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Who will get Irish support at Qatar 2022

The countdown to Qatar 2022 is well underway. Once again, Irish football supporters are without a home team to get behind. It’s been 20 years since the Republic of Ireland qualified for the World Cup, while Northern Ireland has to look back even further to 1986.
Tough qualifiers
 
This year, it is fair to say neither had any luck in the qualifiers. Switzerland and Italy were always going to dominate Group C, and being “best of the rest” was a pyrrhic victory for Northern Ireland. It was the same story in Group A. Serbia and Portugal were in a league of their own, and there was no reward for Republic of Ireland’s third place.
It’s disappointing, of course, but for the true football fan, a tournament can be even more enjoyable when you can just sit back and watch the action unfold without the stress that comes with having too much emotional investment in the game. Of course, it’s still fun to have a team to support, and at a guess, few Irish fans will be cheering on the English.
USA
We all know the strong cultural and emotional bonds between Ireland and the USA. We also know that Ireland’s closest neighbour to the west is gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with in the international game.
What is less obvious, perhaps, is that USA has a strong track record at the World Cup. Russia 2018 was the first time they’d failed to qualify since the 1980s. Being drawn in the same Group as England adds a pinch of spice, and while winning the World Cup might be over optimistic, this online sportsbook in the US says they are a 9/2 shot to reach the quarter finals. If all goes to form and they qualify second in Group B, all they will have to do it beat the Group A winner – most likely Netherlands – in the round of 16.
Canada
The USA are the team to get behind if you want to support someone with a realistic chance of getting to the sharp end. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a genuine outside shot, cast your eye across to Group F. Now at first glance, the qualifiers for the knockout stage should be easy to spot. Belgium were ranked best team in the world until a few months ago, while Croatia were finalists last time out. However, both teams are heavily reliant on a couple of key players, neither of whom are in the first flush of youth. Croatia in particular will have a strong weight of expectation on its shoulders.
Canada, on the other hand, go in with nobody expecting anything. However, this is not like the hotch potch of players who turned up in 1986.  There is going to be some genuine talent duking it out for a place in the final squad. Look out for Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies and Tajon Buchanan from Club Brugge, in particular.

Who Will Be The Winner of the T20 Cricket World Cup 2022?

The ICC Men’s T20 cricket world cup match odds from 10CRIC will be held in Australia from October 16 to November 13. A total of 16 teams will compete for the championship.

The previous edition’s top eight teams have already qualified. Namibia, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies are the other four teams who advanced from the previous competition. Ireland and the United Arab Emirates advanced to the T20 World Cup from the Global Qualifier Acompetition. The UAE won Global Qualifier A and will compete in Group A of the T20 World Cup, while Ireland will compete in Group B.

The top eight teams have been placed into two groups according to the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 fixtures. Group A consists of England, New Zealand, Australia, and Afghanistan. Group B consists of India, Pakistan, South Africa, and Bangladesh.

There are already early versions of (T20 cricket world cup match odds from 10CRIC ) , though those numbers are likely to change as things unfold on their own. Let’s have a look at the likely teams that will make the top four and finally win the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.

Ireland

As a new addition to the roster, Ireland is far from being the favorite. The truth is that while they do have fans sporting them, the expectation for them to win is not that strong as of now. Most bookies currently place their odds at 500 to 1.

This makes them a huge underdog, and anyone who bets on them can make a huge amount of money should they somehow surprise everyone and win.

India

Team India had a season to forget from the previous edition. The men in blue were unable to advance to the knockout round after suffering a thrashing defeat over arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening encounter, followed by another loss against New Zealand. However, India will undoubtedly be one of the favorites to win the championship. The team appears to be comfortable under new skipper Rohit Sharma.

Given that he has been stripped of the captaincy, Virat Kohlimay play fearless cricket. India possesses the means to demolish any opposition. They will be one of the sides to watch in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 if they can keep their cool and play their flawless game in the park.

Pakistan

Pakistan had an outstanding performance in the just ended ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. The team led by Babar Azamdemonstrated to the world what they are capable of. In reality, Pakistan was the only team that never lost a game during the league round, winning five consecutive games. However, they were defeated by Australia in the semi-final match, dashing all of their fans’ dreams.

With Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Hafiz, Shoaib Malik, and others, their batting order has shown tremendous discipline. They boast one of the finest pace assaults in the league, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, and others firing on all cylinders. The teams cannot afford to take Pakistan lightly this time around.

Australia

Australia, the defending ICC T20 World Cup 2021 winners, will be the favorites to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022. The team led by Aaron Finch demonstrated why they are the greatest. They boast one of the strongest batting lineups in the league, including David Warner, Finch, Maxwell, Wade, Stoinis, and others. Australia’s bowling arsenal, particularly its speed bowlers, can devastate any opponent’s bowling attack.

