Ireland 1 - 1 France After Extra Time (France win 2-1 on aggregate)
Well it’s the day after the night before and emotions have settled and time to reflect on the game last night.
Before the game we had hoped for a good performance but what we got was one of the best perfomances this Irish team has played under new manager Trapatoni. The fighting irish outplayed and out thought this French team. All the players worked so hard and guys who beforehand were not rated showed what passion and pride can make up for.
A well worked goal scored by Ireland captain Robbie Keane set us up for a dramatic second half. Although it was tense Ireland had most of the opportunities and should have taken at least one of them. Unfortunately there were no more goals so the game went to extra time.
Unfortunately it was the French who scored a goal that should never have been allowed. A long ball over the defence had two french players in offside positions but this was not given. The ball was going wide but Thiery Henry controlled the ball TWICE with his hand and passed the ball to Gallas who headed the ball into the net. All the players saw the foul and immediately put up their hands believing the whistle would be blown even before the goal was scored but no! The linesman and the referee claimed they were 100% sure that there was no handball and the goal was allowed to stand. The French held out for a few more minutes and we were out of the World Cup!
Don’t blame Henry, don’t call him a cheat, these things happen so fast and it was a reflex action to control the ball not a pre meditated act. It happens all the time but usually referees or linesmen see it and it is pulled up.
This time though it wasn’t and because there is no video referee in soccer the goal was allowed to stand.
After the game Richard Dunne and Thiery Henry sit on the pitch side by side. Here was the man who “cheated” sitting next to an Irish player and there was no animosity. Dunne knew the goal should have been disallowed, Thiery Henry admitted he fouled the ball yet Dunne didn’t berate him instead sat and watched the happenings around him.
What makes me Proud is the way the players and the fans reacted to this. If this had been any other country there would have been a riot! The Irish players went over to the Irish fans who had came over to watch the game and threw them their jerseys.
There was no riot, there was no trouble!
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Experience Bear Essentials Gingerbread House Christmas workshop on
Saturday 12th of December from 2pm in Bawnboy, Co.Cavan
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Will the Boys in Green cause a party for the Irish tonight in Paris.
Thousands of Irish fans have travelled from Ireland to see the game which will decide if we go to the World Cup next year in South Africa. With the score 1 - 0 in favour of the French, we will be underdogs to win the match but as stated previously the Fighting Irish always have a chance.
I hope we win! I think we may scrape a goal and it goes to extra time and penalties which we win:)
If you fancy a bet then Ireland are a great bet when you think that the margin is only 1 goal. Giovanni Trapattoni’s side are listed at a full 7/1 to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
But I’m not a betting man and we’ll see how it goes, talk to you tomorrow.
Tourism Ireland released a new TV advert in Australia this week to entice people to visit Ireland.
Orla Saul, Manager of Tourism Ireland, Australia & NZ said that ” We are very excited about the launch of the campaign and feel that the ads will have particular resonance with Australians as meeting local people and engaging with the characters of Ireland are key reasons why they visit Ireland. ”
The TV campaign will run exclusively with Channel 7 and target the 55+ age-group. The 3 week campaign will be run in conjunction with a significant online campaign. As part of the campaign, viewers will have the opportunity to enter a competition to win a trip to Ireland with $10,000 spending money with a Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card.
The winner will have the opportunity to tailor their own trip with the $10,000 Travel Money Card. Orla Saul, Manager of Tourism Ireland, Australia & NZ said that “Tourism Ireland is delighted to partner with the Commonwealth Bank in this campaign. The Travel Money Card is a great fit for travelers to Ireland and to other overseas destinations. It is a really fantastic product and we are proud of the association between the Commonwealth Bank and Ireland.”
Ireland Travel news: The main Dublin - Belfast railway link was reopened today after repairs were completed on the track at Malahide Estuary. Passengers were required to transfer from rail to bus from Drogheda to Dublin since the bridge fell into the sea moments before a Belfast passenger train was due to travel over it back in August ‘09.
Work has finished ahead of schedule but it may prove difficult to get passengers to transfer back to trains as a recent survey found that the majority of passengers preferred taking the bus!
In order to combat this prices have been slashed -
Among the slashed fares being offered are single Enterprise ticket for £4.99, a day return for £7.50 and first class day return ticket for £25.00. Promotional fares will be offered until January 3.
