TheCity

Tag: Sport

  • Ireland U21’s European Dream Ends, but Strong Foundations Are Set for the Future 

    Ireland U21’s European Dream Ends, but Strong Foundations Are Set for the Future 

    By Sandra Dudkiewicz

    Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the UEFA U21 European Championship were dashed after a 1-1 draw against Italy in Trieste.  

    Ireland previously drew 1-1 with Norway on October 11, with Sean Roughan scoring for Ireland, only to see their lead vanish with a last-minute equaliser by Andreas Schjelderup. This result added more pressure as the Irish needed a strong finish against Italy.   

    Ireland’s Andrew Moran scored the crucial equaliser in the 66th minute, after Italy had taken an early lead through Cesare Casadei. Despite the draw, Italy booked their place in the 2025 European Championship that will take place in Slovakia. 

    Italy’s missed penalty in the first half by Gnonto, along with other squandered opportunities, gave Ireland hope, but they were unable to find that crucial second goal. 

    Ireland’s U21 team may have missed out on qualification for the 2025 UEFA European Championship, but their journey was filled with standout performances. 

    The boys in green opened the qualifiers with a 3-0 victory over San Marino in September 2023, with Sean Roughan and Sinclair Armstrong contributing key goals and a 3-2 win over Turkey in June. 

    Scoreboard: RTE

    The Republic of Ireland U21 team concluded their UEFA European Championship qualifying campaign in third place, level with Norway on 19 points, but missing out on the playoffs due to goal difference. 

    They recorded 5 wins, 4 draws, and 1 loss across 10 matches, scoring 24 goals and conceding 12, for a goal difference of +12. 

    Bristol City player and Republic of Ireland international, Sinclair Armstrong said: “The unity and mentality within the group was incredibly strong, largely due to the belief that Jim Crawford instilled in us which is that we could win every game.” 

    “We went toe-to-toe with big nations, and we didn’t shy away from any challenge, from any fight and we gave it 100 percent. For the experience to end so early is very disappointing but it has been unbelievable, we got to travel to so many different countries and experience different cultures in the process and it’s something I will never forget,” he continued. 

    Sinclair Armstrong (9)  Photo Via Instagram

    Armstrong received his first call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad on September 8, 2023, for their UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands and made his senior debut on September 10, 2023. 

    While the Republic of Ireland team fell short of qualification for the UEFA U21 European Championship, their solid third-place finish and impressive performances throughout the qualifiers sets a promising foundation for the future. 

  • Surge in Off-the-Ball Incidents in GAA Sparks Concern at Underage Level 

    Surge in Off-the-Ball Incidents in GAA Sparks Concern at Underage Level 

    By Jason Quigley

    In recent months, GAA matches across the country, particularly at juvenile level, have seen a worrying increase in off-the-ball incidents.  

    These occurrences, ranging from pushing and shoving, to more aggressive acts – have marred what should be a showcase of youthful talent and the spirit of fair play.  

    As tensions rise, so too has the involvement of parents and spectators, often leading to chaotic scenes on the sideline. 

    One individual who has witnessed this growing issue firsthand is John O’ Shea, former Public Relations Officer (PRO) for West Tipperary GAA. 

    John, a well-respected figure within the GAA community, believes that this current trend is deeply concerning and calls for immediate action, both from the GAA and the coaches overseeing these young teams. John expressed his frustration over the lack of concrete measures to curb these incidents. 

    “What we’re seeing now is not just the odd scuffle or disagreement. It’s consistent, particularly in juvenile games. I’ve seen parents running onto the pitch, furious over a referee’s decision, and that only escalates the situation. The referees are doing their best, but they are often left vulnerable.” 

    He recounted several matches where tempers flared beyond control, not just between the players but also among the supporters.

    Under 14 Hurling match fight. Mitchelstown v St Vincents. Pictures: @CraicOfTheAsh on twitter 

    “I was at a minor match a few weeks ago,” John said, “and after one controversial call by the referee, a parent stormed onto the field. It led to complete chaos—players were getting distracted, coaches were shouting, and the focus shifted from the game to the argument. This shouldn’t be happening, especially with kids on the field.” 

