This weekend rugby teams from all over Europe will clash in the RBS Six Nations. Here Saphora Smith sits down with the tournament’s organiser and one of the most powerful men is sport, John Feehan.

The finals of the Dublin Lawn Tennis Council floodlight leagues turned into an unfortunate night of disappointment for the Trinity men’s 1st and 3rd teams as they both came out on the wrong side of 2-1 results.

Whenever the world’s toughest sports are discussed, one can be guaranteed that the likes of rugby, hurling and boxing will be mentioned. According to ESPN and Sports Illustrated, however, these games pale in comparison to one sport. That sport is water polo.

On a cold but calm October evening, Dublin University Gaelic Football Club (DUGFC) put on a sublime display of ability, putting Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) to the sword. The men’s senior team were simply in a different league to their opponents, who had no answer to the clinical attacking display of the Trinity team.

Saturday 29 October witnessed the Dublin University Harriers and Athletics Club (DUHAC) host their fiercest rivals, UCD, in the Colours Road Relays – the long-standing 1-2-2-1 mile races around the half-mile loop of campus.

The biggest event in ladies’ golf got underway on the morning of Friday 23 September. Day one of the Solheim Cup, taking place for the first time in Ireland, would be an enthralling affair, as the home European side looked to reclaim the trophy they have not held since 2003. Jack Nickalus’ course at the scenic Killeen Castle is the venue for this year’s tournament, with many famous faces in the world of ladies’ golf taking to the course in the contest of continents.

By Killian McCarthy

When the Championship rolls round and the quality of your summer is reliant on the Limerick hurlers, you’re faced with a stark choice: optimism or suicide.

The fact that the former prevails could be mistaken for a triumph of the human spirit. Really, it’s just belligerence. It’s the stubborn pursuit not of silverware nor of history but of those days when form, skill and quality of touch count for less than heart, commitment and the same belligerence that filters down from  the terraces. Those isolated, fleeting days that stand as vindication for annual heartbreak.

And though the ledger is blotted with chances lost, hopes dashed and more calamitous defeats than the French military and although stories of dry balls, crooked refs and wails of “if only…” abound like in no other county, there are days that make it all worthwhile. Memories, goosebumps, glory days treasured so that hope springs eternal.

“It looks closed to me, Dad”.

He smiled because he knew better. Half a century of championship Sundays stood against my dozen. He knew they were serving, and long before their licence allowed it; this pub by Kent Station was packed to the rafters with Limerick men (and their sons), filling up for what lay ahead. Our sea of green would meet their red tide by the banks of the Lee and the omens, as usual, were bad.

Not bleak (never bleak) but a caning from Clare isn’t easily forgotten, not least after barely a month. Rumours of ferocious training were merely whispers of what might subsequently bear fruit (but usually didn’t). There had been clamours for the manager’s head and demands for so-and-so to be dropped so whatshisname could deliver us to a sporting Promised Land that the barren years had made into myth.

But all that was lost on me as we as we set out for the Páirc. May ’01. A summer’s day, an Irish summer’s day: overcast. But it promised to clear (the sun always shines in Cork, boy) and so it did, slowly, as we turned onto the long straight road that leads to the Ground. Monotonous though it is for the hordes of supporters, the colour, the banter and inveterate slagging somehow shorten the trip.

That unique chip van smell, nauseating and intoxicating in equal measure wafted along on the gentle breeze that blew towards the Blackrock End. Touts did their best to turn a few pounds while “3 card monte” relieved some revellers of what change they had in their rapidly-lightening pockets. The senses were bombarded and one summer shy of my teenage years I wished every Sunday was like this.

But all this stood as the starter. The main course was yet to play out in front of 40,000 fans in the cauldron cois Laoi. The terraces rumbled and shook through the Soldier’s Song, apt for the warfare that was about to unfold. Timber flew and the crowd roared in solidarity. Limerick wanted this and the sliotar was an afterthought, at least until it was thrown in.

