The Dublin Community Blog

“Own your very own piece of Irish History”

I don’t bloody think so. The last time yours truly checked, a rusty old turnstile or a dusty/unwanted rugby magazine wasn’t an historical item.

Ok, I admit, I’ve not posted since July 2006 for several reasons … (1) Busy (2) Busy and (3) Busy. Now that’s sorted, here’s a catch up on all things sport.

• Dublin GAA – The Dubs again came short in their quest for the Holy Grail that is Sam Maguire. Alot of analysis has been written and put forward as to why Pillar’s men fell just short of the final hurdle in what was one of the weaker All Ireland’s in recent years. The fact remains that an over-hyped team with forwards who have the inability to take scores when it matters will never win an All-Ireland. Dublin’s best forwards throughout the championship being Alan Brogan and Conal Keaney are the only forward’s in a blue jersey one would trust with taking points from the 45 metre line from hand. Pillar’s new forwards in 2006 being Kevin Bonner, Declan Lally and to an extent, born again Ray Cosgrove do not have what it takes to be All Ireland winning forwards. Consistency is key but consitency against stronger counties OUTSIDE Leinster is paramount.

  The Allianz National League of 2007 was another groundhog day tournament in the life of Dublin Football. Brutal away form and the odd win at home get’s teams nowhere. There is light at the end of the tunnel … with every one of Dublin’s games in the 2007 Championship being in Croke Park then it’s sure to be a “Home Game” every game. Get out the jump leads, the Bandwagon needs starting.





• Leinster Rugby – Where does one start, at the beginning. Another slow start off the blocks in the Magners leage with disappointing away form dogging Leinster’s quest for Magners League glory. Losses to Edinburgh and the Scarlets away with the usual fortress Donnybrook that follows Leinster’s away losses were par for the course (And still are coming to the end of the Magners League season). What’s surprising that Leinster sit on top of the Magners League and 5 points clear too! With such sporadic form in the league, one has to ask the question whether it’s a drop in quality as a whole or are Leinster acting the mickey just to create an exciting end to the season? Leinster have 3 games left to wrap up the Magners Leage with an inevitable 5 pointer at home to the Borders sandwiched in between 2 tricky away ties to the Ospreys and the Blues on the final day. What’s worrying is Leinster’s away form, who knows what team turns up in Swansea and Cardiff? Yours truly prays that it’s the one with Brian O’Driscoll in phenominal form oozing leadership from forwards to backs.

  As for the Heineken Cup, I don’t want to talk about it. Maybe another time I’ll share my joy/anger/sorrow with you fine people.

 

 

After a disappointing summer of international rugby, the 4 proud provinces of Ireland (Well … Leinster, Munster and Ulster anyway!) will be looking to take the Magners Celtic League by storm. Last years campaign saw Ulster clinch the title on the final weekend by a single point with Leinster following in second and Munster taking 3rd spot.   

Leinster kick off their season with a pre-season friendly in Donnybrook on Friday August 25th in a friendly against London Irish, a fixture which is sure to attract a big crowd. With the Celtic League proper kicking off on September 1st, Leinster have been granted a free weekend which see’s them beginning their league campaign away to the Edinburgh Gunners on Friday September 8th. Thsi game will bring an an even more important meaning with both teams being in the same Heineken Cup Group!

The Cardiff Blues are Leinster’s first home game of the Celtic League. The Welshmen take on Leinster in Donnybrook on Saturday September 16th at 19:30. Fixtures to wwatch out for this season are below …

Saturday October 7th (19:30) – Leinster Vs Munster
Saturday December 2nd (19:30) - Ulster Vs Leinster
Wednesday December 27th (15:00) - Munster Vs Leinster
Sunday December 31st (14:30) – Leinster Vs Ulster

ROAR ON LEINSTER!

Dublin etched their name on to the Delaney Cup for the second successive year in front of 81,754 (754 of which were Offaly Fans) in a sun drenched Croke Park yesterday.

A slow enough start saw the Dubs go behind by 0-3 to 0-0. But the Dubs gained momentum with 4 unanswered scores to see Offaly draw level on 0-4 a piece. The first half ended scrappy with each side exchanging points leaving the score at 0-6 each at the end of 35 minutes.

Dublin upped the pace in the second half and again scored 4 unanswered points. Offaly’s case was not helped by the sending off of mid-fielder Alan McNamee for 2 bookable offences and thus the Dubs continued their onslaught winnign comfortably in the end 1-15 to 0-9.

Note to Dervla – G’waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan MAYO!

Dublin have named the same 15 players who started in their demolition of Laois at the Dubs last outing in Croke Park. While the same 15 players will be starting, there have been some positional changes.

The Dubs also welcome back now fully fit Darren Magee, Stephen O’Shaughnessy and Paddy Christie who have been named among the substitutes. Demand for tickets in the capital alone has surpassed 45,000 already and there is sure to be close to 75,000 in Croke Park for Sunday’s Leinster Final.

Dublin opened their Croke Park account this afternoon by dealing out a jolly good thrashing to Mick O’Dwyers poor Laois side. The SUUUUPER Dubs ran in 3-17 to Laois’ 0-12, with Mossie Quinn bagging 2-03 goals and Conal Keaney picking up 6 points. Dublin welcomed back MAN OF THE MATCH Ray Cosgrove who picked up 1-03 and gave Paul “Pillar” Caffrey an excellent reason to start him in the Leinster Final against Offaly/Wexford.