    John believes that a lack of discipline and respect for match officials is a core reason behind the rise in such incidents. However, he also feels that the GAA itself needs to take a firmer stance. 

    “The GAA has been slow to address this. We need more accountability from the top down. Stronger penalties for violent conduct and off-the-ball incidents need to be enforced consistently across all levels of the game. It’s not enough to just talk about it anymore. We need action.” 

    However, John is quick to point out that responsibility also lies with the coaching staff. He believes that some of the pressure to win, particularly in competitive juvenile games, is being projected onto young players in a negative way. 

    “Coaches need to remember that their role is to develop these players—not just in terms of skill but also in terms of attitude and sportsmanship. When coaches are constantly shouting and criticising officials, that behaviour gets transferred to the players, and they start seeing it as acceptable. It’s a vicious cycle, and it’s happening far too often,” John said. 

    Patrick Ryan,  who has been refereeing GAA games for over 30 years, says he’s very concerned about the rise of violence at matches. 

    Referee Patrick Ryan (middle) at a semifinal county minor game. Picture: West Tipperary GAA 

    “There’s a shortage of referees at the moment, and this kind of behaviour only discourages them further. If we lose more referees, we lose games. It’s that simple,” he says 

    While the GAA continues to promote respect, discipline, and a love of the game through its “Give Respect, Get Respect” campaign, Patrick insists that more needs to be done at the grassroots level. In particular, he suggests that educational programs for both coaches and parents should be implemented, alongside increased security measures at games to ensure safety for all involved. 

    “As the GAA community reflects on the escalating issues, the message is clear: the future of the sport at minor and juvenile levels is at stake, and immediate action is required to preserve the core values of the game.” 

  • Leinster Maintain Perfect Form with Win Against Connacht 

    Leinster Maintain Perfect Form with Win Against Connacht 

    By Jessica Lee

    Leinster have kept their perfect record in the United Rugby Championship (URC), with a stunning bonus-point 33-12 win over a strong Connacht side in Galway on Saturday night.  

    Coming off the back of their win against Munster in a sold-out Croke Park last weekend, the boys in blue made a fast start to the game, with Jamie Osborne scoring a try in the seventh minute and was quickly followed by Ciaran Frawley kicking the conversion. 

    Despite Connacht’s defense holding firm against Leinster’s strong efforts, Liam Turner scored a try just minutes later, and the kick was converted. 

    Ciarán Frawley suffered an ankle injury during the buildup to Turners try and was replaced by Ross Byrne.   

    An injured Frawley will be a concern for Irish Rugby manager Andy Farrell, as Leinster are set to face New Zealand in the Aviva Stadium in three weeks’ time.  

    Leinster Captain James Ryan appeared to have scored a try; however, it was later disallowed due to accidental offside when Ryan received the ball and Connacht were awarded the scrum. 

    Connacht finally got into the game at the 33rd minute, after a scrappy tackle on the try line with Sean O’Brien getting the score.  

    World Cup winner and South African native, RG Snyman, got Leinster’s third try after gathering a loose ball just before half time, with Ross Byrne adding two points to Leinster’s advantage.  

    Just five minutes into the second half, Leinster further proved their dominance over the home side as flanker Max Deegan scored their fourth try for the bonus point. 

    Connacht returned from half time hungry to get scores on the board but struggled to get through the robust Leinster defense. However, a try from Cathal Forde came in the 64th minute and the conversion was scored by Josh Ioane.  

    This small win for Connacht was short lived, as just minutes later Andrew Osborne ripped up the wing to catch Byrne’s kick from the restart and scoring the final try of the game.  

    With 10 minutes left on the clock, Connacht desperately tried to close the gap, but it was too little, too late. The score was 12-33 to Leinster when the final whistle blew.  

    This is Leinster’s second consecutive inter-provincial victory so far in this URC campaign, with RG Snyman receiving player of the match for his performance. 