The fact that the competition will be held in their backyard, where Australia has historically ruled, will be a huge benefit.

Final words

The winner is difficult to predict, but we feel India will win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2022. However, given the number of upsets that occur in cricket’s shortest format, you should not be surprised to see another side claim the title.

 

 

 

Online Betting on the Go

La Petite Coco wins Group 1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly Stakes at The Curragh. Credit: David Betts.

Nowadays, it is close to impossible to find a game that has not been adapted to different devices and operating systems. This is also the case with online betting.

 The majority of online bookmakers have a large live betting section, thanks to which you can place a bet anytime, anywhere.

 In terms of functionality, these versions usually do not differ much from the PC versions, so you don’t have to worry about convenience. In other words, you can not only place bets but also deposit or withdraw money, as well as use all available features such as cash out, quick bet, etc.

 But the best part is that you can place bets on the go. Imagine the following scenario – you are sitting in the stands in the football stadium and cheering on your team.

 The opponent then gets a red card and the odds on your team fall accordingly. With the help of the mobile version, you can then quickly place a bet using your smartphone and benefit greatly from the new circumstances, which will certainly put a big smile on your face.

 The Convenience of Mobile Betting

 One of the best things about online betting is the ability to follow events in various formats. You can classify the live sports bets according to your wishes, and thus keep an eye on the flow of the game much better. The following options are usually available to you:

 Overview

 The most common and most used format is definitely this one. If you hit the overview option, you will be presented with all the events in progress, so you can easily see what live bets are currently on offer. Some providers take this a step further and also present all the upcoming events that you can bet on during the day.

 Event View

 This option allows you to select an event and focus solely on it. Usually, everything about the math is presented to you in detail so that you can not only see which team is generally more dominant but also where the ball is on the pitch at a certain point in time. This option certainly deserves kudos as it allows you to track live betting results much more easily.

Multi-View

Thanks to multi-view, you can track not just one, but several games at the same time. This is perfect for those who want to place bets on multiple events. You can select all the matches you want, keep an eye on the score and statistics, and then place bets accordingly.

 

Sports That are Streamed the Most

 

The fact that not all events are streamed equally will certainly not come as a surprise to you. Both the type and the number of streamed events depend primarily on the country in question or the popularity of this sport in regard to live betting.

 

For instance, in the United States, the focus is mostly on basketball and American football, while in Asia it’s sports like tennis and baseball. As far as Europe goes, the two sports that stand out the most are football and basketball.

 

Some bookmakers also stream esports like Counter-Strike, FIFA, Dota 2, and so on. But that’s not all, because in some countries you can also watch certain TV shows and even bet on them. It’s hard to believe that all of these things are so easily accessible in today’s day and age.

 

Summary

 

Considering all the facts mentioned and the benefits that live betting brings, there is little doubt that it will keep on growing year after year.

 

With live betting, you have the opportunity to first get a feel for the game and only then make a wager. Of course, this increases your chances of winning immensely. So why not use it to your advantage? Especially if you closely follow the sport you are wagering on and know everything about the teams.

 

In addition, because of the constantly changing results, you can find significantly higher odds on events that are going live.

Are Thinking of Becoming Successful at Sports Betting; Follow These 6 Tips

The Republic of Ireland team huddle. Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile. Photo provided by FAI.

Are you an avid sports person who wishes to become a successful sports bettor?

There’s a strategy to keep winning. It is not enough to have a favorite team in your heart. You need to know much more than that.

To be at the top of your game and make money betting on sports, you must first understand what it would take to get there. You may wonder why some people make money from sports betting while others lose.

This article gives six tips to help you become a successful sports bettor in irish bookmakers.

1.   Research Thoroughly the Team or Players Before Betting

Do your research to find out how well a team has been doing in recent games and how they have played against their opponents. This will help you determine if they are undervalued or overpriced.

If they are undervalued, they are likely to win more often than not, so it is worth placing a bet on them. On the other hand, they will probably lose more often than not if they are overpriced. So it is not worth placing a bet on them.

2. Do Not Bet With Money You Cannot Afford To Lose

You should only bet with money you can afford to lose in the first place! If you do not do this, you may lose even more money than you had planned on losing in the first place! 

This will cause even more stress for yourself and others around you who care about what happens with your finances! Everyone involved must know what could happen when making any kind of decision such as this one.

3. Track Your Wins and Losses

Another thing you need to do is keep track of your wins and losses. This will allow you to see which bets are working out for you and which ones are not. 

Knowing where your money is going each time you place a bet can make or break your sports betting career. By keeping track of everything from winnings down to the losses, you’ll be able to see which bets are working out best for you and which aren’t worth the risk anymore.

