Dundalk kick-off hectic weekend of sport in style
DUNDALK got the sporting weekend off to flying start with a 1-0 victory over UCD to secure an FAI Cup Final berth for a fourth year in a row.
A moment of magic from Patrick McEleney in the 41st minute was sufficient to ensure the Lilywhites are heading to the Aviva on the 4th Novemeber, their sights firmly set on securing another double.
Stephen Kenny’s men will have to wait however for another week or so to discover their opponents after Cork and Bohemians finished all square in Dalymount Park on Sunday evening.
Following last week’s 3-1 win over Derry City, Dundalk can officially confirm title number 13 when they host St Pat’s at Oriel Park on Friday.
On the same night at the opposite end of the county, Drogheda face Shelbourne in the first leg of the promotion playoffs at United Park before the return leg at Tolka Park the following Monday.
The winners then play Finn Harps over two legs. It’s a long hard road for Tim Clancy’s charges but they might just be coming into form at the right time.
Golf galore
THE weekend TV was dominated by coverage of the Ryder Cup in Paris. Rory McIlroy was the sole Irish player in the group but Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell acted as vice captains to Thomas Bjorn.
The Americans got off to a flyer in Friday morning fourballs and led 3-1 at the end of the first session but Europe came roaring back after lunch claiming their first ever clean sweep in the afternoon foursomes.
That 5-3 lead set the tone for Saturday’s matches with the scoreboard turning blue for most of the morning.
Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth secured Team USA’s only point of the morning as they eventually stopped the rot with a 2 & 1 victory over Poulter and Rahm.
The afternoon session was drawn 2-2 but 10-6 looked like a very strong position for Europe and the tournament was theirs to lose.
Although the Americans closed the gap to a single point with Tony Finau’s 6 & 4 defeat of the previously imperious Tommy Fleetwood, there was more than enough blue on the board in the other matches to see Thomas Bjorn’s men comfortably home by seven points.
The winning captain’s picks (Paul Casey, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson) all played their part in the victory but pride of place went to Francesco Molinari who claimed a record 5 points.
Jim Furyk’s team appeared out of sorts with three of his picks, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, failing to register a single point.
The show moves to Wisconsin in two years time with Whistling Straits hosting the 2020 event. There was a strong rumour doing the rounds on Sunday night that Ireland were pushing hard to secure the tournament in 2026 with JP McManus’ recently reopened Adare Manor being mooted as a possible venue.
The Limerick man was in the news last week for generously donating €3.2 million to the country’s GAA clubs.
Decided
THE pairing for this years Joe Ward Cup final were decided at the weekend with Naomh Martin and Newtown Blues both recording comprehensive victories over St Pats and Dreadnots respectively.
Both semi-finals were extremely disappointing affairs with the pre-match favourites running away with both games.
While I thought the Jocks would have too much legs for St Pats, I did expect Clogherhead to give a better account of themselves against the champions.
This is a first ever senior championship final appearance for Monasterboice and it’s a testament to all the hard work put-in at juvenile level over the last few years. Anything can happen in a final but its very hard to look beyond the Blues on their current form.
Dunne well
FINALLY a quick mention for former Geraldines and Rock Celtic player Jimmy Dunne who got on the scoresheet with Scottish league leaders Hearts in their 2-1 win against St Johnstone as the Edinburgh club maintained their five point lead at the top of the table.
Former Dundalk striker Dave McMillan featured up front for St Johnstone. 20 year old Dunne from Blackrock is on a six month loan from his club Burnley but his recent performances will surely have Hearts manager Craig Levein bidding to extend the deal.
The big central defender might also come onto Martin O Neill’s radar as the Ireland manager prepares for upcoming fixtures against Denmark, Wales and Northern Ireland over the next few months.