    Connacht: P O’Conor; S Bolton, D Hawkshaw (C Forde 62), B Aki, S Cordero (H Gavin 59); J Ioane, B Murphy (C Blade 56); D Buckley (P Dooley 52), D Heffernan (D Tierney-Martin 56), F Bealham (J Aungier 52); J Joyce (N Murray 52), D Murray; C Prendergast (c), S O’Brien (S Jansen 56), P Boyle. 

    Leinster: H Keenan; L Turner (H Cooney 74), G Ringrose, J Osborne, A Osborne; C Frawley (R Byrne 17), J Gibson-Park (F Gunne 71); J Boyle (A Porter 44), G McCarthy (S Smith 74), R Slimani (T Clarkson 44); RG Snyman (B Deeny 70), J Ryan (c); M Deegan, W Connors (S Penny 59), J Culhane. 

    Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) 

  • German Champions Leverkusen frustrated by Holstein in shock draw

    German Champions Leverkusen frustrated by Holstein in shock draw

    By Ethan McDonagh

    Last weekend, Bayer Leverkusen took on newly promoted Holstein Kiel in the side’s first ever league meeting, in what was expected to be a strong win for the home side.  

    Leverkusen fan takes part in passionate pre-match anthem – Photo: Ethan McDonagh

    Holstein are playing their first top division German soccer since before the second World War and were expected to be beaten heavily.  

    However, Holstein had other ideas and despite being two goals down after eight minutes, they fought back to earn a draw.  

    Die Werkself came flying out at the start of the game, with Nigerian international Victor Boniface opening the scoring after just four minutes by placing a low driven shot past the keeper, whose touch wasn’t enough to prevent it from going in.  

    Things got even better for Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso’s team in the eighth minute, with winger Jonas Hoffmann doubling the advantage with an accurate strike into the bottom left corner – after Holstein failed to properly clear the ball from a Boniface effort on target.  

    It looked like the game was going to be out of sight for the weekend in the 26th minute, when Boniface put another shot past Timon Weiner in goal – only for his effort to be ruled out for offside by the Video Assistant Referee.  

    At this point, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Leverkusen scored more and would secure an easy victory. However, the Holstein players managed to improve their defending and keep Leverkusen’s chances to a minimum.  

    Then, just before half-time, the away side had a rare venture into the champion’s half and managed to get a goal back, with Max Geschwill powering the ball home with his shoulder following an excellent corner delivery by Lewis Holtby.  

    The pattern of play that saw Leverkusen as the team holding possession of the ball continued into the second half, as the hosts tried everything to break down the compact defending from the visitors.  

    A major shock occurred in the 68th minute, when Armin Gigovic managed to break past the Leverkusen defenders into the box and was brought down for a penalty by Jeremie Frimpong, who mistimed his challenge.  

    Jann-Fiete Arp kept his composure from the resulting spot-kick and sent Lukas Hradecky the wrong way, to bring The Storks back on level terms.  

    The remaining 25 or so minutes of the match was spent with Leverkusen in possession of the ball outside of Kiel’s box, as they desperately tried to retake the lead. 

    Try as they might, they were unable to breach the compact defence and were only able to go close on few occasions.  

    The Holstein players used every trick in the book to see out the result, from feigning an injury, to keeping the ball in the corner of the pitch for the remainder of the game.  

    They rewarded their excellent travelling away fans who were loud all game, with just their second point of the season as they try to avoid immediate relegation back to the second tier of German football. 

    Holstein have now conceded 19 goals in just 6 matches and will need to improve their defensive record if they are to have any chance of surviving in the topflight of German football.  

    Leverkusen on the other hand, have had quite a mixed start to their defence of the Bundesliga title season – having taken just 11 points from the opening six games, with three wins, two draws and one defeat.  

    They have however, already won the German Super Cup against Stuttgart and are perfect in the Champions League, having won their opening two fixtures against Feyenoord and Milan. 

    The atmosphere at the game was exceptional, with both sets of fans doing German soccer justice and living up to being some of the most passionate sports fans from across the globe.  