4. Know Your Sports Betting Odds

The first step to successful sports betting is knowing the current odds for your favorite team or players. The odds are usually posted on the betting site’s home page, and the sports spread can be found by looking at a sports page. If you have a favorite team, you should research their previous games and performance against particular opponents.

If a team has a good chance at winning, then their odds will be higher than one with a lower chance. But still, give yourself enough time before making a decision to avoid rushing into anything without thinking it through first!



5. Take advantage of bonuses

Most online sportsbooks offer bonuses for new customers who sign up with them. These bonuses range from free bets when you make the first deposit to free cashback on losses incurred during gameplay. 

You may also get up to 100% cash back on initial deposits made within a certain period under the site’s terms & conditions. So make sure you read those before signing up because there will be conditions attached with each one!

6. Use A Sports Betting Site with A Good Reputation

It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of betting on sports. Using sportsbooks offers odds on your favorite teams is tempting without checking their reputation first.

When choosing which sports betting site to use, selecting one with a good reputation and excellent customer service is essential. 

You don’t want to be left without help if something goes wrong or if you’re confused about how something works on their site or app. This will help ensure your experience is as smooth as possible when placing bets online!

Be A Smart Sports Bettor Today!

A successful sports bettor isn’t just someone who wins many bets. It’s someone who knows their way around sportsbooks and understands betting lines, handicapping, odds, and matchups. But most of all, it’s someone willing to put in the time to do the research needed to become a successful winner at sports betting.

Darren Clarke beats Pádraig Harrington by 1 in The Senior Open

Darren Clarke poses with the trophy as he wins the Senior Open Presented by Rolex at Gleneagles. Credit: Getty Images. Image provided by The Senior Open.

Darren Clarke won $2.75 million The Senior Open on The King’s Course at Glenagles on Sunday night beating his fellow Irishman Pádraig Harrington by one stroke.

The Dungannon golfer birdied the final hole to finish the tournament at -10, one shot ahead of Harrington who watched on anxiously from the clubhouse.

The 53-year-old becomes the fourth man to win both The Open and The Senior Open, placing his name alongside Bob Charles, Gary Player and Tom Watson.

“I’ve made no secret of the fact that I wanted to win this more than anything,” Clarke admitted. “From when I turned 50, this is the one you wanted to win, so I could set it beside the other one. Pretty good feeling right now.“Very privileged to get my name on The Open trophy and the Claret Jug, and now to get my name on this one as well and go beside some legends of the game. I feel very humbled and very honoured,” the County Tyrone golfer said.

Clarke’s round on the final day saw him par the front nine holes. He dropped a shot at the 10th before carding a birdie two holes later.

Following a poor opening nine holes, Dubliner Harrington shot six birdies on the way home to carda 67 for a nine-under-par total.

His three under par round of 67 was enough to secure his third runner-up finish in Senior Major Championships this season, in addition to his U.S. Senior Open triumph.

Six players shared third place on eight under par, including third round co-leader Paul Broadhurst and four-time Major winner Ernie Els from South Africa.

Final scores (Irish players highlighted):

