TheCity

Tag: Donal Lucey

  • Your guide to the cricket bandwagon

    Ireland Cricket
    (picture by Wikipedia – Nev1)

    By Donal Lucey

    Ireland yet again took the Cricket World Cup by storm last night with a brilliant display against the West Indies. Just like in Bangalore four years ago, Ireland chased down a total of over 300 to secure a four-wicket victory over one of the big test nations.

    Ireland have been here before: in 2007 it was Pakistan, while in 2011 it was England who suffered at the hands of the boys in green. Social media erupted last night with praise coming from both at home and abroad. It looks like cricket will once again become a national sport, for the couple of weeks the tournament lasts anyway.

    If you were delighted to hear about Ireland’s victory without having a clue what was going, rest assured, you weren’t the only one. Before Ireland’s next game against the UAE, where they will be looking to further their ambitions of a quarter final place, it’s time to get up to speed.

    For your convenience, the city.ie is here to provide a simple guide to how it all works!

    What is a One Day International?
    A One Day International is match played over the course of one day, between two teams of 11 players. The match is made up of two innings and each team takes a turn at batting and bowling. An inning is made up of 50 overs, an over is six legal balls.

    What is a Powerplay?
    Each bowler can only bowl a maximum of ten overs each meaning you will need at least five bowlers in your team. In this one day format the bowling side is also subjected to something called powerplays. Powerplays dictate the maximum number of fielders allowed outside the inner 30-yard circle at any given time.

    In the first 10 overs of an innings, only two fielders can be placed outside the circle. During the second five-over restriction, known as the batting powerplay, the fielding team can only have three fielders outside the circle. The batting captain chooses when this happens.

    How do you win?
    The innings ends after 50 overs have been bowled or earlier if the team batting is “All Out” (that is, 10 of the 11 batting players get out).

    Basically, the team batting second needs to score more than the first team in order to win. If they can’t overtake the score in their allocated overs, or if they are bowled All Out, the first team wins. If both teams finish on the exact same number of runs, the match is a tie.

    Why should you watch?
    Past Irish victories have been considered huge upsets but this time was very different. Why? Because if you asked anyone close to the Irish team, or indeed any journalists and pundits that follow the sport, they would have said that they were confident of beating the West Indies.

    For them it wasn’t about upsetting a bigger team. It was about executing their tactics, playing to their ability and securing a comfortable ability. Based on their performance, the Irish will make it to at least the Quarters-Final and have every chance of progressing further. The Irish public has a great history of getting behind Irish teams and even in the midst of six nations hysteria, this cricket team deserve that same recognition.

  • Settlement reached in McIlroy case

    Settlement reached in McIlroy case

    The Rory Mcilroy versus Horizon Sports Management case was due to tee off at 11am on Wednesday, but the crowds were already gathering outside the Four Courts almost an hour before. A throng of media were ready to greet golf’s golden boy. Photographers were scattered about the entrance, all looking for the optimal position for their shot.

    An excited chatter broke out as a car approached from down the street. The photographers moved down looking for a better angle of the approaching star. Unfortunately, it was not the world-number-one arriving but instead they had been tricked by someone cheekily waving a cardboard cut out of Mcilroy.

    At 11am, and with no Mcilroy in sight, the general consensus seemed to be that he would not be coming. Word quickly spread that the sides had reached an agreement the night before. The crowds made their way into the small courtroom and the jostling began to get the prime spot. The public gallery was full to the brim and even the jury’s box had been taken over by dutiful reporters.

    Judge Brian Cregan entered from his chamber and everyone rose. Horizon’s barrister stood, as the rest of the room took their seats, and revealed the worst kept secret of the day. The two parties had agreed a settlement.

    Just like that, a dispute that was expected to last eight weeks and cost millions in lost sponsorship deals for McIlroy, was over in about two minutes. Cregan called an end to the briefest of hearings and congratulated both parties wishing them success in the future.

    The courtroom was abuzz with conversation once more, the small gathering of reporters eagerly scribbling, typing and tweeting their updates. The race had begun to break the news. Connor Ridge breathed a big sigh of relief as handshakes were shared and backs were patted.

    Mr Ridge, who was flanked by supporters in the public gallery, hugged and kissed them after the announcement was made.

    Copies of a joint statement were being snatched up and luckily thecity.ie were one of the lucky few to get our hands on one. It read:

    “The legal dispute between Rory Mcilroy and Horizon Sports Management has been settled to the satisfaction of both parties who wish each other the best in the future. The parties will be making no further comment.”

    The crowds began to slowly file out the doors of court one and into the awaiting lobby. There was a sense of disappointment among the reports, a case that attracted many eyeballs was over before it had ever really started. Eavesdropping on conversations and phone calls, one word was being constantly used – anticlimactic.