    Here’s a short video of some footage to capture the experience

  • COMMENT: Irish Rugby – Success-fuelled or another Irish sporting staple?

    by Ultán Corcoran

    Ireland is a nation that continues to have an evergreen love affair with sports. Although not always rosy, recent decades have witnessed a lot of success across several fronts. Having demographically surpassed the five million mark for the first time since the mid-19th century famine, we’re still minnows when compared to other nations. However, in a sporting context we punch well above our weight.

    From Katie Taylor to Conor McGregor, Rachel Blackmore to Roy Keane – superstars endlessly drip fed onto the world’s main sporting stages. As for our team’s supporters, we’ve developed quite a strong reputation. Take the Irish soccer fans who were awarded the Medal of the City of Paris for exemplary sportsmanship in EURO 2016. Or when McGregor’s fans flooded the Las Vegas Boulevard ahead of his UFC 194 title fight. However, one sport has catapulted Ireland to lofty levels of glory in recent years: rugby.

    Yet, in terms of popularity, it ranks behind sports like Gaelic football, hurling, and soccer. But has Irish rugby’s sporting fortune garnered more attention for itself? I live in Phibsborough, Dublin. Far from a rugby stronghold when compared with that of Gaelic games or soccer with Na Fianna and Bohemians FC on its doorstep. But I decided to conduct a 35-participant strong straw poll amongst people in their 20s and 30s. With the aim of seeing if Ireland’s recent rugby successes have impacted or influenced people’s views on the game.

    STRAW POLL:
    Q: Rank your interest in club and international rugby on a scale of 1 (no interest) to 5 (strong interest).
    A: Over 50% of participants ranked themselves at four – Reasonable interest.
    Q: What’s your earliest memory of Irish rugby?
    A: Some participants mentioned the first Ireland game they attended. For others, individual moments like Shane Horgan’s 2007 try against England in Croke Park’s Canal End which hosted home games in the Six Nations that year. However, over 40% alluded to Ronan O’Gara’s drop goal in the Ireland v Wales Six Nations game in 2009. This sequence clinched a first Irish Grand Slam title in 61 years.
    Q: Does Irish Rugby’s recent successes encourage your level of interest and support?
    A: Close to 70% of responses indicated a clear yes. Reasons behind this include increased publicity regarding the team, and the enjoyment garnered from watching a winning Irish side.

    It comes without surprise that the national games which make up the GAA rule the sporting roost in Ireland. It’s a symbol of pride and passion in most towns, villages, and cities across the country. Football is the world’s most popular sport. Given our proximity to England at its Premier League, as well as Irish ties to Celtic in Scotland, it naturally comes second. While the Republic of Ireland national team has encountered less success in recent decades, its glory years immortalised the sport here forever.

    The period between 1986 and 2002, often referred to as “the golden generation”, sparked excitement in Ireland. With three World Cup tournament qualifications, and one European Championships, the Irish public greatly celebrated these achievements. An estimated 500,000 people took to Dublin’s streets to congratulate Jack’s Army on their return home – that famous Irish team who reached the quarter finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Pandemonium at its finest, us Irish have always been rightfully guilty of succumbing to the magnetic force of success. While there always were staunch football fans in Ireland, it’s safe to assume those Irish teams forged a lot of new ones too.

    What is commonly referred to as ‘fair-weather support’ in sports worldwide, some people will naturally gravitate towards glory. This is not to say they should’ve been fans ahead of the upwards curve. But perhaps they may not have supported a team if not for said success. Irish international rugby has seen a rise in glory akin to the Irish football sides of old.

    One could say modern Irish rugby came of age in 2009. Having never won a Six Nations since the addition of Italy in 2000, the Grand Slam winning side of 2009 changed that. They’ve added three more titles since, one as recently as 2018. Multiple player inclusions in the British & Irish Lions tours, test series victories away to South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand have all been achieved since that iconic 2009 title-clinching O’Gara drop goal. Lest we forget it took 111 years to get our first win over the All Blacks. Both Jonathan Sexton and Josh van der Flier have picked up World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year accolades in 2018 and 2022 respectively. But does this resonate with fans in the same way Irish Football’s golden generation of the 80s and 90s did?

