WORLD Cup hangover… what World Cup hangover?
France seems like a lifetime ago.
Yes, that Rugby World Cup quarter final defeat against New Zealand will always hurt but this Irish squad has dusted themselves down and carried on building one of the best sporting teams in the world.
There was a fear that Johnny Sexton’s retirement would disrupt things, given his impact on and off the pitch for many years, but like a well oiled machine this Irish side has marched on. And that’s what Sexton told us would happen in his final press conference as Ireland captain in October. His heart was breaking as his last chance to win a World Cup had just slipped away, but he told the press that this Irish side would go on and achieve great things.
At the time of writing Ireland have stormed ahead of everyone else in the Six Nations. A record victory in France to kick off the opening night of the tournament. That was followed by denying Italy any points in Dublin and a third bonus point win was added against Wales. Fifteen points from a possible 15 and those much more qualified than me, who have played the game, say they can’t see anyone stopping Ireland. If that is the case Ireland would be the first team to win back to back Grand Slams in Six Nations history. It wouldn’t make up for the heartache of the World Cup but it certainly would help ease the pain.
Special mention must go to Bangor man Stuart McCloskey who has been in sensational form during the last two games. He was superb against Italy, partnering Robbie Henshaw in the centre. And he even played out of position on the wing during the Wales match and slotted in seamlessly. McCloskey has been Ulster’s main player in this year’s Six Nations at a time when the Province has been struggling. For the first time in the history of the Ireland rugby team there was no player from Ulster in the match day squad for the opening match in France.
Despite impressive wins against Racing and Leinster over Christmas, heavy defeats to Toulouse and Harlequins in Europe’s Champions Cup highlighted how bad things had become for Ulster. Those results piled the pressure on Ulster Head Coach Dan McFarland and the club sacked him in the lead up to the Wales game, announcing Irish Under 20s head coach Richie Murphy will take over on an interim basis after the Six Nations.
Ulster CEO Jonny Petrie blamed inconsistent results on the change in his press conference following McFarland’s departure and insisted he’s invested in making Ulster a strong force again so is planning to stay in his role next season.
We’ve all seen the talent that is at Ulster’s disposal so hopefully things can settle internally soon so we see the best of the team again and get the feelgood factor back at Ravenhill.
Keri Halliday celebrating with her family after making her home debut for Northern Ireland at Windsor Park
HOW CHILDHOOD BOOK INSPIRED KERRI HALLIDAY’S NI DEBUT
The feelgood factor is definitely back within the Northern Ireland women’s football camp. They won their first play off encounter, under Tanya Oxtoby, defeating Montenegro 3-1 on aggregate over two legs. It means they remain in League B of the Nations League.
The side led 2-0 from the first leg in Montenegro and completed the job with a 1-1 draw at Windsor Park.
Nineteen year old Keri Halliday came on to make her home debut that night having won her first cap away in Albania late last year.
As a large section of the four thousand fans were getting autographs and selfies afterwards, I looked down to see Halliday surrounded by her family. No-one could wipe the smile from her face.
I interviewed her in the post match press area and she was still beaming. She talked about it being a dream come true to play on the pitch at Windsor Pitch because even though she plays for Linfield, the women’s team play on the nearby Midgley pitch.
“I remember getting a wee book on holiday at the airport called ‘When I grow up I want to play for Norther Ireland’,” she told me.
“The last page was the player stepping out onto the pitch at Windsor Park and I also thought that would just be incredible. All I could think about when I stepped onto the pitch was that wee book when I was three or four that my dad read to me, it was amazing for it to come true and that to be a living moment for me.”
What an amazing story and one that I’m sure will inspire many young girls to dream the same dream!
Job done for Northern Ireland, maintaining League B status, next up is Euro 2025 qualifying
WINNER MARK ALLEN WILL GIVE SOMETHING BACK
Another sports star who is inspiring us again is Antrim’s Mark Allen.
38 year old Allen has been on the World Snooker Tour for almost two decades now and has notched up 11 ranking titles during that time but the last couple of years have been particularly successful.
He won his fifth title since winning the Northern Ireland Open in 2021 at the Players Championship last month.
Away from the table he’s launching his foundation before trying to win the big prize in snooker – the World Championship. All money raised by the Mark Allen Foundation will go back into the local community. He’s hosting a special night at the Theatre at The Mill in Newtownabbey on March 10 to launch the Foundation. A range of sporting celebrities will be there to support the night which will involve comedy, snooker, music and an auction. For more information and tickets visit https://bit.ly/3uTi33p
I caught up with Allen after winning the Players Championship and he told me he didn’t know how he had won the final! “I didn’t play well at all!” he admitted. “But it’s good to be able to get the job done, even when I’m not at my best.
“I would like to get up to around 30 titles but to be honest I’ll see my career as incomplete if I don’t win the World Championship.
“I know I’m good enough and I came close last year… it’s just a lot has to go right for you to win that one because the tournament is over two weeks long so it’s a real endurance test.”
This year’s World Championship at the Crucible takes place from Saturday, April 20-Monday, May 6.
Below: with Mark Allen after his Players Championship victory
Ireland made it three bonus point wins in a row against Wales in the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium
The hottest ticket in town will be for Ireland v Scotland on St Patrick’s weekend at the Aviva Stadium as Ireland could win back to back Grand Slams
