The Irish Times - Sport

Old dog Westwood shows young pups a thing or two

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:44:52 GMT

THE JOURNEY along the hard road may have gobbled up just half of the required distance; but, so far at least, the old dog has had the edge over the young pup.

O'Rourke offers some perspective on cheating

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:58:54 GMT

ATHLETICS:The Irish track athlete of the year is well aware you don't always get what you deserve, writesIAN O'RIORDAN

Dubai Digest

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:58:54 GMT

Compiled byPHILIP REID

Nomadic life became Byrne's bag

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:58:54 GMT

It started out as a student job but 20 years on, and with a second book under his belt, Colin Byrne is a major presence in the caddie shack.PHILIP REIDreports...

O'Driscoll plays the diplomat firmly in the centre

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:58:54 GMT

THERE'S ONLY one subject in the air and even yesterday's pre-match press conference before the Ireland-Fiji game was dominated byle main de Dieu.

Reasons to be confident going into the future

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:58:54 GMT

SOCCER ANALYST:Although cautious early in the competition there are clear signs of brighter days ahead for this Ireland squad, writesBRIAN KERR

Culture facilitates the triumph of cynicism

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:58:54 GMT

By massaging the draw for the World Cup play- offs to suit France, Portugal and Russia, Fifa publicly betrayed their inner thoughts, writesMICHAEL WALKER

Roy still seems to have, um, issues

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:58:54 GMT

Judging by his comments yesterday, the former Ireland captain might do well to follow his own advice, writesMARY HANNIGAN

Hold the back page...

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

NIALL KEILYgives his verdict on recent sporting events of his choosing...

Sports Digest

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

The other sports news stories of the week...

Closing double-bogey seven costs Harrington the lead

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

GOLF DUBAI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:THE 18th hole here at The Earth course is a curious beast, one you either love or hate. It measures a prohibitive par-five of 620 yards, with the challenge accentuated by a rocky creek which runs through the middle of the fairway and, finally, reaches its source at the back of the green.

Notre Pere's team hoping ground won't suit Kauto

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

NEWS ROUND-UP:THE HOME racing at Gowran today depends on an 8am inspection, but Irish interest across-sea this weekend is primarily concentrated on Merseyside and its environs, notably with Jim Dreaper’s Notre Pere taking on the mighty Kauto Star at Haydock this afternoon.

Operation Houdini looks to go one better

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

NAVAN PREVIEW:IT TOOK Ireland’s best chaser Notre Pere to deny Operation Houdini Troytown Chase glory in 2008 but the Davy Fitzgerald trained-horse can go one better in tomorrow’s €80,000 feature at Navan.

GAA and GPA reach agreement

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

NEWS ROUND-UP:THE GAA and the Gaelic Players Association will today announce a breakthrough in their discussions on recognition for the players’ body.

Front room of Fijian rugby must serve players better

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

RUGBY ANALYSIS:THIS TEST match is more about laying the foundations for New Zealand in 2011 than what transpires at the RDS Showgrounds this evening. To succeed at a World Cup you need – to borrow US sporting jargon – both the front room and backroom staff at the top of their game.

Positive, poised and eager to impress

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

IRELAND v FIJI: GERRY THORNLEYtalks to the versatile Keith Earls who, having impressed on the Lions tour to South Africa, is ready to stake a claim for his place on the Irish team

Keeping faith with a proud tradition

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

IRELAND v FIJI: JOHN WATTERSONvisits the Fijian camp and is struck by the relaxed attitude and devout Christianity which prevails amongst the islanders

Ideal time to give Kidney some headaches

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

IRELAND v FIJI PREVIEW:PLAYING FIJI at the RDS may not quite feel like a Test match, and the visit of the world champions to a packed Croke Park next weekend will no doubt be more like the real deal, but the Royal Dublin Society is looking more and more like the ideal venue.

World champions will want to return to winning ways

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

ITALY v SOUTH AFRICA:WORLD CHAMPIONS South Africa will not underestimate Italy. The Azzurri lost 20-6 to New Zealand last weekend but displayed a battling performance.

Scots' fresh drive may push Australia

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

SCOTLAND v AUSTRALIA:SINCE SCOTLAND have not beaten Australia since 1982, they may be a bit surprised to find themselves within the same status brackets. But there they are, both deemed to be improving, which is no mean achievement at a time when just about everybody else is being lumped together as dull as ditchwater.

