I have been to 12 Arsenal games in my life across a period from May 2000 to November 2023 – and have never seen them lose.
That might seem like exceptional luck (though it does mask the fact that the February 2006 victory over Wigan Athletic was in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final and Arsenal still lost on aggregate) but the reality is a bit more informative.
Put simply, the games we (usually my father, my brother and a family friend) attend – thanks to the generosity of a season-ticket holder – are chosen carefully to ensure a fairly good chance of victory. I’ve never seen Arsenal play Liverpool, Manchester City or, when they were good, Chelsea or Manchester United.
Burnley (twice), Crystal Palace, Everton and Watford are among those I’ve seen come to Highbury or Emirates Stadium and leave with nothing. We have a few pints and watch an enjoyable game.
Leinster fortunes
It’s something that comes to mind when observing Leinster’s fortunes in the early stages of the Investec Champions Cup. While the 16-9 win away to La Rochelle was an absorbing victory that exorcised some of the pain of the previous two final defeats, the wins at home to Sale Sharks and, last weekend, Stade Français had a bit in common with my jaunts to North London.
While the scoreboard for the Sale game was showing 37-27 at the end, the English side scored converted tries in the 78th and 80th minutes, well after it ceased to be a contest. Then, last Saturday saw a 43-7 victory.
Day out
For the Leinster fans, it’s a great day out with little chance of an upset and, to be fair to Leo Cullen and his squad, there’s little hint of complacency as a job is done professionally. Of course, it helps that places – for Leinster and Ireland – are up for grabs, ensuring that nobody can coast.
And none of this is a criticism of Leinster; they have worked hard to get to where they are. However, when Stade make ten changes from the previous week’s Top 14 league match and essentially, come to Dublin with the hope of achieving little more than a losing bonus point, it’s clear that there is some fault with the make-up of the competition.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, former Leinster and Ireland player Bernard Jackman made the valid suggestion that clubs be limited to a 33-player squad for Europe – as in the World Cup – ensuring that a strong team has to be put out for every game.
Europe should be the pinnacle rather than a testing ground for the domestic league, or else it loses the cachet it has with supporters, sponsors and advertisers.
The continental competition will always have a special place in the hearts of the Munster faithful, thanks to two and a half decades of producing against the odds, and last Saturday provided yet another example.
After a draw with Bayonne and a loss to Exeter, Munster were up against it heading to face Toulon, but the four-try 29-18 win has had a revitalising effect. They are now in third place in their pool and if they were to win at home to Northampton Saints - who are already through to the last 16 - Graham Rowntree’s side might even get a home tie in the knockout stages.Sadly, there was no such miracle for Connacht, beaten by Lyon to all but remove any last hope of advancing.
While Ulster lost heavily at home to Toulouse – 48-24 the final score at Kingspan Stadium – they are still in the mix as they travel to take on Harlequins. However, as the two teams below them in the group table, Racing 92 and Cardiff, meet each other, Ulster will need to pick up some points.
Ladies football league kicks off
2024 Lidl Ladies National Football Leagues Launch.
The Lidl Ladies’ National Football League began last weekend with four Division 4 ties, and the rest of the counties commence their campaigns in the coming days. On Saturday evening, Dublin and Kerry clash at Parnell Park in a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final and it should be an interesting affair, as should the meeting of Cork and Galway in Mallow on Sunday.
There is a new television advertisement for the league, which is very well put together. It shows a county player in the style of the film Sliding Doors – a split-screen where one reality is full of praise and support for ladies’ football and the other where it’s barely noticed.
The tagline is about the importance to smash inequality and the viewers are implored to fill every stadium. It’s a nice message but at the same time, the question has to be asked as to whether it’s the best way to achieve the desired effect.
Like it or not, sporting support is very Darwinian – people go to what they want to go to and those pursuits become the most popular. Telling people to attend LGFA games just to redress a gender imbalance is unlikely to grab people – they need to be shown the positive reasons and there are plenty of those.
January is all go for GAA
January might seem like a quiet time for a GAA journalist, but it can actually be quite busy.
In this quarter, January means the Co-op SuperStores Munster Hurling League, the Munster second-level Dr Harty Cup and Corn Uí Mhuirí and the inter-varsity Fitzgibbon Cup.
For instance, Wednesday involved a Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final between St Brendan’s College of Killarney and Clonakilty Community College before a trek to Rathkeale for a Munster HL clash between Limerick and Cork. Two pairs of socks and lots of layers are important.
On Saturday, there is a Harty Cup semi-final between Nenagh CBS and Charleville CBS in Cappamore, and it’s still not entirely clear whether or not Sunday will be a day off. Prior to that, Friday night sees the annual Rebel Óg Awards take place at Cork’s Clayton Hotel SilverSprings, honouring the winners of the monthly scheme that recognises under-age success.
When I was a freelancer I was conditioned to never turn down a request, and that habit is still present to a degree, which explains why I am co-hosting the black-tie event. It is taking place in the same ballroom in which my grads was held more than 20 years ago – I think I can promise better behaviour this time.
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I have been to 12 Arsenal games in my life across a period from May 2000 to November 2023 – and have never seen them lose.
