Williams managed to slip a reference to her forthcoming book into an answer. What followed was an in-depth discussion of her decision to write an autobiog..., sorry, “memoir”, and her plans to appear at book signings.

There is no doubt that Williams has a fascinating story to tell, of an African-American girl coached along with sister Venus from an early age by their non-playing father Richard on the public courts of Los Angeles, bucking the country club mentality that dominates tennis in the USA to become the most successful grand slam winner of her generation.

Given the unedifying and blatant promotion she has given it these last few days, however, it would pain me severely to offer my hard-earned cash to line her deep pockets in order to read it.

Williams couldn't even get the name of her publisher right, not just mispronouncing but announcing a completely different company before another voice from the supposed ranks of the media called out the correct name.

Adding even more to my paranoia was the fact that this little episode did not appear in the official transcript of the press conference, Williams appearing to trot out her publisher's name with apparent perfection.

The nadir, though, came when what sounded suspiciously like a planted question was offered about the nature of the jewellery Williams was wearing.

Question: “Anything special about the jewellery you're wearing for this tournament?”

Answer: “Well, I'm wearing my whole collection from the Serena Williams Signature Statement, which is available on HSN, which I'm really...”

At that point, even she realised she was going too far as the journalists still left started to snigger.

“I'm sorry, but he asked, so...” she said in half-hearted apology before getting right back on the road to self-promotional hell.

“I'm really excited about it because I love jewellery, and I think people really know me for jewellery. It will be available starting September 19.”

By the way, I am also available for weddings, bar mitzvahs and first holy communions but will bring my own sports drink.

This blog is now officially sponsored by Fat Sal's Pie Shop and Taxidermy Studio - Get Stuffed Twice Under One Roof at Sal's!

Things to be keeping Jack and Conor busy

tcm — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 11:12:00 +0000

THINGS TO BE GETTING ON WITH
All-Ireland finalists Cork and Kerry begin their planning in earnest this week for the Sept 20th football decider. Sports editor Tony Leen says their list of objectives should include:

CORK
1. Preparing for an aerial assault: Michael Shields’ near faultless displays at full back this season convinced many that the issue of Graham Canty being ‘wasted’ in the full back line was history. However, there was a worrying half an hour with Donegal’s Michael Murphy, and now the prospect of Kerry reverting to an aerial assault to the full forward line that may include Kieran Donaghy and Tommy Walsh. There’s very few secrets that survive over the county bounds these days, so Conor Counihan’s management team should be aware in advance of Kerry’s attacking plans. But if Cork stick with Lynch, Shields and Carey, they’re taking a calculated gamble. However Counihan won’t want to push Canty back into the full back line, and may prefer to apply pressure on the delivery, as Tyrone managed so successfully in last year’s final. Speaking of the 2008 final, if Cork were to pull a Joe McMahon out of the hat, what odds Fintan Goold being given a special job for the final?

2. Keeping Kerry’s half backs honest: There’s been much talk about Cork’s marauding half back line. Graham Canty exploited a tactical faux pas by Tyrone to make hay (and Daniel Goulding’s goal), but one suspects Kerry won’t be as accommodating. However, just as important could be the role of Cork wing forwards Paul Kerrigan and Paddy Kelly - both more creative than destructive. Kerry’s Tomás Ó Sé harvested an amazing nine midfield breaks on Sunday, and left Meath’s Peadar Byrne a broken man. Mike McCarthy and Killian Young are not averse to bolting forward either, so it’s critical that the Cork half forwards keep them honest and focused on the job they’re picked for - i.e defending and going backwards.

3. Minimising turnovers: Cork’s attacking prowess was necessarily blunted in the quarter final by their reduction to fourteen men, and subsequent drift backwards. But on too many occasions, they invited Tyrone back onto them by turning over possession in no-pressure situations. On the presumption that both sides retain a full complement of players, Kerry will happily employ such turnover ball to rapid effect against a Cork defence that won’t be lying as deep this time.
Additionally, there’s a real sense that the Cork full forward line has the edge on Kerry’s full back line - if only they can get fast, quality ball. Too many Cork turnovers against Tyrone were caused by advancing players running into trouble and not making the ball do the work - much to the annoyance of Messrs Goulding and O’Connor in the corners.

KERRY
1 Taking the sheen off Cork’s diamond: Nowhere was Cork’s superiority over Kerry in Munster more evident than in Pearse O’Neill and co’s driving runs through the heart of the Kerry defence. It was seen by many as conclusive evidence that the Kingdom were a spent force, unable to counter Cork’s physical strength and fitness. However, there were mitigating circumstances - Marc Ó Sé picked up a hamstring injury during the game and Paul Galvin was sent off (opening up the spaces on the right flank). Tommy Griffin has since returned to full back, where he’ll be matched with Colm O’Neill, but the key clash will feature the recently returned Mike McCarthy’s joust with Pearse O’Neill. If the Kilcummin man can’t handle O’Neill, Kerry are in trouble.

