ireland.com - The Irish Times

Grand hopes slammed
RUGBY: Wonderful, unforgettable occasion. Lousy finish. A great day except for the last two minutes, as Paul O'Connell succinctly put it. That is life, and that is assuredly sport, but after Croke Park had fairly crackled and throbbed for 80 increasingly dramatic minutes yesterday, somehow c'est la vie couldn't possibly encapsulate the crushing emotions at Ireland's sporting citadel. p

Clinical French spoil perfect script
RUGBY: Heartbreak runs rich through Irish history. After a century of a lockout, the Ireland rugby team ran onto Croke Park greeted by a nation in a mood for celebration. But after 80 strange and furious minutes, the French had stolen this day of revolution. p

Rosicky pounces as Arsenal leave it late
SOCCER/Arsenal 2 Wigan Ath 1: Arsenal are making a habit of spectacular finishes at this stadium. If Arsene Wenger and his players will not take quite the pleasure from this comeback as they did from their late win over Manchester United three weeks earlier, the celebrations off and on the field that greeted Tomas Rosicky's clinching header showed it still meant a good deal to them to defeat Wigan and move back into fourth place in the Premiership. p

Soccer

Chelsea set for a spring offensive
Chelsea 3 Middlesbrough 0: Unless Manchester United implode, silver is the best that Chelsea can expect in the Premiership this season. The true currency of their prospects in the knockouts will emerge over the next three weeks, when they will be seeking a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, a trophy in the League Cup final and, crucially, progress towards the biggest prize of all in the 24-carat Champions League. p
Ferguson looks firmly ahead
Manchester Utd 2 Charlton Ath 0: Alex Ferguson has always been blessed with supreme self-belief but it has been a long time since he has worn such a confident, expectant smile. To see the Manchester United manager right now is to see a man returning to the peak of his abilities, fit and focused, determined and driven, and seemingly in complete control of his own destiny. A man who, quite simply, cannot possibly see how his team can fail. p
Liverpool have no case for defence
Newcastle Utd 2 Liverpool 1: On a toe-freezing, head-scratching afternoon Geordies were left cold, hot, enthused and bemused as to how Newcastle United won this game and how a side who conceded so many chances still prompted admiration for a couple of their defenders. But Celestine Babayaro and Oguchi Onewyu walked away winners and with their reputations enhanced. While a couple of poor performances can change opinions quickly, Glenn Roeder will hope this day was the beginning of something, specifically a proper back four of the type Liverpool used to possess. p
Anelka full value for money
Bolton 2 Fulham 1: Blackmail may be an ugly word, but Nicolas Anelka made it feel like the right one yesterday. Bolton fans, having been warned by their chairman, Phil Gartside, that the Frenchman may walk away if the atmosphere at the Reebok Stadium does not improve, dug deep and turned out in their numbers, and Anelka rewarded them with the sort of performance that made it hard to argue that the price of a ticket did not represent value for money. p
Adriano and Crespo seal Inter win
Goals by Adriano and Hernan Crespo gave Serie A leaders Inter Milan an easy 2-0 win over Chievo Verona when Italy's top flight resumed with four matches played behind closed doors yesterday. p
Italian chiefs can not afford to fail again
On soccer violence: The policeman was struggling to make himself heard over the wail of sirens and the thundering of the helicopter circling overhead. "This has been a terrible night, the worst I have seen," he murmured. "We weren't prepared for the ferocity of the attack. It was far beyond anything we imagined. Paving slabs, bricks, fireworks and other missiles were being thrown at us, it was sheer hell. And this is all in the name of football." p
Beckham may yet go out with a bang
Far from joining LA Galaxy early, David Beckham is set to become an integral part of the Real Madrid side for the final six months of his contract at the Bernabeu. The former England captain made a goalscoring return to the Madrid side on Saturday after six matches out, a month after the coach, Fabio Capello, had vowed that he would never play for the club again. p
Stan could do with a lesson in bouncebackability
TV View: After the week Bobby Robson had we wondered if he'd be tempted to cut his ties with football for once and for all. Those 90 (plus) minutes in San Marino, followed by the marginally more harrowing 75 on Liveline, would break the hardiest of folk. p
Planet Football
Today's other stories in brief p