    An interesting observation from poll responses presents questions over club rugby’s marketability. Those poll participants who ranked themselves at four – reasonable interest, stated their attention peaked for international occasions like World Cups and Six Nations. Club rugby seemingly left in the cold. Yet, our four provincial teams, Leinster, Munster, Ulster, and Connacht equally boast strong to moderate levels of success. While at the same time make up national team numbers who wear the green jersey.

    Maybe this neglect of our provincial sides will change soon. Formula 1’s support has soared recently thanks to behind-the-scenes access and documentaries. Perhaps Netflix’s newly announced series on Irish Rugby, scheduled for release in 2024, will cast rugby’s popularity net even wider than before. Although not entirely conclusive from the relatively small sample, it’s fair to say sporting success draws eyes and ears. Correlation between title-winning moments and appetite for success is apparent amongst the younger generation. The 2023 Six Nations is underway as this article goes out. The Irish team are favourites to win the title. Andy Farrell’s charges sit pretty, ranked as World Rugby’s Number 1 side.

    There’s the small matter of a Rugby World Cup in 8 months’ time too. Maybe, just maybe, this Irish Rugby team will pull crowds akin to the Italia 90 masses onto the streets in a not-too-distant future. Some old heads, but many new.

  • Scenes from the FAI Cup Final

    Derry City and Shelbourne played out this season’s FAI Cup Final with the favorites Derry winning 3-0. A largely uneventful contest was held in front of a fantastic crowd of 32,412 at the Aviva Stadium. Here are some photos describing the day.

    Derry fans (left) Siofra Mcgonigle (middle) Tommy owns (right) Niall O’ Connor making their way to the Final via Tara Street train station
    Arriving at Lansdowne Road
    Alannah Clarke arriving at the Aviva Stadium as the atmosphere start to heat up
    The iconic pub The Bridge, a stone's-throw away from the Aviva Stadium was packed with supporters from both clubs before kickoff.
    Hats, flags, and headbands on sale for both clubs on the way to the Aviva stadium. Something synonymous with the FAI Cup Final
    Crowds start to queue up at the turnstiles to enter the stadium before the proceedings get underway.
    Shelbourne warm up in front of their supporters as the atmosphere begins to build.
    Shelbourne supporters’ message to the players as they head into the dressing room before kick-off.
    It wouldn’t feel like an FAI cup final without some flares being lit.
    Derry City’s end try to match the Shelbourne flare show.
    In a quite poor match Derry City beat Shelbourne 4-0. While the opening minutes were largely enjoyable once Derry scored their first goal.
    Getting home after the game is always tough, it does however help when the train-station is right next to the stadium even if it is as busy as this.

  • The uncrowned mascot of the Qatar World Cup- “Metro Guy”

     

    A Kenyan man gets hired for a security job at the World Cup but instead has to give directions to tourists and fans. He goes viral on TikTok just for saying ‘Metro.’ ‘This Way.’

    By Nimra Ahmed 

    Abubakr Abbass, a 23-year-old from Mombasa Kenya, whose job is to direct World Cup fans in Doha, Qatar to a metro station, in the historic market of Souq Waqif has gone viral on social media. 

    He feels God had a greater purpose for him. He was excited about the World Cup and had always wanted to travel to a foreign country. So, Abbass applied for the advertised security job. He nearly missed the interview in Nairobi, Kenya because he was informed of the job a day before the deadline.

    As luck would have it, the job was his. However, when he reached Qatar, he was informed he would give fans directions to the metro station. Even though it wasn’t the job he had applied for, Abbass still decided to take it. 

    Abbass, in a reflector coat, sits in a tennis umpire chair and has a large purple foam finger. His job is to direct hundreds of people to the nearby metro station with the help of his megaphone. 

    Abubakr Abbass,“Metro Guy”- courtesy of mozzartsport

    He became an overnight social media sensation because he found an ingenious and interesting way to direct fans to the nearby metro station. His job was mundane, but he put a twist on it, and he caught the world’s attention. 