Irish sides get off to perfect starts

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

BRITISH AND IRISH CUP:Ulster Ravens 29 Bedford Blues 3 and Coventry 13 Munster A 20

England face into familiar mountain

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

ENGLAND v NEW ZEALAND:THE WEATHER forecast is miserable and England are battening down the hatches. Beating New Zealand for the first time since 2003 would be nice, but today’s most urgent priority is to restore their supporters’ faith and cause fewer paper darts to be hurled from the upper tiers of the stadium.

Wales want to kick new habit

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

WALES v ARGENTINA:IF WALES have not exactly joined the kick it out campaign, their players are conscious of the effect that aerial ping-pong, coupled with a welter of penalties at the breakdown, is having on rugby union as a spectacle.

Byrne and Fingal have history in their sights

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

FAI CUP FINAL; SLIGO ROVERS v SPORTING FINGAL:HAVING FEATURED in every game for the club this year, Conan Byrne wants to ensure he enjoys every minute of Sporting Final’s season as they look to add silverware to their promotion to the Premier Division by beating Sligo Rovers at Tallaght Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Ferguson not letting Foster leave

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

MANCHESTER UNITED v EVERTON:ALEX FERGUSON will reject any attempt by his back-up goalkeeper Ben Foster to secure an England place for next summer by going on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season.

City want to draw a line on dip

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

PREMIER LEAGUE LIVERPOOL v MANCHESTER CITY:IF MARK Hughes has learned one thing in the last month, it is exactly what Rafael Benitez and Liverpool learned last season: draws can drag you down. Five draws, which is what Manchester City have just put together, is hardly an unbeaten run worth bragging about.

Wenger feels replay is the only fair option

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

ARSENE WENGER, the former manager of Thierry Henry at Arsenal, was insistent yesterday that a rematch of the World Cup play-off is the only way of restoring French credibility ahead of next summer’s finals.

Referee Hansson still likely to officiate at World Cup finals

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:46 GMT

NEWS AND REACTION:SWEDISH REFEREE Martin Hansson still stands a good chance of officiating at the World Cup finals despite his failure to spot Thierry Henry’s handball at the Stade de France on Wednesday night, according to a prominent member of Fifa’s referee’s panel, the body that chooses who gets to oversee games at the tournament.

West awakened to an air of expectation

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:45 GMT

CONNACHT SFC FINAL:TOMORROW IN Fr O’Hara Park in Charlestown, Co Mayo, the AIB Connacht football final, between the home club and Corofin, showcases what the province has done best over the past dozen years or so. Despite the western counties’ less than imposing presence at All-Ireland level for much of this decade, the club championships provided a competitive outlet at which Connacht excelled.

French federation rejects calls for a replay

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:26:45 GMT

THE FAI’s dream of securing a replay of Wednesday’s World Cup play-off at the Stade de France was shattered last night when their French counterparts, the French Football Federation (FFF), formally said that they had no intention of offering to restage the game as a result of Thierry Henry’s handball immediately before William Gallas’s decisive goal.

Italian sympathy runs high for Trap and team

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:28:02 GMT

THE HEADLINES in Italy’s specialist sports press yesterday said it all.Gazzetta Dello Sportcarried a front page banner title that read, “Trap, What a Rip-Off!”,Tuttosporthad another front page headline, reading “Trap Mugged, France Go Through Thanks To A Bogus Goal” whilstCorriere Dello Sport’s front page read simply “France, What A Scandal!”

Fifa not overly concerned with justice for all

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:28:02 GMT

Much as the game’s governing body talk up ‘fair play’, it is more concerned with legal and sporting certainty, writesEmmet Malone

Sports Digest

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:28 GMT

Other sports news in brief

Commodore's Cup assault regroups

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:28 GMT

SAILING:COUNTING DOWN to next season has already started in earnest for the crews who hope to form the backbone of Ireland's next challenge on the Commodore's Cup in Cowes.

Cooney and Leaney set down markers

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:28 GMT

SWIMMING:AISLING COONEY continued her preparations for next month’s European Short Course (25 metres) championships in Istanbul with an impressive win in the 200 metres backstroke on the opening day of the Irish Championships at the NAC in Abbotstown.