Rugby

This one's a real heartbreaker
Ireland 17 France 20: There are defeats and there are defeats, but it's hard to think of one that ranks or rankles on this scale, however many years you go back. p
Absence of O'Driscoll, Stringer keenly felt
Analysis: Considering it was a day of political, historical and cultural importance, there was always a chance that this quality French team would spoil the unifying effect of rugby coming to Croke Park. p
Boss tries to put on a brave face
Isaac Boss tried to be philosophical and while he succeeded to a certain extent with the words that tumbled forth, his face betrayed the acute unhappiness he felt after yesterday's defeat at Croke Park. p
Splendid intro ends in video nasty
TV View: Can anyone remember the last Frenchman to settle for only a support role in the limelight? Normally a Frenchman with an inferiority complex is someone who thinks he's just as good as anyone else. In hindsight the inability to remember that cost the collars-up brigade in a big way yesterday. p
Feeling of doom and gloom
Player reaction: Asking players to explain the inexplicable, the momentary lapse, the blind spot seems in itself a test of philosophy or theology. Rugby tactics be damned. If you are cursed, you are cursed. When the Irish team sit down and investigate that spleen-twisting, try frame by frame, Eddie O'Sullivan can then begin to point. p
'It was a cruel way to lose a game'
Ireland v France Reaction: There was a temptation to delve into the bottom drawer of cliches regarding the unpalatable nature of defeat and scatter them to the four winds at Croke Park. Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan largely declined as the post-match inquisition shunted him towards a verbal collision with New Zealand referee Steve Walsh and demanded he pinpoint the exact level of disappointment he felt. p
'We took an opportunistic try'
The French are rarely straightforward. But in the bowels of the Hogan Stand, the warm glow of victory that radiated from their easy smiles told us more about the simple, uncomplicated thoughts in their minds and of how they burgled this match from Ireland. p
Impressive Pumas end tour on a high note
Friendly match/Leicester 21 Argentina 41: Ireland's World Cup opponents Argentina ran in three tries in the opening quarter to set up a convincing, five-try win over Leicester Tigers at Welford Road yesterday. p
Jenkins' grip gets weaker
Scotland 21 Wales 9: After a performance as timorous and fitful as any during their Six Nations whitewash in 2003, Wales's stated ambition of winning the World Cup in October looked not so much the triumph of hype over expectation as a denial of how far they have fallen since Mike Ruddock departed as head coach a year ago tomorrow. p
Andrew warns of fatigue
England 20 Italy 7: Rob Andrew, the Rugby Football Union's director of elite rugby, will renew his efforts today to ensure England's leading players sit out this weekend's Premiership games prior to their next Six Nations fixture, in Dublin. p
Ireland remain without a win
Women's Rugby: Ireland are still looking for their first win of the Six Nations Championship with two second-half tries securing a 13-10 victory for the French at Templeville Road on Saturday. p