That might seem like exceptional luck (though it does mask the fact that the February 2006 victory over Wigan Athletic was in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final and Arsenal still lost on aggregate) but the reality is a bit more informative.
Put simply, the games we (usually my father, my brother and a family friend) attend – thanks to the generosity of a season-ticket holder – are chosen carefully to ensure a fairly good chance of victory. I’ve never seen Arsenal play Liverpool, Manchester City or, when they were good, Chelsea or Manchester United.
Burnley (twice), Crystal Palace, Everton and Watford are among those I’ve seen come to Highbury or Emirates Stadium and leave with nothing. We have a few pints and watch an enjoyable game.
Leinster fortunes
It’s something that comes to mind when observing Leinster’s fortunes in the early stages of the Investec Champions Cup. While the 16-9 win away to La Rochelle was an absorbing victory that exorcised some of the pain of the previous two final defeats, the wins at home to Sale Sharks and, last weekend, Stade Français had a bit in common with my jaunts to North London.
While the scoreboard for the Sale game was showing 37-27 at the end, the English side scored converted tries in the 78th and 80th minutes, well after it ceased to be a contest. Then, last Saturday saw a 43-7 victory.
Day out
For the Leinster fans, it’s a great day out with little chance of an upset and, to be fair to Leo Cullen and his squad, there’s little hint of complacency as a job is done professionally. Of course, it helps that places – for Leinster and Ireland – are up for grabs, ensuring that nobody can coast.
And none of this is a criticism of Leinster; they have worked hard to get to where they are. However, when Stade make ten changes from the previous week’s Top 14 league match and essentially, come to Dublin with the hope of achieving little more than a losing bonus point, it’s clear that there is some fault with the make-up of the competition.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, former Leinster and Ireland player Bernard Jackman made the valid suggestion that clubs be limited to a 33-player squad for Europe – as in the World Cup – ensuring that a strong team has to be put out for every game.
Europe should be the pinnacle rather than a testing ground for the domestic league, or else it loses the cachet it has with supporters, sponsors and advertisers.
The continental competition will always have a special place in the hearts of the Munster faithful, thanks to two and a half decades of producing against the odds, and last Saturday provided yet another example.
After a draw with Bayonne and a loss to Exeter, Munster were up against it heading to face Toulon, but the four-try 29-18 win has had a revitalising effect. They are now in third place in their pool and if they were to win at home to Northampton Saints - who are already through to the last 16 - Graham Rowntree’s side might even get a home tie in the knockout stages.Sadly, there was no such miracle for Connacht, beaten by Lyon to all but remove any last hope of advancing.
While Ulster lost heavily at home to Toulouse – 48-24 the final score at Kingspan Stadium – they are still in the mix as they travel to take on Harlequins. However, as the two teams below them in the group table, Racing 92 and Cardiff, meet each other, Ulster will need to pick up some points.
Ladies football league kicks off
2024 Lidl Ladies National Football Leagues Launch.
The Lidl Ladies’ National Football League began last weekend with four Division 4 ties, and the rest of the counties commence their campaigns in the coming days. On Saturday evening, Dublin and Kerry clash at Parnell Park in a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final and it should be an interesting affair, as should the meeting of Cork and Galway in Mallow on Sunday.
There is a new television advertisement for the league, which is very well put together. It shows a county player in the style of the film Sliding Doors – a split-screen where one reality is full of praise and support for ladies’ football and the other where it’s barely noticed.
The tagline is about the importance to smash inequality and the viewers are implored to fill every stadium. It’s a nice message but at the same time, the question has to be asked as to whether it’s the best way to achieve the desired effect.
Like it or not, sporting support is very Darwinian – people go to what they want to go to and those pursuits become the most popular. Telling people to attend LGFA games just to redress a gender imbalance is unlikely to grab people – they need to be shown the positive reasons and there are plenty of those.
January is all go for GAA
January might seem like a quiet time for a GAA journalist, but it can actually be quite busy.
In this quarter, January means the Co-op SuperStores Munster Hurling League, the Munster second-level Dr Harty Cup and Corn Uí Mhuirí and the inter-varsity Fitzgibbon Cup.
For instance, Wednesday involved a Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final between St Brendan’s College of Killarney and Clonakilty Community College before a trek to Rathkeale for a Munster HL clash between Limerick and Cork. Two pairs of socks and lots of layers are important.
On Saturday, there is a Harty Cup semi-final between Nenagh CBS and Charleville CBS in Cappamore, and it’s still not entirely clear whether or not Sunday will be a day off. Prior to that, Friday night sees the annual Rebel Óg Awards take place at Cork’s Clayton Hotel SilverSprings, honouring the winners of the monthly scheme that recognises under-age success.
When I was a freelancer I was conditioned to never turn down a request, and that habit is still present to a degree, which explains why I am co-hosting the black-tie event. It is taking place in the same ballroom in which my grads was held more than 20 years ago – I think I can promise better behaviour this time.
Read more
Meet the Maker: Niamh McCarthy from Niamh Designs Embroidery
Legal: solar farms and the legal implications
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