    A clip of him is even found on the FIFA World Cup’s Twitter page. Every time he says ‘Metro’, fans from different countries either repeat after him or chant, ‘This way!’.

    https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1595961490380828672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595961490380828672%7Ctwgr%5E5894b02c4705bb498881ea45a374df967f3a7896%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsroompost.com%2Fsports%2Ffifa-world-cup-2022-kenyan-man-goes-viral-for-showing-way-to-doha-metro-watch%2F5211861.html

    The way he says, ‘Metro’. ‘This way’. ‘Metro’. ‘This way,’ has now become a catchphrase. Fans are recording videos and posting them on social media platforms.

    @chappzz

    Meet the viral metro man 👨 #qatar🇶🇦 #fifaworldcup2022 #metro #thisway #viral #vedio #guy @metro_man001 ♥️😂

    ♬ original sound – Shafla Imthiyaz

    ‘Metro Guy’, as he is now referred to, has captivated audiences with his enthusiastic calls. TikTok videos were posted showing him in action. #metroguy and #metroman, as he is dubbed, has been viewed 12.4 million times on TikTok. He brings a smile to everyone’s face and cheers everyone in person and online. 

    “Qatar has managed to make us laugh!”

    Cindy Taylor, 19, a student from Dublin. 

    The TikTok account ‘metro_man001’ that he started on Monday 21st November 2022 (on the second day of work) already  has 46,100 followers in just three days and has made Kenya, a country in East Africa, popular. Tourists and football fans are even trying to mimic his catchphrase into his own megaphone.

    He made his TikTok account after gaining popularity. #Metro Guy is busy doing his job while a Brazilian fan copies his actions and records a video.

    https://www.tiktok.com/@metroguy00/video/7169317941433912582?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

    His employers felt the need to award him for his efforts, as he was in the limelight of the world stage and had drawn attention to the area. He was presented with gifts – a pair of sneakers and World Cup merchandise. He is touched by this gesture and notes that he was never given a gift in his life.

    https://www.tiktok.com/@arsenal.champion/video/7169364482873969921?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7169364482873969921&lang=en

    Have you heard of the ‘Metro Guy’ in Qatar? 

    “Yeah, I have seen his TikToks. He is hilarious and he does a good job of lightening the mood. I want to go to Qatar just to feel the ambiance of the place and be a part of #metroman’s day! We all need some good old-fashioned laughs,” commented Steve Byrne, 22, a student from Dublin. 

    “Qatar has managed to make us laugh! In all the somber and serious allegations against Qatar about the bad treatment of workers, here is a simple man breathing fun into his job. In today’s fast-paced life, we just don’t have the time to appreciate the small things,” said Cindy Taylor, 19, a student from Dublin. 

    “There is a lot of controversy surrounding the World Cup. I can’t wrap my head around it. But there is, hope ‘Metro Guy’ lives.”, said Oliver Wilson, 28, a tourist in Dublin.

    The official mascot is La’eeb which means ‘super-skilled player’. It is a ghutra – the Arabic term for a headdress for men – popular in Arab countries. But Abbass is the uncrowned mascot of  the Qatar World Cup! 

    This can be motivating for young people to take their jobs seriously no matter how small and try to enjoy the task at hand and be innovative at the same time. Some amusement at the end of the day for tired tourists!

  • Duggan looks back on 2022 season following All-Star nomination

    Duggan looks back on 2022 season following All-Star nomination

    By Johnathon Pearl

    Meath Ladies GAA footballer Emma Duggan was nominated for the 2022 TG4 Player’ Player of the Year award, following a stellar season. 

    Despite her success at both club and county level, Duggan was pipped to the award by Donegal’s Niamh McLoughlin.

    Duggan – who is clubmates with previous POTY winner, and current AFL player Vicki Wall – starred as Meath completed back-to-back All-Ireland wins beating Kerry. An icon in football in Ireland, Duggan kicked 1-12 in this year’s championship.

    Reflecting on the year, Duggan expressed her delight at starring in another All-Ireland final.