Gaelic Games

Tyrone continue to experiment and win
Tyrone 0-14 Fermanagh 0-8: Tyrone's late flourish secured victory in the end, but it was anything but plain sailing in front of 12,000 supporters at Healy Park on Saturday. p
Westmeath stun Derry
Westmeath 3-9 Derry 1-9: A searing opening 25-minute spell saw a razor-sharp Westmeath put Derry to the sword at Celtic Park yesterday. p
Old hands deliver
National Football League Division One B and A/Armagh 1-9 Louth 0-11: Two of Armagh's old hands, Paul McGrane and Steven McDonnell, conjured up the only goal of the game at Crossmaglen yesterday, and it scuppered Louth's hopes. p
Mahers keep Loughrea dream alive
All-Ireland Club HC Semi-finals/Loughrea 1-11 Cushendall 0-9: On the day Croke Park took a giant leap in historical terms, two hurling clubs were trying to take a small step of their own. Neither Loughrea nor Cushendall had previously made the All-Ireland final on St Patrick's Day, which essentially meant they were playing in the drizzle of Mullingar simply to earn their day in Croke Park. p
Ballyhale escape in a classic
Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-20 Toomevara 3-14: Wild times in Portlaoise eventually yielded to the conformity of the odds. After as exhilarating a hurling match as February has any right to offer, the verdict was arrived at bang on the bookies' spread - a three-point win for the Leinster champions in Saturday's AIB All-Ireland club semi-final. p
Carr pulls Down level
Down 0-14 Kildare 1-11: A 73rd-minute equalising free from Aidan Carr deprived Kildare of a second successive campaign win at Newcastle yesterday. But a transitional Down team deserved their draw. p
Laois slow to get into action
Laois 0-8 Galway 0-7: Laois claimed their first win of the campaign at Portlaoise on Saturday. It took 13 minutes to open their account under their new floodlights as Galway forced them into early errors. p
Offaly get going in second half
Offaly 3-12 Carlow 1-8: Offaly appeared to be in imminent danger of a second successive defeat at half-time in Tullamore yesterday, as they held a slender 0-7 to 0-6 lead against Carlow despite having played with the aid of the wind. p
Roscommon strike swiftly
Roscommon 1-16 London 0-10: Roscommon got their campaign back on track with an expected easy victory over London at Ruislip yesterday. Playing with the aid of the breeze a superb first-half display proved decisive as they established a 1-11 to 0-3 lead. p
Dublin breathe a sigh of relief
Dublin 0-14 Limerick 1-10: Dublin manager Paul Caffrey breathed a sigh of relief at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday as his charges just about recorded their first league victory thanks to Tomás Quinn's winning point in injury time. p
Cullivan puts Cavan on the victory path
Cavan 0-18 Wicklow 0-10: Cavan achieved their first win in Division Two B of the National Football League at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday but they made hard work of this victory. p
Clare cruise to convincing win
Clare 1-14 Leitrim 1-8: Clare recorded their second win in as many outings with a comfortable victory over Leitrim at Cusack Park, Ennis. Páidí Ó Sé's charges dominated their opponents for most of yesterday's encounter in front of a small but satisfied home crowd. p
Forde dropped and then drops in
Wexford 0-16 Tipperary 0-7: Wexford may have bounced back from their opening day defeat but manager Paul Bealin is still left with many questions to answer. p
Farrell's goals prove crucial
Meath 2-11 Anrtrim 1-11: For 54 minutes Antrim players seemed to be dazzled by their new lights at Casement Park on Saturday night as Meath established a big lead. The home team's brave fightback came too late as Meath had raced into a commanding 2-11 to 0-6 lead. p
Breheny's kicks vital for Sligo
Sligo 0-14 Waterford 1-8: Mark Breheny kicked seven points, five from placed balls, as Sligo battled to a hard-earned three-point win over Waterford in yesterday's game at Markievicz Park. p
Monaghan almost let victory slip
Monaghan 1-14 Longford 3-6: Monaghan made it two wins from two when they held out in the final minutes against Longford in Clones on Saturday. p
Mayo unable to hold out for victory
Donegal 1-13 Mayo 0-12: Donegal made it six wins out of six in 2007 with a marvellous display in front of 6,000 spectators in Ballybofey yesterday. p
Quill helps get Kerry back on track
Kerry 0-11 Cork 2-2: Kerry manager Pat O'Shea admitted, after his side had once again beaten rivals Cork in this Division One A derby at Austin Stack Park, Tralee, on Saturday night, it was a close call. It was a welcome result following last week's narrow away defeat to Mayo. p
Thurles caught in late thriller
An injury-time point from a free by Gary Bambrick gave De La Salle,Waterford, a thrilling win over Thurles CBS in this Munster Colleges senior hurling (Dr Harty Cup) semi-final cliff-hanger in New Inn on Saturday. p

