Ireland v Nottinghamshire

A delayed start because of rain showers means that Ireland will go into bat at 1.30pm, IF the weather stays sunny.

Clastle Avenue is a perfect venue on a good, dry day, but I fear that the unpredictable and wet Irish weather will have a say in this Friends Provident Trophy match. It is already been trimmed to a 34 overs match, with Ireland leaving out James Hall from the start.

Lets cross those brollies and hope the sun shines.

While I wait, I am watching Man Utd keep their wagon the road towards the Premiership title. As I a City fan, you can guess where my allegiances lie today.


----It turned out to be a bad day at the crease for the Irish Cricket. It ended with a win for the visitors on the final ball, leaving Ireland with no wins and four defeats in this series.

I only got to see the first few overs as I had to make my way down to Newbridge for a hurling game. What I did see was a poor start by Nottinghamshire, as Mark Wagh (four) was trapped in front by Phil Eaglestone. They did rally though and Ali Brown (32) and Alex Hales (15) steadied things before Hales was caught. It was entertaining fare with the rain just staying an arm lengths away.


The match ended with high drama.....but again it was case of another hard luck story for the Irish team.


Image by Deryck Vincent

Dublin SFC

PARNELL’S 1-9 FINGAL RAVENS 1-6


Parnell's new Laois contingent stood up to be counted in Parnell Park last night.

A goal from Darren Rooney and two points from Colm Parkinson signals a warning of intent from this Coolock club.

Coach Declan North is finally getting a good spine to the team and things are looking up. They were narrowly beaten by Na Fianna in the first round of the Dublin SFC, but they have made up for that winning their first Championship game under North's tenure.

Joey Collins also showed what a talent he can become and gave a hint that Parnells could well be the sleeping giant of the Northside.

Certainly in Rooney they have a man who can take on any task as he lorded midfield and had still enough in the legs to notch the winning goal. He is going to key to a club that have high ambitions.

For now though, they must wait for the next round draw and resist the usual temptations.

SCORERS - Parnells: J Peyton 0-3 (0-1f), D Rooney 1-0, N Collins, J Collins, C Parkinson 0-2 each. Fingal Ravens: W Finnegan 0-3, C Norton 1-0, N Tormey 0-2 (0-1f), PJ Casey 0-1.
PARNELL’S - S Cluxton; B Byrne, M Fitzpatrick, M Kenna; C O’Reilly, D Myler, E Browne; D Rooney, P Keogh; N Collins, C Sugrue, J Peyton; J Collins, K Guckian, C Parkinson. Subs: L Browne for OReilly (34), P McGing for Guckian (47), S Mills for Sugrue (53), M Whelan for McGing (58).
FINGAL RAVENS - T McGrath; C Prendeville, M Lambe, S Maxwell; I Kavanagh, D Daly, J Morris; K Kavanagh, P Brennan; N Tormey, PJ Casey, D Flanagan; C Norton, W Finnegan, S Madigan. Subs: J Boland for Maxwell (48), M White for Lambe (53), D Kavanagh for Madigan (55), G Brennan for Casey (57), D Keogh for Norton (59).
REF - S Farrell (St Patrick’s, Donabate).

Irish Open

Thanks to my mobile phone provider - 3mobile - I am at the Irish Open in Baltray today.

Throughout proceedings I will try and update the blog with how the leader board looks and give a run down of the Irish hopefuls.

I have to mention from the outset that Des Smyth is my fancy at 4/1 to make the cut. He is a local and knows how to play the course in his sleep.

The County Louth venue is well located and was only a 40/45 minute drive from Dublin this morning - although the wet weather did make city centre driving a nightmare.

It is a great venue though and hopefully the rain will keep off for the day now.

I have chosen to follow Rory McIlroy for this morning and I might take up station at a particular hole later in proceedings.

AS OF 11:45AM:

R McIlroy - -1 through 14 holes.
Des Smyth - was +2 through 9 holes earlier this morning. I'll update his progress soon.
Peter Lawrie leads the way coming up to 12 noon on the first day of play with a healthy -6 after 15 holes.

If you are stuck in work why not try your hand at some mini golf

AS OF 2.15PM:

R McIlroy -3 for the day
Des Smyth level for the day
Now leading on -6 are N Dougherty, P Lawrie, R Kakko, J Donaldson, R Rock

The weather hasn't improved much, but the hot sandwich did the trick at lunch and now it is back on the course for more links golf. My bet is looking okay at this stage with Smyth showing all his knowledge of the course to come back from +2 on the back nine. McIroy has impressed.

Padraig Harrington is now out on the course and I will go follow him now - with brolly in hand - to see how he is getting on. Currently he is level through one hole.

It is still all to play for.

AS OF 6:45PM

A disappointing end to the proceedings for Padraig Harrington, as he is a share of 105th place after the opening round.

P Hanson and F Molinari lead the way with -9.

For me, it is back up the road to Parnell Park for Parnells v Fingal Ravens in the Dublin SFC...full report in the morning will be posted here.

Dublin SFC

ST SYLVESTERS 1-8 WHITEHALL COLMCILLE 0-7

St Sylvesters scrapped through to the next round of the Dublin SFC against Whitehall Colmcille last night.

They dominated for long stretches, with John Coughlin winning midfield and Wexford footballer Diarmuid Kinsella orchestrating the attack from the half forward line.

But Whitehall were dogged and moving Ger Beirne in the full forward line made a big difference in the second half, with Stephen Walsh competing well at midfield.

Star of the show was Shane Roche who notched 1-02 in what, in all truth, was a very poor game.

His goal on the 15th minute, was the only glimmer of quality in a dire game of misplaced passes and bad handling errors.

Whitehall looked the poorer side, but Sylvesters could rise above them and put them away, allowing them within two points of them with 10 minutes to go in St Maragrets.

It was a dirty, wet night and so was the football.

Sylvesters will not challenge for County honours this season, on this display.

Kinsella seems their main fulcrum and it worked for them in the first half, but in the second he was isolated and took too much out of the day, often meaning that the ball was turned over.

Wing back Brian Sexton impressed, as did free taker Aidan Relighan. Coughlin's younger brother Niall came on to the forward line for the last few minutes and he looks like one for the future.

My report is published online

La na gClub

Ethan from John Mitchel GAC, County Down, shows off his skills at the GAA's club day.

GWA awards night