    ‘’It was just great to be back on that stage competing for another All-Ireland. I would say a lot of people had sort of wondered if we could do it again after being a bit of a surprise package last year,” Duggan said.

    “We weren’t really playing as well as we could have, certainly at the start of the year, but as the year went on, we got better and better.”

    Meath’s All-Ireland bid had stuttered with a draw to Armagh, meaning they would face Galway in the quarter-final in Tullamore. With less than 10 seconds left on the clock and the game level, Duggan stepped up and scored a ‘buzzer beater’ point to win the game.

    ‘’It was a great win in Tullamore, we always knew that Galway were going to be such a tough team to play against and it went right down to the wire,” Duggan said.

    “The ball kind of just came to me and I didn’t really have a lot of time to think about what I was going to do with it, I was just delighted when I saw it went over, even though it held in the air for a long time,” she added.

    Beating Donegal in the semi final set up a clash with Kerry in the final, which Meath would later win in style. Duggan’s well rounded performance contributed to their nine-point win.

    ‘’Kind of like our year, we got better as the game went on. We obviously didn’t start well but the goals in the second half gave us a bit of a cushion,” Duggan said.

    ‘’I remember having the ball as the clock was ticking down. Honestly, it’s one of the best feelings ever to know all the hard work has paid off.”

    Following the Championship success, Duggan also won her first Senior Division One league title, beating Donegal on a scoreline of 2-8 to 1-9. It completed all the accolades she could win after winning both trophies at Junior and Intermediate levels.

    ‘’The league was a weird one because we were coming back from being All-Ireland champions. We had two great games with Dublin and then a really close battle with Donegal in the final,” Duggan said.

    After the Inter-County season, Duggan won her third Meath ladies final in a row with her local club Dunboyne, scoring 1-9 in the decider. A hectic season came to an end, finishing with her third title.

    Duggan told thecity.ie of her delight at winning yet another County title: 

    ‘’To win three-in-a-row with Dunboyne was a special feeling. We weren’t great in the final, but we got the job done against a really good Dunshaughlin team and that’s all that matters.”

  • I believe there is a long career in this game for me,” young snooker star Aaron Hill speaks about life in snooker.

    I believe there is a long career in this game for me,” young snooker star Aaron Hill speaks about life in snooker.

    By Rory Merriman

    Nicknamed “De breeze”, Aaron hill is a 20-year-old professional snooker player from county Cork. Born on February 28th 2002, he entered the world with a fierce thirst for the game of snooker, proving his abilities from a very young age.

    Aaron Hill in action

    “I was in every sport you could think of from the age of four to sixteen. I knew it was time to fully commit to snooker when at the age of 16, I finished number 1 (ranking) in Ireland, senior level and won the u18 European title in the same year. It was then I realised I could potentially be a professional; I am now and hopefully I won’t look back,” added Hill.

    Starting at the limber age of twelve, Hill was quite a late bloomer on the snooker scene. “I always watched it on TV and my dad always said he’d bring me for a game once I got tall enough to see over the table,” said Hill.

    He began fighting professionally in 2020 and has won the European Championship three times. He defeated England’s Hayden Staniland to win the EBSA European Under-21 Snooker Championships in March 2020. His victory earned him a two-year World Snooker Tour card for the seasons 2020–2021 and 2021–2022. 

    De Breeze has made his mark on the snooker world tour since entering the scene. In the round of 64 of the 2020 European Masters, the native of Ireland took on Ronnie O’Sullivan, the reigning world champion and No. 1 player in the world, on September 24, 2020. In October of 2022, Hill took to the table world number two Judd Trump and defeated him four frames to one in the northern Irish open in Belfast, taking him to the next round of the tournament. 

    “It’s a great feeling playing against two of the best players to ever pick up a cue. Ronnie was a player I watched every-day on television when I was growing up. But I see myself beating these players and If I don’t, I’ll be disappointed, hopefully I meet them at some point later down the line in my career,” Hill admitted. 