    Then just like that, something clicked, and droves of reporters rushed towards the main doors. The Horizon legal team, along with Connor Ridge, were departing. The ‘scrum’ descended on the group as they made their way down the steps. Cameras clicked all around them as they tried to walk on through the chorus of voices that had greeted them.

    The brief statement was read out for the press and then the group took their leave up the street. Some members of the scrum followed them. This was the last chance to squeeze something out of the story – to get that quote, or photograph before it was old news.

    After a few minutes, calmness resumed outside the Four Courts. Most had left at this stage, on to their next assignment, but some stayed to film their reports. The next time Mcilroy is mentioned in the press, his dispute with Horizon will probably be long forgotten, and all the focus will be on the upcoming Masters.

    By Donal Lucey

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    https://twitter.com/donaltlucey/status/562931902227959808

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    A photo posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Feb 4, 2015 at 5:02am PST

  • McIlroy’s case set to tee off at 11am on Wednesday

     

     

    Rory_McIlroy_watches_drive_flight_(portrait_orientation)

    (Image by Mark Shierbecker/Wikimedia)

    By Donal Lucey

    The first major of the season, the Masters, is just nine weeks away but world number 1 Rory Mcilroy must first face a tough battle in the High Court.

    The multi-million euro case involving the golfer and the Horizon management firm was set to begin this morning but has been further deferred until 11am.

    Fresh from his weekend victory in Dubai, Mcilroy is suing his former management company and is in turn being counter-sued by them after an acrimonious split in 2013.

    McIlroy joined Horizon’s stable of golfers – which also included fellow-major champion Graeme McDowell – in December 2011 and, in March 2013, he signed an extended contract that would take him up to 2017.

    But Mcilroy now claims that he was just 22 when he signed with the firm, without the benefit of legal advice and for this reason the agreement must be unenforceable. The defendants deny his claims and estimate they are owed up to $9 million.

    Barring a deal being struck McIlroy will be in court but it is likely to be Thursday at the earliest before the world No1 takes to the witness box.

    Stay tuned to thecity.ie for any further updates on the case.

     

  • Liverpool vs Chelsea – Three of the Best

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    Net photo

    Liverpool and Chelsea meet tonight at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final. Tempers flared between Diego Costa and Jordan Henderson during last week’s 1-1 draw at Anfield and with the added tension from the astonishing FA Cup results at the weekend, both sides will have plenty to prove.

     Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from an embarrassing defeat to Bradford City on Saturday, where they not only let a two goal lead slip  but also conceded four goals. Mourinho has said he was ashamed of the result against their League One opposition and has called on the players and fans to do more.

     “If Stamford Bridge can give us 25 percent of the emotion Anfield gave Liverpool. I think we can do it”.

     Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool side will be hoping to continue their mid-season renaissance. With the criticism he has come into this season with his side’s league and Champions League form, Rodgers could restore a lot of faith by guiding Liverpool to Wembley.

     The two sides have a recent history for producing memorable moments in cup competitions and here, thecity.ie take a look at three of their best ecnounters.

     Liverpool 2 – 3 Chelsea (aet)

    27 Feb 2005 League Cup final at the Millennium Stadium

     

    Jose Mourinho’s first piece of silverware as Chelsea manager came courtesy of an extraordinary Carling Cup final success over Liverpool at the Millenium Stadium. Mourinho, and Rafa Benitez, had arrived in English football in the summer of 2004 and the “Special One” immediately initialised a move for Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard – creating serious animosity between the clubs.

     The lasting memory of that Cup final for most people will be Steven Gerrard’s own-goal that took the tie to extra-time, following an early John Arne Riise goal for Liverpool.

     Liverpool 1 – 0 Chelsea

    3 May 2005 Champions League semi-final, second leg at Anfield

     This was the year Liverpool famously came back from three-nil down to upset AC Milan and win their fifth European Cup after a penalty shoot-out. But what they sometimes forget is that Liverpool also went through an extraordinarily tight semi-final with Chelsea.

     The difference between those two side came down to Luis Garcia’s “ghost goal”.

     Chelsea 4 – 4  Liverpool (aet)

    14 March 2009 Champions League quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge

     The teams met once again in the Champions League, this time in the last eight of the 2008/09 competition, with Chelsea holding a 3-1 advantage from the first leg. Rafa Benitez’s side were looking to stage another remarkable comeback win and seemed to be on their way when Fabio Aurelio and Xabi Alonso gave them a 2-0 half-time lead.

     It was not to be for the Reds, however. Didier Drogba, Alex and Frank Lampard hit back for the home side and ,in doing so, ended Liverpool’s hopes of another Champions League semi-final.

    Tuesday, 27th January By:  Dónal Lucey