Golf

Hedblom win ends 11-year drought
Malaysian Open: Peter Hedblom was all smiles yesterday after ending his 11-year victory drought on the European Tour by capturing the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. p
Mickelson edges clear in final round
PGA TOUR : Phil Mickelson survived a lost ball to move three-shot clear through 13 holes of the final round in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am yesterday. p

Racing

Salmon's 10th is the sweetest of them all
Leopardstown report: Beef Or Salmon will carry the same weight as Kauto Star and the other runners in next month's Cheltenham Gold Cup but his trainer Michael Hourigan insists that his veteran star will now have one less piece of baggage to hump around than before. p
Hairy Molly books a return to Cheltenham
Report from Naas: Hairy Molly booked his ticket for a return visit to the Cheltenham Festival with a workmanlike success in the Barrettstown Maiden Hurdle at Naas yesterday. p

Other

Jennings back in swing of things
ROWING: Snowcapped mountains provided a scenic background for the Neptune Head of the River at Blessington on Saturday. With a little imagination you could believe you were in Switzerland. p
Griffin plays part in team honours
CYCLING: Irish rider Paul Griffin ended the 10-day Tour de Langkawi yesterday very satisfied with his and the Giant Asia team's performance. The Kerryman finished the race 18th overall, seven minutes, 52 seconds behind winner Anthony Charteau (Crédit Agricole). p
Reputations repaired with England win
CRICKET: It was not the Ashes, but neither was it a kick in the teeth. England's overwhelming victory against Australia on a dank Sydney night brought them the Commonwealth Bank Trophy and, remarkably, their first win in a one-day series against major opposition since they overcame New Zealand 15 years ago. If Sydneyites could gaze at the rain-strewn skies and wonder if their drought was about to end, then so in cricketing terms could England. p
Morgan rewrites record books
CRICKET: Eoin Morgan rewrote the record books this weekend becoming the first Ireland player in history to score a double hundred in any form of cricket. p
Hanley's safe tactics pay off in Vigo
SHOW JUMPING: Cameron Hanley scored the best result of the current World Cup season when finishing seventh in Saturday night's Spanish qualifier in Vigo. The Mayoman brought out the 10-year-old gelding SIEC Concept for the feature class and the grey more than justified Hanley's faith when joining 12 others on a zero score to earn a place in the jump-off. p
Gronholm closes in
MOTOR SPORT/Swedish WRC Rally: Marcus Gronholm cut Sebastien Loeb's World Rally Championship lead to two points with a start to finish victory in the Swedish Rally, their second successive success following last weekend's Galway International win. Finland's Gronholm eased off on the final day but the Ford driver, who took control of the event halfway through the opening day, still had enough in hand to win comfortably from his French rival. p
Cragg signals his winning intentions
ATHLETICS: It wasn't as emphatic a reminder as David Gillick produced last week but Alistair Cragg has also made it clear that he won't easily be surrendering his European Indoor title. p
Roddick keen to put the record straight
TENNIS/Davis Cup: Andy Roddick's four-set victory over Tomas Berdych put the US into the Davis Cup quarter-finals as the Americans beat the Czech Republic 4-1 in their first-round tie yesterday. p
Pegasus edge closer to title
HOCKEY: Two goals from Arlene Boyles against Ards on Saturday have all but sealed a 10th successive Ulster title for Pegasus, one that is likely to be mathematically clinched over the next three weeks, writes Mary Hannigan . p
A week full of witticisms and shocks
Locker Room: The Sports Editor has moods at this time of the year and it's best to avoid him. Lots of his conversation begin with the words "You know what I'm going to get you to do a bit more of this year . . . " You'd best be at the lift and waving goodbye by the time he gets that far because there is no happy ending to that sentence. In fact there is no ending to that sentence which can't be translated into a single word. Work. p

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