    Some athletes will go to extreme lengths in their pursuit of maximising their performance whether it’s a goal, a good marathon time or in Hill’s case, potting a couple of snooker balls. For some individuals, using pre-match traditions in the belief that it will give them an advantage on the pitch is a necessity, in Hill’s case, he just sticks to the basics. “The week of a tournament I eat well and get a good rest. I take it handy with my practice the week of a tournament as you don’t want to be burned out when the tournament comes.”

    Many people have superstitions to bring them good luck and for De Breeze it’s no different. “I wear my lucky shamrock socks every time I play a match so I suppose you could call that a superstition,” Hill Laughed.

    With his whole life ahead of him, Hill speaks confidently about his short-term goals such as keeping his pro-card with hopes to continue competing on the professional tour. In the long run, “The skies are the limit. I believe there is a long career in this game for me so I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me,” he added.

    Aaron Hill is one of the few snooker talents to emerge from Ireland, since the beloved “Darling of Dublin” Ken Doherty broke into the professional scene back in the 1990’s. His advice for young people trying to make a name for themselves in any aspect of life is “Hard work and dedication. Take risks, when it feels too scary to jump, that’s exactly when you jump, otherwise you’ll stay in the same place your whole life.”

  • A Year of Freedom: local Swords Karate Club reflects on changes since full reopening of society

    A Year of Freedom: local Swords Karate Club reflects on changes since full reopening of society

    One year ago, the government announced the end to most of the COVID restrictions which governed everyday life. Thecity.ie explores what’s changed and what has stayed the same since then for a Swords based karate club.

    Washido Karate, a club with roots in Chinese Boxing and Wado Ryu Karate, were one of many clubs around the country that limited or closed down their training activities after COVID, now with society wide open, how have they fared?

    “We experienced a reduction in our numbers, a few people went away. But I suppose you get that anyway during the course of training,” admitted the club’s Black Belt and instructor, Brian Ennis. 

    When the club was first allowed to train indoors again, Mr. Ennis said that due to restrictions in place at the time, the club could only have a certain number of people and training had to be done in pods.

    Sensei Brian Ennis observes a flying kick at the club’s 2022 Black Belt Grading (Image by Ervin Vucaj)

    As a result, the martial arts instructor had to choose and “gave preference to existing members” for training.

    The karate sensei also reflected on the limitations of the transitionary period, when things were half open and half closed due to uncertainty regarding Covid: 

    “There’re only certain things like Kata and floor technique that we could do, and people need a little human contact you know, it is a semi contact sport. It was great to see those restrictions lifted”.

    However, things have turned around for the club since then, as Mr. Ennis explained that there was a resurgence in the club’s numbers after the full reopening a year ago:

    “People just had an appetite for training, so I think our numbers now are stronger than they were before Covid.

    “I think people came back looking for stuff, they had an appetite for training because they’ve had maybe two years of not doing anything…”

    Beyond just a recovery to pre-covid numbers, Mr. Ennis went on to describe that the increase in members actually exceeded the club’s pre-covid numbers:

    “I can’t explain it, we haven’t done a recruitment drive or anything like that, but we’ve seen people coming through the website or looking at what’s in the centre and coming to us like that.”

    Inflation has had some impact on the club financially, Mr. Ennis revealed, with rental fees for the hall the club trains in increasing. 

    The martial arts instructor has refused to pass that cost on to club members, instead opting to use the increased revenue from new membership and the increased rent to “cancel each other out”.

    “It’s just the world we’re living in, it is inflation. But it hasn’t affected the club or its members”.

    The same could not be said for the martial arts field, as Mr. Ennis lamented that “There were some clubs I know of that didn’t survive Covid and hadn’t continued training.”

    Asked about his hopes for the club now that Covid is a distant memory, Mr. Ennis expressed hope that the local club will experience sideways growth through new black belts.

    “We have our first black belt gradings in a while, and my hope is to grow from that, to see some other senior students go further in their black belt gradings.

    “Hopefully moving forward, we go from strength to strength, but I’m not looking for world domination or anything like that,” Mr. Ennis added with a wry laugh.