Once that formality had been dispensed with, the visitors set about erasing the memory of every defeat, cruel or otherwise, back to ’97. First to the ball or first to the shoulder, success was measured as much in broken hurleys as it was on the scoreboard, reading 0-4 to 0-2. Limerick leading. Limerick on top. Limerick surely going to blow it.

But no. With 11 minutes gone James Butler gets away from John Browne, solos, bears down on goal and rifles one across Dónal Óg. I’m told he never saw it until it hit the net.

Neither did I.

Frank Hogan (better known as John 3:7) had taken up residence in front of me and raised his ubiquitous sign just as Butler pulled the trigger and even now, 9 years on, I’ve never thanked him for the gesture. Granted he didn’t mean it but in robbing me of my view he lent me a vision (granted, an imagined vision) of a goal the power, accuracy and majesty of which I have yet to see matched. It stands as the greatest goal I never saw, its greatness measured in goosebumps.

My Father (a less magnanimous soul) reacted to the obstruction by seizing it, throwing it to the ground, making some very graphic threats about where he’d be inclined to insert it should there be a repeat of Mr. Hogan’s antics, and for that reason it’s hardly surprising that our view of the remaining hour’s action went unobstructed.

We saw points and wides exchanged in equal measure. We saw the inevitable Rebel comeback. We saw character tested beyond conventional limits. We saw everything that makes the Munster Championship stand unrivalled in sport and in the end we saw the titanic struggle resolved in masterful terms by a man who decreed that this was to be his finest hour.

Step forward Barry Foley. A sideline cut from under the stand on any other day would have been aimed infield. On any other day. That day history beckoned. That day was special. That day Foley rifled it over when nobody thought that he would.

Cue green-clad raptures on the terraces, cue the final whistle and cue joy and confusion distilled into the realisation that we’d come to Cork and won. 1-16 to 1-15 in their backyard and as Seán South rang out on the long walk into town I could feel the goosebumps crawling up my spine like never before or since.

Halfway home, satisfaction etched on his face, I asked the seasoned campaigner what made us stand through the dark days for moments like that. Half a century of championship Sundays smiled again and said as though reciting a mantra: “Optimism”.

By Kate Rowan

Any rugby fan will be used to the procedure as two packs get ready to scrumage of the referee’s call “crouch, touch, pause, engage”. This got me thinking about four matches over the past month; Leinster’s win against Edinburgh and Ireland’s first three Autumn internationals. It was as if each game was represented by one of the stages in forming a scrum.

Crouch
Leinster versus Edinburgh
The first game; the crouch or the preparation was a gutsy Leinster narrowly defeating their bogey team Edinburgh. This did not just get me in the mood for the Autumn series to come but it allowed spectators to see some of the stars of future international games.
There may have been an absence of big name players called up on international duty but that by no means dampened the spirits of the D4fortress faithful on the eve of Halloween and the crowd created a great atmosphere that helped up and coming stars such as winger Andrew Conway and out half Ian Madigan shine alongside Leinster stalwarts such as Shane Horgan.
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Leinster’s sole try scorer of the night 19 year old Conway had the look of a star in the making, coltishly running, his socks pulled down around electric blue boots.

After the match coach Joe Schmidt reminded us that it is still early days in the youngster’s career explaining, “he is an exciting raw talent but has some edges that need moulding.”

Laughter filled the room when Schmidt told the press the winger is “still 20” and then one journo chipped in “Conway is 19!” Schmidt chuckled “He is only 19, it is me that is getting older then!”
He is proud of the team mentality “we had some of the internationals involved tonight, Sexton was running water making sure his knowledge and experience was getting to Madigan, our squad ethos is all about helping each other out.”

Touch
Ireland versus South Africa
It was hoped that the Aviva’s first touch with international rugby would be a repeat of last year’s defeat of South Africa. Despite the anticipation this was not to be with the home side just falling two points short.