2 Devising an attacking game plan: Eight into six doesn’t, but Jack O’Connor’s management team won’t complain. Sunday’s starting sextet will battle with Tommy Walsh and Kieran Donaghy for final places, giving the selectors tactical as well as personnel options up front. Whereas the Kingdom got their attacking plan spot on for the Dublin quarter-final, the same strategy malfunctioned in the first half last Sunday against Meath. By shaking up his deck for the final, Jack O’Connor may force a positional rethink in the Cork defence - would Conor Counihan be happy to leave Michael Shields at full back if Kieran Donaghy was on the edge of the square? Where will Declan O’Sullivan start? Tadhg Kennelly’s display on Sunday, not to mention his efforts against Graham Canty in June suggest he may be deployed on the Cork captain in three weeks. At a series of levels, Kerry’s forward thinking will be pivotal.

3 Working on placed balls: It’s an issue they’ve been aware of since the start of this season - who’ll pop the long-length frees if neither Bryan Sheehan or David Moran are on the field? To some it’s incidental, but in the close games, a reliable dead ball expert is the difference between winning and losing an All-Ireland - and Kerry don’t have one from 1 to 15.
Cork have their own problems with Donncha O’Connor’s radar off in the semi-final, but the Rebels have the Ballydesmond man, plus Daniel Goulding, if required. On Sunday, Kerry were reduced to Colm Cooper trying to work a short 45 with Tadhg Kennelly in the first half. Kerry’s penalty woes are not behind them either. Darran O’Sullivan lost his footing in the run-up to Sunday’s penalty, and though it trickled past Paddy O’Rourke, it was less than convincing.

Bennett’s performance the only positive in a wash-out finale

Brian — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:08:00 +0000

It should have been the blockbuster, edge-of-your seat finale the critics said it would be but instead of fitting the bill like a swashbuckling Schwarzenegger movie, it played out like one of those Saturday afternoon matinees no-one knows the name of.

In the end, only 47 riders out of 112 completed the gruelling 185 kilometre trek from Bantry and as we inched our way east yesterday, rider after rider seemed content to take refuge in the team cars. First to go were the Irish. One after another the numbers were called out over the race-radio and one after another their identities were established. “Another Irish man there,” said legendary commentator Phil Liggett. “There having a bad time of it today the home boys are.”

“I just had no legs today,” said Ronan McLaughlin of the Irish team. “The pace was just incredible for the first hour.” McLaughlin wasn’t telling lies and 44 kilometres with a side-wind is proof that these cyclists are a different breed but a full-time professional, should at least complete his day's work.

Eric the Eel Moussambani is a name who entered the hearts of sports followers after the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Not because he was a prefect athlete, far from it. But because he swam when the rest of the atheletes laughed at him. While Pieter van den Hoogenband set a world record of 47.84 seconds to win the gold medal, Moussambani splashed his way to the finish to the cheers of the crowd in slightly more than twice that time. "The last 15 meters were very difficult," he said.

Yesterday, Sam Bennett-though not quite continuing the swimmer from Equatorial Guinea metaphor, lit up the race with another dazzling show of heart and courage, splashing his way to finish 25^th overall. Apart from his solid ride, Sam Bennett's performance was also a big plus for Irish cycling. Twenty-fifth on the stage, two minutes 43 seconds behind Nordhaug and Downing and 25th overall may not sound like much, but he's just 18 and a firts-year senior.

In that context, he's performance was hugely promising. Bennett's a,bition is to secure a big pro contract in the years ahead and on this performance, the omens look good for the Carrick youngster.

"He's a jerk - I don't know why anyone would root for him"

Adrian — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:45:00 +0000

This is Lance Armstrong abandoning the Tour of Ireland yesterday in Cork city centre, just before ‘the monster’ he had come to tame – St Patrick’s Hill – yawned in front of him. The above quote was the honest analysis of a very annoyed American woman who walked back down the hill in front of me after over an hour at least of standing in the most violent Leeside monsoon, still clutching a Livestrong banner.

The conditions were truly crazy and I wouldn’t blame anyone for dipping in for any early shower rather than complete the two circuits of the famous 25% gradient. Mark Cavendish, who I was looking forward to seeing most, I must admit – pulled the same trick as last year and bailed at the bottom too.

But though the Manx star was one of the twin pillars this tour was built upon this year, he’s a sprinter. He doesn’t urge people to come out and see him on the streets, wear his yellow wristbands or, generally, wrap up his sporting endeavours in charitable works. Lance does.

The 37-year-old Armstrong, who travelled from Cork to Dublin last night to host a three-day Global Cancer Summit in the capital, which opens today, tweeted: “rough day on the bike. The ol’ back was not in a good way and St Patty’s Hill wasn’t looking too cozy”.

Let’s forget the apple-pie abbreviation of Patrick’s Hill; the fact is it wasn’t too cosy for thousands of Armstrong’s fans as they stood, soaked to the bone, waiting for him. Shouldn’t he have taken at least one lap of the city centre circuit, maybe?

As Gary Imlach said on the television coverage, which I’ve just watched back, “the hill seperated the men from the visiting superstars.” The abandonment was Armstrong’s last act as an Astana rider. I have a feeling, sadly for his many supporters in this part of the world, that the superstar won’t visit next year with his new RadioShack team.