Dignam agrees to stay for one more Rás

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:28 GMT

CYCLING:LONGTIME FBD Insurance Rás organiser Dermot Dignam has confirmed he will stay on board for one more edition of the race, which will be held from May 23rd to 30th next year.

Golf Digest

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:28 GMT

Other golf news in brief

Harrington glides in under radar with neat 68

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:28 GMT

SOMETIMES, IN the world that belongs to Pádraig Harrington, it doesn’t do an harm to occasionally glide in under the radar.

Main contenders avoid knock-out blow

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:28 GMT

GOLF DUBAI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:THE PUGILIST knows an opening jab sets down a marker, nothing else. There’s no knock-out blow.

Notre to face Kauto Star

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:28 GMT

HORSE RACING:DUAL CHELTENHAM Gold Cup hero Kauto Star will face eight rivals on his reappearance in the Betfair Chase at Haydock tomorrow.

Limerick board united in their support for McCarthy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

THE CRISIS in Limerick hurling, which had lain dormant for the past week or so, has erupted again with news that four more senior players have walked away from the intercounty game.

Catch them on the counter and punish them

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

When the chances come, Ireland must attack as 15

Johnson advised to change coaches

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

WORLD CUP-WINNER Will Greenwood last night warned England manager Martin Johnson could end up being sacked unless he makes immediate changes to his coaching staff.

Gaffney says Ireland will look to play heads-up game

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

IRELAND’S SLIGHTLY more liberated approach faces something of a litmus test tomorrow, for the Fijians would love nothing more than an unstructured game.

Fiji's target of one from two may be hard to hit

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

FIJI HAVE targeted one win from their matches against Scotland and Ireland, so, having lost in Murrayfield last Saturday, the maths ahead of their match in the RDS tomorrow are fairly simple.

Paris Shorts

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

Other news in brief from the after-match reaction

Some shame, sure 'mais c'est la vie

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

FRANCE’S POLITICIANS, pundits and philosophers were drawn into the national debate on l’affaire Henry yesterday as the country grappled with the moral dilemma of qualifying for the World Cup thanks to a disputed win few French fans think was deserved.

Swedish referee has some 'previous'

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

INTERNATIONAL REACTION:SWEDEN’S NEWSPAPERS were plastered yesterday with pictures of unhappy Irish fans as commentators bemoaned the Paris performance of Martin Hansson, the part-time fireman and Swedish premier league referee whose mistake dashed a nation’s World Cup aspirations.

Fifa likely to go with human solution

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

VIDEO TECHNOLOGY:NOT MANY people know this but the Irish Football Association – not the FAI, mind, Northern Ireland’s governing body – have a significant say in altering the rules of football.

Pádraig queries French fair play

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

IRELAND’S TRIPLE-major champion Pádraig Harrington confessed yesterday that he found the French celebration of the goal in Wednesday night’s World Cup match in Paris as “particularly galling” and emphasised the “different culture” that exists in golf and soccer.

'Small' detail unsettles the masses in France

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

REACTION:EVEN THE pilot on one of the flights bringing home forlorn Irish supporters from Paris yesterday addressed “The Hand of Henry” issue, his demand for a replay of Wednesday night’s game earning him a hearty round of applause from his weary passengers.

Henry struggles to be held in high esteem

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

Matt Spirowrites that for all his talent and success the French fans have failed to take Henry to their hearts

Hand Of Henry Your Say

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

Last night’s events produced an unprecedented reaction. The following is a selection from the hundreds of comments posted on irishtimes.com yesterday.

Delaney keeps the pressure on France

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:04:27 GMT

THE FAI’S hopes of winning what would be a rather remarkable a World Cup reprieve appeared to rest with the French Football Federation last night after officials at the game’s governing body dismissed the idea that Wednesday’s game in Paris might be replayed.

Meireles seals victory and trip to finals

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:31:09 GMT

Bosnia-Herz' 0 Portugal 1(Portugal win 2-0 on aggregate): MIDFIELDER RAUL Meireles scored a 56th-minute winner for the Portuguese to silence a raucous 15,000 home crowd in the cauldron of the Bilino Polje stadium.

