COME ON YOU GIRLS IN GREEN
THE heroics of Vera Pauw’s side place them in a recent but rich tradition of successful Irish women’s sporting teams.
Four women in a boat
GOLD for the men’s doubles crew was the Irish story of last year’s Olympics, but the bronze earned by the women’s four ranks as one of the great team successes in the history of Irish women in sport.
There had been hopes that the boat of Aifric Keogh, Eimear Lambe, Fiona Murtagh and Emily Hegarty could do themselves justice in Tokyo. Instead, they powered their way to a sensational achievement.
They were only the second Irish women’s boat to qualify for an Olympic final, and they produced a storming finish to take third place.
There is a danger that Irish podium places at international rowing championships are taken for granted, but the effort involved in competing against, let alone beating, powerhouses like the US, Britain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands is remarkable.
The unlikely Slam
A GIFTED generation inspired the Ireland women’s rugby team to two years of glorious success. But they also raised standards and expectations to such an extent that the failures and recrimination of last year constituted headline news.
If the current Ireland team show some signs of improvement, it will take a rare group to match what was achieved by Fiona Coghlan’s side between 2013 and 2015.
The big prize came first, a Grand Slam in 2013 that included a 25-0 defeat of England. The following year, they reached a World Cup quarter-final after beating New Zealand in their pool, and in 2015 they won a second championship in three years.
Along with Coghlan, Lynn Cantwell and Niamh Briggs were the leaders of a squad expertly coached by Philip Doyle.
Failing to build on their legacy has been a major disappointment – but recognising just how exceptional that generation of players was as important, too.
Hockey heroics
FOR a few days during that blistering summer, we were all hockey devotees.
Ireland’s journey to the final of the 2018 World Cup remains a wonder, even four years on.
They were perceived as no-hopers in a sport where Ireland’s international footprint barely made a mark. But two wins against India, one in their pool and another following a thrilling penalty shootout, set up a semi-final against Spain.
That went to penalties, too, and the hero was Irish keeper Ayeisha McFerran. Just as in the shoot-out against India, she saved three penalties against the Spaniards and set up a final against the raging favourites the Netherlands.
The dream ended in a 6-0 defeat, but the magnitude of Ireland’s success in getting so far assures that group of a long-lasting place in history.
Cork dynasty
DOMESTICALLY, there is simply nothing to compare to the Cork football side.
In black and white terms, the scale of their dominance can be gauged. After winning the county’s first All-Ireland title in 2005, the team went on to win a five in a row.
They were denied six by a shock loss to
Tyrone in the 2010 quarter-final, but promptly came back the following year and won the first of what would prove six in a row.
Their supremacy was based in a brilliant group that synched perfectly with their manager, the late Eamonn Ryan.
A side inspired by the talents of Briege Corkery, Rena Buckley and Valerie Mulcahy stand apart, but even within that select group, Corkery and Buckley are exceptional figures.
Along with their 11 senior football titles, they won seven with Cork in camogie, too.
Winning cycle
KATIE-GEORGE DUNLEVY and Eve McCrystal are a relentless success story.
A tandem pair, McCrystal is the pilot, Dunlevy an equal partner in the power and pain that has inspired some unforgettable days.
An Olympic double gold in the Tokyo Paralympics was the summit of their success – so far. That followed gold in Rio, as well as a silver in Tokyo and Rio, too.
Then there are the double-gold hauls at the Road World Championships of 2017 and 2018 to consider, not to mention another gold in the same event in 2019.
They account for days on the top step of the podium, but their partnership has also brought a flurry of silvers and bronzes.