Both the conditions and the intensity were given as factors in the defeat. Brian O’Driscoll described the ball as being like “a bar of soap”.

I could not help but notice how the atmosphere shifted from relatively sombre to electric towards the end of the game. O’Driscoll explained this “the first 60 minutes were difficult for fans to watch but once we started playing a bit the crowd got behind us. It is our responsibility to get the crowd going.”

Journalists are just as keen to get involved in a scrum as any prop, lock, hooker, flanker or number eight. My first mixed zone experience was quite surreal, I suddenly found myself cast beneath the shadow of Munster lock Donnacha O’Callaghan and I had my chance to reach up a considerable distance with my dictaphone.

He had few airs and graces about him visibly disheartened by the loss “It is disappointing anytime you lose but we didn’t make them hurt enough.”

O’Callaghan was also the perfect man to comment on one of Ireland’s greatest difficulties against the Springboks; weak line outs “Rory (Best) said it was like he was looking at three or four Victor Matfields.”

The lock played tribute to fellow Munster man O’Gara on receiving his 100th cap. “ I have two Heineken Cup medals and a Grand Slam and that is on the hard work Rog.”

 There were some giggles when O’Callaghan was asked on what he thought of the game over all “I’ll have to watch a video because I spent half of the game with my head between asses pushing and dragging!”

Towards the end of the interview his frustration at the loss was apparent again “it was our first game in the Aviva you want to make it a fortress and you feel embarrassed that you lose.”

Pause
Ireland versus Samoa
After a disappointing first outing in the Aviva would Ireland’s hope collapse like a dodgy scrum? With no disrespect to Samoa, Kidney and company would have time to regroup, take time to pause and use the game as a chance to change Ireland’s ways back to winning.
One of the hot topics was the inclusion in the starting team of six foot ten Devin Toner. The Leinster lock who plays his club rugby for Lansdowne was seen to many as being partly responsible in restoring strength to the Irish line outs and when was hoisted into the air by John Hayes was described as “being like the Eiffel Tower” by the ebullient George Hook.

He seemed rather relieved but was delighted with his first cap saying “It was just an amazing feeling to be coming out of the team hotel and see all the crowds and it was unbelievable singing the anthems.”

The atmosphere after a victory really contrasted with that of the week before. Trinity graduate Jamie Heaslip was in flying form bantering with the reporters over the moustache he had grown for the Movember charity campaign. He said he had been getting fashion “inspiration from Mad Men.”

It was interesting to compare the Kildare man’s delight and his attitude that he wouldn’t yet start to think about the clash with the All Blacks with Luke Fitzgerald. He was also bubbling with energy but was thinking more ahead about the All Blacks “you always have to take your game up a notch when you play against quality like them. New Zealand have been the best in the world, for I don’t know how long, everyone is really excited about the game next week.”

Engage
Ireland versus New Zealand
Fitzgerald was right, there was a fantastic excitement building-up to the game. This would the height of the engagement of the series.

There was something spiritual about the Haka, it seemed to be more than just a war dance and had the feel of a prayer.

The atmosphere improved as the Irish started to show the spark that had been eluding them. In the press box, the journalists tend to stay neutral and don’t show their emotions too often but I was not the only one who lost their composure when O’Driscoll scored the first try.

Things were looking good, however, it proved too much and the opposition showed their class winning by a flattering 20 points considering.

The buzz extended into the press conference with coach Graham Henry and captain Richie McCaw. The flanker looked relaxed as he ambled barefoot into the room. He had an aura of charisma that marked him out as a world-beater but neither came across as smug in their victory.

Henry remarked “about a year ago we were worried about the Irish but they have fallen into a bit of a gully but they gave us a tough game and they should take a lot from it.”

Ireland may not be have gotten the results they desire but hopefully they can build on a valiant effort against New Zealand. The players may now have the fireto pull out a special performance against Argentina in the final test.

