Sport – Slugger O'Toole

Beware the Clickbait: Navigating a Media Landscape of Manufactured Hype…

Ian Clarke on February 26, 2024, 7:18 am

| Readers 3936

blue LED Hype sign

I’ve expressed before on Slugger my concerns about our indigenous media’s insatiable appetite for political instability to fill its programmes or pages. This dates back to 1994 when those in authority failed to make any meaningful effort to adapt to the coming post Troubles lifestyle here. So ever since then we’ve had numerous efforts from withing the media to destabilise the fragile DUP/SF partnership. Sometimes its just snide use of terms like “Chuckle Brothers” or “Marlene” but on other times …

Where stands Irish rugby?

Frank Schnittger on January 22, 2024, 8:16 pm

| Readers 2310

audience, soccer, stadium

So where stands Irish rugby after the conclusion of the pool stages of the Champions Cup and before the start of the 6 Nations? Leinster qualified second out of 16 qualifiers with a home draw all the way to the Semi-final and with the final at Spurs ground in Tottenham anyway. Munster must face their nemesis, Northampton, away, having just lost to them at Thomond Park. But such is their strength in adversity, I wouldn’t bet against them progressing further, their …

“Those who sing Zombie this week after Ireland’s match against Scotland know their history…”

Mick Fealty on October 4, 2023, 12:51 pm

| Readers 13558

bar, cocktail, alcohol

I was at Trent Bridge week last Saturday to watch Ireland complete the only one of their three match ODI Cricket series. It was a blissful catchup with old mates (English and Irish) over a long day of that weird mix of generosity and competition. It was a particular pleasure to watch fellow Holywoodian Mark Adair in action for one of three island wide sports teams that comfortably straddle a border and sectarian divide that other codes (and the island’s …

Women’s World Cup 2023 starts today…

Brian O'Neill on July 20, 2023, 12:36 pm

| Readers 1684

The Women’s World Cup 2023 is hosted by Australia and New Zealand. I confess I am not really into sports so I will not be watching it, but I am curious how many football fans will be tuning in. Women’s football has grown in popularity over the past decade, but it still seems overshadowed by the male game. Is is sexism or is the male game more exciting to watch? I thought this video was excellent at challenging perceptions: No …

‘It’s about life and death’: Frampton vs Kielty

Allan LEONARD (Mr Ulster) on June 26, 2023, 9:45 pm

| Readers 1706

As the finale event of the Docs Ireland film festival, boxing legend Carl Frampton and comedian/presenter Patrick Kielty had a one-to-one conversation with an audience of over a hundred at the Cineworld complex, interspersed with clips from their documentary films and interviews with others on the topics of Northern Ireland’s contentious past and outlooks for the future. The first clip was from Frampton’s “Men in Crisis”, where his interviewee Ryan (22:54) discusses his emotions in dealing with the suicide of …

Ireland 2023 Rugby World Cup Squad selected…

Frank Schnittger on June 1, 2023, 10:27 am

| Readers 2191

Andy Farrell has announced his 42 man training squad for the world cup, and true to form, has not been afraid to make some hard choices. The dominant theme is one of loyalty to the players who have enabled Ireland win a Grand Slam and maintain their place at the top of the world rankings. I had expected Munster’s outstanding form in recent weeks to have more of an impact, but in the event some of Munster’s outstanding performers – …

Rugby: Leinster’s demise and Munster’s hope…

Frank Schnittger on May 23, 2023, 10:21 am

| Readers 1014

Leinster have been hailed by many as the world’s best club rugby team for some time now, an assessment which failed to take account of their failure to win a European Cup for 5 years, which is half a professional rugby player’s average lifetime. True, they were beaten by a last minute try in the final in Marseilles last year, and La Rochelle were again twice within the width of a post of losing this year. Munster also required a …

Ireland 2023 Rugby World Cup Squad…

Frank Schnittger on May 15, 2023, 7:05 am

| Readers 3214

football stadium

So based on recent form and past experience, who are the players in contention to make Andy Farrell’s world cup extended training squad and, more importantly, the final 33 man squad itself? My favourites for the 33 Man squad are listed in bold. Players likely to make the extended training squad are listed in ordinary type face. Possibilities on the fringes are listed in italics. Players who have dropped out of contention due to injury, movement abroad, selectorial preference or …

United Rugby Championship Semi-Finals preview…

Frank Schnittger on May 12, 2023, 8:00 pm

| Readers 636

The achievement of all four Irish provinces qualifying for next season’s European Cup and making the knock-out stages of the URC is not to be underestimated. That three should also make the Semi-finals of the URC is an extraordinary achievement. South Africa supply the sole interloper in the Champions Stormers, who take on Connacht in Cape town. Glasgow are in the Challenge Cup final but for every other club in the URC, the season is already over. It is an …

European Cup Rugby Review – the sharp end of the season approaches…

Frank Schnittger on April 10, 2023, 10:07 am

| Readers 999

The last few weeks since Ireland’s historic fourth grand slam have showcased both the strengths and weaknesses of Irish Rugby. Leinster seem to march inexorably on to either or both the European Cup and URC titles, although nothing can ever be taken for granted in sport. However, Ulster, Munster and Connacht have all been eliminated from their European Cup competitions and the latter two may struggle to qualify for the European Cup top tier competition next season. It was no …

What’s Next, After the Slam?