Treacherous Henry, your cheating art will tell on you

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:31:09 GMT

ANALYSIS:Henry will have to live with his Maradona moment for the rest of his life, writesMARK LAWRENSON

Dubai digest

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:17:04 GMT

Compiled by Philip Reid

Old ties still bind as the Jayhawks exert an emotional pull

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:28 GMT

AMERICA AT LARGE:WHEN THE Fourth Estate convenes to cover a sporting event at almost any venue in America, a sign will be conspicuously posted as a reminder of professional decorum: No Cheering In The Press Box.

McLaren confirm signing of Button

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:28 GMT

MOTOR SPORT:JENSON BUTTON will partner Lewis Hamilton at McLaren next season in an all-British line-up of world champions, the Formula One team said yesterday.

McIlroy is focused on finishing off the job

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:28 GMT

GOLF DUBAI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:THE ENTRANCE to the Jumeirah estate seems to go on for an eternity. The road, equipped with speed ramps, cuts a swathe through the desert and skirts construction sites with half-built villas until it reaches The Earth course.

Dunguib set for Fairyhouse

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:28 GMT

RACING NEWS:DUNGUIB IS set to be the headline act at Sunday week’s triple Grade One fixture at Fairyhouse when the bumper champion attempts to maintain his unbeaten record over jumps.

Cooney praises founding fathers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

GAA PRESIDENT Christy Cooney yesterday spoke of the “deep appreciation for the early work, graft and passion of the founding members of the association” at one of the final commemoration events of the 125 anniversary celebrations.

Coaching conference has become integral part of the modern game

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

THE DAYS when an intercounty manager would coach, train and mentor the team, and his two selectors would simply help him pick it, are now truly a thing of the past. Instead, these are the days where managers delegate responsibilities and work within a highly specialised structure – which is where this weekend’s GAA Coaching Conference comes in.

Rugby digest

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

ENGLAND V NEW ZEALAND: Ayoola Erinle will make his first England start after replacing Shane Geraghty at inside centre in the team to play New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday.

Seán Óg gives Fijian compatriots stick

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

JOHNNY WATTERSONlooks on as the Cork star tries to get the rugby team representing his native Fiji to get to grips with the game of hurling

D'Arcy intent on making his presence felt

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

IRELAND v FIJI:WHEN GORDON D’Arcy’s name was omitted from the Irish team last week for Paddy Wallace, he decided to face it stoically. No rancour or umbrage, no histrionics or drama, no crushing panic or rush to the team psychologist’s door.

Soccer digest

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

Today's other stories in brief

Algeria finally put an end to North African saga

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

CAF GROUP C TIE-BREAKING PLAY-OFF:ALGERIA QUALIFIED for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 with a disciplined if patchy display, in a match as testy as it was tense.

Greece prove their mettle

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

UKRAINE 1 GREECE 1:GREECE coach Otto Rehhagel thanked the gods after their win in Ukraine sent them through to next year’s World Cup.

Germany salvage draw in injury-time

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

FRIENDLY INTERNATIONALS:AN injury-time goal from Lukas Podolski rescued a 2-2 friendly draw for Germany against Ivory Coast last night.

Dedic grabs ticket for Slovenia

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

SLOVENIA 1 RUSSIA 0:SLOVENIA REACHED the 2010 World Cup finals at the expense of nine-man Russia thanks to Zlatko Dedic’s 44th-minute goal on a dramatic night in Maribor.

Soccer News

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:27 GMT

Portugal1

'He came over to us and said he cheated'

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:26 GMT

PLAYERS' REACTION:NOT EVERYONE was quite so clear about the terminology that should be applied to Thierry Henry’s role in France all important extra-time goal last night at the Stade de France but as Richard Dunne took the first few steps out of the ground some 50 minutes after the final whistle, he had no doubt whatsoever about the what the French striker had been guilty of.

Henry admits handball but blames referee

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:26 GMT

THIERRY HENRY, the man whose handball effectively denied the Republic of Ireland a place at the World Cup finals, admitted afterwards that he had handled the ball but then put the blame on the referee.

Trapattoni blames referee

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:01:26 GMT

A DISAPPOINTED Giovanni Trapattoni gave a late and very brief press conference last night, at which he absolved Thierry Henry of blame for the controversial goal and laid the responsibilty at the the foot of Swedish referee Martin Hansson.