Micheal Gaskin
Deputy College Sport Editor

In their last game in the group stage of the Combined Universities Football League, Trinity sat bottom of their group with only one point from their previous four games, while DCU went into the game knowing that a win would do to secure passage to the knockout stages.

With both sides easing themselves into the game that was played on a very heavy College Park pitch, it was DCU who had the better opportunities in the early stages, when two free headers nodded harmlessly wide of the goal.

With twenty minutes gone in the game it was apparent that this DCU side had come to win. They began to completely overrun the Trinity midfield by winning the majority fifty-fifty balls and by stretching the play down both wings with a regular supply of crosses going into their centre forward David Lodola.

With the game moving on towards half time and Trinity looking settled game, DCU’s Shane Keely opened the scoring with a simple tap in at the back post after the ball was drilled hard and fast across the box from a free. It was a lead that did not last for long, however, as Trinity restored parity with 44 minutes gone on the clock. After a hugely deflected shot that ricocheted off the DCU crossbar and out for a corner, Fergal Mullins levelled up the game with a very fortuitous goal.

With the heavens threatening to open, Trinity started the second half in a very positive manner with much of the opening play happening in and around the DCU box. Their hard work was ultimately in vain, as with fresh legs coming off the DCU bench they once again took control of the game.

DCU went back into the lead midway through the second half, when on the counter attack the ball was flicked back across the box and a diving header by Oisin Doyle hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced over the line and then out.

During the next twenty minutes, Niall O’Carroll made a string of fine saves to keep a tiring Trinity side in touch with the visitors and in a position where they could still get a result.

DCU’s final match-winning goal was a carbon copy of a number of attempts they had earlier in the game. A ball whipped in fast from the wing and heading toward the near post was well-saved by Niall O’Carroll at his near post and knocked away for a corner.

From the ensuing corner DCU’s Stephen Traynor knocked the ball in at the near post to close out the game and keep their hopes of qualifying for the knock-out stages alive.

With a full-time result of 3-1 in favour of the visitors it was a disappointing ending to what has been a poor group stage for this Trinity team.

Fionn Mc Caffrey
Contributing Writer

DUBC reaffirmed their promising form this season with a series of victories at Neptune Head of the River Race (HORR).

Neptune HORR, the National 1x Sculling Head, is held annually on Blessington Lake in County Wicklow. Despite last-minute fears that gusting winds would make the lake unrowable, the organisers were rewarded with wet, but perfectly rowable conditions.

Having spent every weekend in Blessington since College commenced, DUBC’s squad exercised the advantages of home ground. A significant amount of pressure lay with the Single Scullers, who would have to deliver a repeat performance of their Ladder win. The squad was bolstered by the return of Patrick Jacques and Fionn Mc Caffrey.

The scullers headed off into a moderate headwind, with Lorcain Cameron leading the charge to finish fourth in what proved to be a highly competitive event. The rest of the Boat Clubs’ scullers followed in close succession to take all the consecutive places until 15th.
The second Head of the day was to see the greatest successes, with three out of the six boats taking the top spots. The promising Junior Mens Double of Ian Kelly and Patrick Hughes stormed to victory, finishing nearly a minute ahead of their nearest rivals. The Novice eight also put in a solid performance, with Adam O’Brien leading the crew to a comfortable victory of 1min 34secs over their nearest rivals.

The Mens Inter Quad saw an exciting contest, with two scratch quads from DUBC vying for a first place finish. Some canny steering from Bowman Ian O’Loinsigh and a steady rhythm from Strokeman Luke Acheson allowed their quad to eat into the other quad’s headstart. The Patrick Jacques-led quad held them at bay for roughly 2 kilometres, but once the chasing quad got a view of their opponents’ stern canvas the push was called and they were overtaken with only 25 metres to go. The rivalry also saw the eventual winners post a faster time than their University of Limerick counterparts in the Senior event. Prominent DUBC alumnus and Ladt Elizabeth Boat club sculler put in a strong row to post the two fastest times in the Senior Mens 1x (in the first and second head).