Frank Schnittger on March 22, 2023, 2:00 pm

| Readers 1627

As the immediate emotions die down and the dust settles on Ireland’s great Six Nations Grand Slam, it becomes possible – nay essential – too take a more nuanced and balanced view of what transpired, and more importantly, on what must come next. Firstly, we have to acknowledge the flaws in our own performances, if we are to perform even better in the future. We performed brilliantly against Wales and blew them away for about 30 minutes. After that we …

An anatomy of the success of Irish Rugby: “Spread out, but stick together…”

Mick Fealty on March 21, 2023, 1:16 pm

| Readers 7806

Sam McBride’s opening paragraph on Sunday captures something that is both puzzling and miraculous about Ireland’s commanding win over England (forty fifty years after England came to Dublin in the teeth of the worst days of the Troubles): The most remarkable aspect of another thrilling and historic Irish rugby success yesterday was not that an island of seven million people has produced the best team in the world, but that the team represents a country which doesn’t exist. [Emphasis added] …

A Grand Slam for Ireland?

Frank Schnittger on March 14, 2023, 4:11 pm

| Readers 3459

A Grand Slam in the 5 or 6 Nations rugby Championship has only been won 41 times in the 97 years it has been contested with England (13), Wales (12), France (10) leading the way and with Scotland and Ireland on 3 apiece some way behind. Ireland won it in 1948 (Ravenhill), 2009 (Cardiff) and 2018 (Twickenham) and it is an honour previously achieved only by some vintage Irish teams led by legendary players such Jackie Kyle, Brian O’Driscoll, and …

New GAA President Jarlath Burns is an impressive and visionary man…

Andy Pollak on February 22, 2023, 7:00 am

| Readers 8666

I am going to stray into the unfamiliar territory of the Gaelic Athletic Association for this post. As a sports-mad half-Irish boy growing up in London, my games were football (soccer in Ireland) and rugby (although I was occasionally seen on the touchline at the GAA’s London ground at New Eltham). At the risk of being controversial, I would describe Gaelic football and hurling in Northern Ireland as objectively sectarian pastimes, since few if any Protestants play them and the …

Rugby Six Nations Review: Round 1

Frank Schnittger on February 6, 2023, 4:11 pm

| Readers 1119

Although none of the results came as a shock, the glorious unpredictability of the 6 Nations was underlined by three away victories in the opening round. Italy came close to shocking France in Rome, which would have been only the fourth time they have beaten France in 47 matches since the sides first met in a fully recognised international in 1937. Scotland beat England for the third time in a row for the first time in over 50 years and …

Ireland and the 6 Nations Rugby Championship…

Frank Schnittger on February 2, 2023, 8:22 pm

| Readers 2053

Ireland have a patchy record in the 6 Nations rugby championship with only four wins since Italy joined in 2000. This compares to seven for England, and six for France and Wales, and none for Scotland or Italy. The figures for Grand Slams are even worse, with four for France and Wales and two for England and Ireland. So it ill-becomes us to become too sniffy about a tournament which funds virtually the entire game in Ireland. Some younger fans, …

Rugby – A Clean Sweep by the Irish Provinces…

Frank Schnittger on January 29, 2023, 8:50 am

| Readers 1374

This has been the first clean sweep by the Irish provinces with four bonus point wins since the South African teams entered the URC competition. It is an outstanding achievement and a great way to finish off this block of games ahead of the 6 Nations championship. Nothing is guaranteed, but Irish rugby has never been in a better place. Ulster 35 Stormers 5 Benetton 30 Munster 40 Leinster 38 Cardiff 12 Connacht 43 Lions 24 Ulster returned to winning …

Brazilian footballing legend Pele dies aged 82…

Brian O'Neill on December 30, 2022, 10:18 am

| Readers 588

Sampa Graffitti

Considered by many to be the greatest footballing player of all time, Pele is credited with scoring a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 career appearances. He is the only man to have won the World Cup three times – in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Obviously, many of us would be biased towards George Best being considered the greatest footballer and there was mutual respect between the two of them. Pele has always said that George Best was the greatest …

Rugby Champions Cup first round round-up…

Frank Schnittger on December 13, 2022, 7:51 am

| Readers 645

I’ve been thinking about the differences between the province’s experiences in Europe last weekend. Leinster destroyed Racing92 10-42 away. Ulster had a chastening experience in losing to Sale 39-0. Munster secured an honourable losing bonus point against outstanding French side and perennial European Cup challengers, Toulouse. Connacht had a creditable win 22-8 against Newcastle despite resting a few front liners. I’ve long been an admirer of the Cullen/Lancaster coaching duo and the assistant coaches they have brought in over the …

A great result for Irish Rugby: Ireland 19 South Africa 16…

Frank Schnittger on November 7, 2022, 8:24 am

| Readers 1699

football stadium

This was another outstanding performance by the Irish team beating the World Champions and justifying their World No. 1 ranking. It was a tough grinding encounter with a lot of injuries and with the Springboks seeking to make their superior size and bulk up front tell. But Ireland never flinched from the collisions usually double jobbing with one tackler going low and another seeking to stop the momentum or target the ball. South Africa’s kicking game wasn’t up to their …