Well the soccer didn’t turn out as we hoped….
1-0 to the French from a deflected shot by Anelka.
Is it possible to salvage victory from the jaws of defeat on Wednesday night in Paris ?
I still believe we can, the French I’m hoping will sit back knowing that a draw can send them through. This I believe will allow us to attack in a much more controlled manner instead of the long ball from Given. If we do snatch a goal I am sure the French will come under severe pressure from their fans which again I believe will aid us. (as you can see I am the eternal optimist)
I can’t understand why Kevin Doyle was substituted as he was the only real attacking force we had!
On Sunday, Ireland played Australia in our first serious rugby game of the season. What a game, I really enjoyed it. The score finished Ireland 20 - Australia 20.
The size of the men on both teams especially the Aussies !! They are enormous, with massive arms and shoulders. The hitting and tackling was hard but fair.
Some may say that Ireland were not at their best but you have to remember this is the first game of their autumn series and so we couldn’t expect them to be firing on all cylinders. Australia on the other hand are nearing the end of their season and were a well organised team.
A 79th minute try by Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll was well deserved and Ronan O’Gara kicked the conversion to ensure a draw. The Aussies were deflated after this comeback by Ireland and it definitely re enforces the term “The Fighting Irish”
The soccer lads need to remember this next Wednesday night !!
I see that Ned Kelly’s skull has been handed in to officials in Australia.
The skull was stolen from a display case at the Old Melbourne Gaol in 1978 where Kelly was hanged in 1880.
The farmer won’t say how he came upon it. His head must be a bit loose!!
Ned Kelly was born in Victoria to an Irish convict father, and as a young man he clashed with the police. Following an incident at his home in 1878, police parties searched for him in the bush. After he murdered three policemen, the colony proclaimed Kelly and his gang wanted outlaws. A final violent confrontation with police took place at Glenrowan. Kelly, dressed in home-made plate metal armour and helmet, was captured and sent to jail.
This weekend is one of the biggest in a while in terms of Irish sport. Soccer:
On Saturday Ireland play France in Croke park, in the 1st of a two leg match. The 2nd leg being played in Paris on the following Wednesday.
Ireland have no injury problems and if we get a good result on Saturday then hopes will be high that we can get a result in Paris and be on our way to the World Cup in South Africa in 2010.
France on the other hand struggled in their so called weaker group and finished second. While they have a number of world class stars such as Frank Ribery, Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka, and Karim Benzema some seem to be nearing the end of their international careers and so they have failed to impress. Prediction: I predict we get a 1-0 win at Croke Park and look to hold out for a draw in Paris the following Wed, here’s hoping
Rugby:
Ireland play Australia on Sunday the 15th of November 2009 in a warm up match for the upcoming 6 Nations Tournament.
Ireland had a fantastic season last year and many of the player made the Lions Team which travelled to South Africa. This is Ireland’s first game in a while so they might be a bit rusty. Australia on the other hand walloped England last weekend and have played recently in the Tri Nations Tournament which they came last in. Historically the games have been a great spectacle and I hope we get the same again on Sunday. Ireland will hope to continue their impressive form and to do it again southern hemisphere teams would be a boost for Northern hemisphere rugby. Prediction: Ireland to win - just!
Well the evenings are getting darker and days getting colder so most events this month in Ireland are indoors.
12th of November 2009 - 15th of November 2009
Circus Festival in Tralee - County Kerry
Annual celebration of modern circus culture with shows, workshops, music and dance.
13th of November 2009 - 22nd of November 2009
Arts fesitval over 9 days in Cashel Co Tipperary
This year’s fest is the 7th and promises to be the most exiting yet and will provide opportunities for all members of the community to engage in the Arts in a meaningful and enjoyable way.
19th of November 2009 - 22nd of November 2009
Jazz festival over a weekend in Galway City
The Galway Jazz Festival presents a weekend of leading local, national and international jazz artists in a broad range of venues, in Galway City. Annually, the aim is to foster jazz as a contemporary art form in the West.
20th of November 2009 - 23rd of November 2009
Comedy Festival over a weekend in Clonmel Co Tipperary
Welcome to our 2nd Annual Comedy Festival at O’Keeffes. We return bigger and better than ever before. We owe Bulmers a big thank you for their support.
and we’ll see how it goes, talk to you tomorrow.
