Big weekend of football championship action ahead

THE EXTRA MILE - BY SPORTS EDITOR DAMIEN MAHER

It’s semi-final time in the various Westmeath football championships this weekend and it should be a great one, with some mouth-watering games down for decision at all adult grades.

Senior is the big one and St Loman’s, Mullingar and Coralstown/Kinnegad will be fancied to get to the final, but nothing is certain in sport and they will be tested every step of the way in their respective games against Tyrrellspass and Caulry.

Tyrrellspass have shown remarkable consistency over the years and they are not in unfamiliar territory here: they know how to win at this stage and experience won’t be a burden. St Loman’s will be wary and they have to block out all the nonsense about this championship being over very early and about their name being engraved on the cup even before the group stages were done and dusted. Such is never the case.

Caulry, unlike Tyrrellspass, are hunting in new ground now. They are in uncharted territory and facing a Coralstown/Kinnegad side that can probably see their first county final in many years. In that sense, it’s a bit dangerous, too, for Jack Cooney, Pascal Kelleghan and this emerging Coralstown/Kinnegad side. They will know they have been in a game by the time Caulry have finished, of that there is no doubt.

So, while St Loman’s, Mullingar and Coralstown/Kinnegad are expected to come through and set up a Flanagan Cup showdown, there could easily be a shock.

The intermediate grade is even more compelling. Tubberclair are facing St Malachy’s, a very dangerous opponent at this stage of the championship. Yes, Tubberclair carry the favourite’s tag and rightly so, but momentum is huge and Kenny McKinley’s St Malachy’s side have it. This is a 50-50 game and could go all the way to penalties (does anyone else feel this is a wrong way to decide things?).

Milltown versus Milltownpass is another intriguing game. Milltownpass just have the edge in that they have a stronger panel and momentum is on their side. Finbar Coyne is missing, but they have quality in key areas, especially up front, and it will take a big performance to stop them reaching another final.

That said, it will be no shock if Milltown prevail. They are very well-balanced and have a physical presence about them that will be difficult to stop.

Predicting the finalists here is just so foolish, but that’s punditry and since I can’t shy away, I’ll go for a Tubberclair versus Milltownpass decider.

The junior is also close as St Loman’s are good enough to challenge St Joseph’s and Ballycomoyle won’t fear Kilbeggan Shamrocks. But the latter ought to get there.

Whether we will have the final everyone hopes for (Kilbeggan versus St Joseph’s, which would be great for the traditionalists) is another question. St Loman’s could well spoil the party.

Tough times for the boys in green

It was a tough few days for the Irish soccer team. On Thursday evening, they found France just too good in Paris and on Sunday, the Netherlands inflicted a second defeat in four days.

There’s no point in dressing things up and there has been an incredible amount of analysis given over to Thursday’s game when one line would have sufficed: Ireland were completely outclassed.

Alright, maybe a second line: manager Stephen Kenny is out of his depth.

That would sum it up nicely. Why all the need for hysterics? Ireland hadn’t a hope of finishing in the top two in this group and those who thought otherwise were dreaming. The quality is just not there. Then take out players like Evan Ferguson and Séamus Coleman, who missed the game and you’re really stretching Ireland’s limited resources.

And while the manager is out of his depth at this level, it’s not entirely his fault; it will be interesting to see who will do better when the time comes. You just can’t expect to beat the best in the world with such an ordinary group of players. Tchouaméni scored a super first goal in the 19th minute and that put the proverbial squeeze on the visitors. It’s the 11th time a long-range strike has whizzed to the Irish net in the past couple of years, so you begin to wonder is it pure bad luck or is there some other reason why teams are finding joy via this particular route? I’m no expert, but if you keep inviting the inevitable you’re going to get punished.

The movement and skill of the French players was just a joy to watch in the second half and the goal number two from Marcus Thuram really sent Ireland into ‘backs to the wall’ mode very quickly. Yes, the French ‘keeper had to save from Chiedozie Ogbene and the same player, perhaps Ireland’s brightest hope on the evening, fired a shot over with the left boot, but this was humiliation everywhere except on the scoreline itself.

Sunday was a little better and there was a great atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium as Ireland took the lead through an early Adam Idah penalty. Idah should have scored even before then and the visitors were rattled for a while, but eventually Irish hearts were broken as Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst both found the target for a superior Dutch side.

Great start to the Rugby World Cup

Ireland’s resounding win over Romania (82-8) was just one of the many highlights from a terrific start to the Rugby World Cup. It all got underway with a wonderful game on Friday as the hosts France overcame the New Zealand All Blacks.

England and Wales both won on the opening weekend, but Scotland lost to South Africa. It all made for a gripping weekend and Wales in particular did well to deny Fiji on Sunday - after all, they were in disarray before Warren Gatland returned to the hot seat.

So, a positive opening and good to see Ireland rack up such a big score, albeit against a weak opponent who ironically got a dream start with an early try. Tougher tests certainly await.