From a personal point of view, yours truly was present among the majority of Laois supporters as I refused to accept Ticketmasters suggested “BEST AVAILABLE” tickets which were in fact, the worst seats in the stadium. Therefore, I bought my tickets directly from the Leinster Branch’s Headquarters in Portlaoise which of course meant most people around me would be Laois fans. Little did I care however as I made myself heard among the section of Laois fans who were quite loud and rude when Laois went 1 point up (That’s the most they ever lead Dublin by). Of course, when Dublin walked away with a 14 point lead, I was the only one left singing.

On a side note, I got my inspiration for this title when I was leaving Croke Park, I heard some father say to his child … “Where did we bleedin’ send em’?” to which the kid replied “Back ta bleedin’ SUPERMACS”

Roll on the Leinster final, whoever the challengers may be!

What better team to give Croke Park it’s first full house of the season than the Super Dubs. Dublin meet last years beaten Leinster finalists Laois in front of a packed 82,500 house in Croke Park this Sunday with a throw in time of 2:00. Dublin will be looking to improve greatly on their lacklustre first round defeat of Longford in Pearse Park. Defensive holes were a major concern for Pillar Caffrey who now looks certain to call on the services of one Stephen O’Shaughnessy who was the most impressive defender from Dublins 2005 All Ireland campaign.

One thing’s for sure – It’ll be an excellent game!

As my previous post may have suggested Ryanair shafting Leinster Rugby, it appears they have decided to go the full revolution and shaft rugby. In a statement on their website today, Ryanair have closed their Dublin – Cardiff route with effect from May 1st … Yes, that’s right, 19 days BEFORE the Heinken Cup Final! It now seems rugby fans as a whole will now feel the pinch with Ryanair’s untimely closure of the Dublin – Cardiff Route.

RYANAIR ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF DUBLIN – CARDIFF ROUTE
Ryanair, Europe’s leading low fares airline, today announced the cessation of its service from Dublin to Cardiff and the transfer of these services to Bristol International Airport with effect from Monday next, 1st May. Ryanair’s five year agreement with Cardiff Airport was due for renewal on that date but the airport has insisted on increasing its passenger charges by over 350%. In addition, the airport has reneged on elements of its current contract and is attempting to force Ryanair to pay extra charges for services which were covered under that contract.

Announcing the decision Ryanair’s Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley, said,
“Cardiff Airport is pricing itself out of the low fares market. Cost increases of the order of 350% belong to an era when the lowest air fare from Ireland to the UK was €250. Ryanair has a wide choice of competitive airports available to it and, with effect from Monday next, 1st May, we will be transferring these services to Bristol International Airport. For those flights up to the 10th May Ryanair will provide coach services between the two airports.

In addition we will be offering refunds to any passengers who have already booked on these Cardiff flights and who don’t wish to travel to Bristol. We very much regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers but we are not prepared to tolerate these levels of cost increases on their behalf from airports whose only interest seems to be to gouge passengers with extortionate price increases.�

Ryanair’s map LESS the Cardiff destination

Many Munster fans residing in Dublin will now be left disappointed with being flown to the shed that is Bristol Airport over 60 mins commute from Cardiff.

Colm.

Ryanair have shafted Leinster Rugby by backing the muck savages eh, I mean Munster to beat Leinster this Sunday in the Heineken Cup Semi-Final. Ryanair CEO, Michael O’Leary (currently living in Mullingar, Westmeath, Leinster) turned his back on Leinster and offered 1,000 free seats out of Shannon for every point that Munster beat Leinster.

Ryanair, Europe’s leading low fares airline today offered 1,000 free seats from its Shannon base for every point by which Munster beats Leinster in the Heineken Cup semi final at Lansdowne Road this Sunday.

Announcing the initiative Ryanair’s Deputy Chief Executive, Michael Cawley said:“We believe the best way to celebrate Munster’s imminent victory over Leinster in the Heinken Cup semi-final on Sunday is to offer free seats to Munster supporters on flights from our Shannon base. We are making available 1,000 free seats for every point with which Munster beats Leinster on Sunday. These seats will be available for booking from Monday 24th April for flights from 15th May on many of our midweek services from Shannon to the 20 international destinations which we serve from our base there. Ryanair will this year carry 1.5 million passengers into and out of the airport, further evidence, that together with Munster rugby Ryanair is putting Limerick and Clare firmly on the map.�  

 

Michael O’Leary looking like a TWAT … AGAIN

Yours truly cannot wait for Leinster to do a number on Munster and adding insult to injury, I will be the first Leinster fan to email Ryanair on Sunday night and rub their faces in it.

Allez Les Bleus!

At half time on Good Friday Vs The Scarlets, you’d have not believed Leinster were in the Heineken Cup Semi-Final a week later! Trailing 7-19 and in dire need of some inspiration, Leinester looked to the unseen (as far as eddie O’Sullivan is concerned) veterans of the team. Up stepped Brian Blaney, Guy Easterby and Girvan “The Swirve” Dempsey to collect a 5 point victory for Leinster. Let’s all hope the lads are in flying form on Sunday at 3:00!