 270 D CLARKE 65 67 69 69 271 P HARRINGTON 66 69 69 67 272 M MOLINA (ARG) 68 69 70 65, D BARRON (USA) 69 71 67 65, E ELS (RSA) 66 69 69 68, T JAIDEE (THA) 66 71 67 68, S ALKER (NZL) 68 68 66 70, P BROADHURST (ENG) 65 70 66 71,  273 C MONTGOMERIE (SCO) 70 66 68 69,  275 P LAWRIE (SCO) 69 70 69 67, Y YANG (KOR) 73 65 68 69,  276 A CEJKA (GER) 70 73 64 69, C WI (KOR) 73 66 67 70, B LANGER (GER) 67 68 70 71, J KINGSTON (RSA) 70 69 66 71,  277 R GOOSEN (RSA) 70 69 70 68, S KHAN (ENG) 66 72 70 69, M BROWN (USA) 72 67 68 70,  278 S APPLEBY (AUS) 70 67 67 74,  279 P O’MALLEY (AUS) 71 69 70 69, S AMES (CAN) 64 71 74 70, K DUKE (USA) 69 69 71 70, S PAREL (USA) 66 68 74 71, K JONES (USA) 65 70 73 71, P PRICE (WAL) 69 71 68 71, J KELLY (USA) 65 70 67 77,  280 P MARKSAENG (THA) 68 71 70 71, C DENNIS (USA) 69 68 69 74,  281 C FRANCO (PAR) 72 71 69 69, M MARTIN (ESP) 66 70 73 72, I WOOSNAM (WAL) 71 70 68 72, G HOUSTON (WAL) 68 69 71 73, M JIMÍNEZ (ESP) 69 67 71 74,  282 T BJORN (DEN) 67 74 71 70, M WATSON (ENG) 74 65 71 72,  283 G DAY (USA) 64 72 77 70, H FRAZAR (USA) 69 73 69 72, T GILLIS (USA) 70 70 70 73, C PAVIN (USA) 69 69 71 74, M DAWSON (USA) 69 69 70 75,  284 J HAEGGMAN (SWE) 71 71 74 68, D FROST (RSA) 67 68 77 72, R GREEN (AUS) 67 72 72 73, A DA SILVA (BRA) 69 70 71 74, D MORLAND IV (CAN) 71 69 69 75, A OLDCORN (SCO) 70 71 67 76,  285 K TRIPLETT (USA) 72 70 72 71, S DODD (WAL) 69 72 71 73, C KRESGE (USA) 72 70 70 73, P MCGINLEY 71 71 69 74, J SENDEN (AUS) 67 71 72 75, W AUSTIN (USA) 70 73 67 75,  286 D PRIDE (USA) 66 73 75 72, J REMESY (FRA) 69 70 73 74, M BRIER (AUT) 67 72 73 74, G OWEN (ENG) 69 72 71 74, J KEMP (AM) (ENG) 73 69 67 77,  287 W SHORT JR (USA) 72 71 70 74, R COCHRAN (USA) 73 69 70 75,  288 T FOSTER (AM) (ENG) 71 71 73 73, R DINSDALE (WAL) 72 71 70 75, A BOSSERT (SUI) 70 70 71 77,  289 Y TSUKADA (JPN) 70 73 72 74, P STREETER (ENG) 70 71 72 76, A BUTTERFIELD (ENG) 67 73 72 77,  290 M CAMPBELL (NZL) 71 70 72 77,  291 M JONZON (SWE) 71 72 76 72, R GOMEZ (ARG) 76 66 72 77,  295 T LEVET (FRA) 69 73 74 79,  296 H RUDOLPH III (USA) 73 68 77 78, S HENDERSON (SCO) 69 71 75 81.

Darren Clarke leads The Senior Open

Darren Clarke in action during round 2 of The Senior Open at Gleneagles. Credit: Getty Images.

Darren Clarke once turned on the style on the back nine on Friday to post a three under par round of 67 and take a two-stroke lead into the weekend of The Senior Open at Gleneagles.

The Dungannon man leads on eight under par, two shots ahead of American Scott Parel. Four back nine birdies saw Clarke set the target before the temperature dropped in the afternoon and made it difficult for anyone to challenge his lead.

The 2011 Open Champion made the turn in one over par after bogeys at the second and seventh sandwiched a birdie at the fourth.

“Around the front nine today, I was so-so. I slipped” said the Tyrone golfer. “My right foot slipped a couple of times. But apart from that, I played really nicely. I’m trying to hit a lot of fairways and give myself decent looks. All the way around the back nine, I kept hitting nice shots. And could have been a few better. But, you know, it’s the way it is.”

Darren Clarke then mirrored his opening day back nine with birdies at the tenth, 14th, 15th and 18th.

Bids for Open – Senior Open double

Clarke, who has three wins on the PGA TOUR Champions since turning 50, is in pole position to claim his first Senior Major Championship. He will need to fend off a star-studded leaderboard if he is to become only the fourth man to win both The Open Championship and The Senior Open.

Fellow former Champion Golfers of the Year Ernie Els and Pádraig Harrington, who will also bid to join Bob Charles, Gary Player and Tom Watson in completing the historic double. Harrington and Els are three strokes back in a share for third place on five under par, alongside four-time Senior Open Champion Bernhard Langer, 2016 winner Paul Broadhurst, American duo Kent Jones and Jerry Kelly, Canadian Stephen Ames and South African David Frost.

Round two scores (Irish players highlighted):

132 D CLARKE 65 67,
134 S PAREL (USA) 66 68,
135 D FROST (RSA) 67 68, E ELS (RSA) 66 69, P BROADHURST (ENG) 65 70, S AMES (CAN) 64 71, P HARRINGTON 66 69, B LANGER (GER) 67 68, J KELLY (USA) 65 70, K JONES (USA) 65 70,
136 G DAY (USA) 64 72, S ALKER (NZL) 68 68, C MONTGOMERIE (SCO) 70 66, M JIMÉNEZ (ESP) 69 67, M MARTIN (ESP) 66 70,
137 S APPLEBY (AUS) 70 67, T JAIDEE (THA) 66 71, M MOLINA (ARG) 68 69, C DENNIS (USA) 69 68, G HOUSTON (WAL) 68 69,
138 Y YANG (KOR) 73 65, K DUKE (USA) 69 69, J SENDEN (AUS) 67 71, M DAWSON (USA) 69 69, S KHAN (ENG) 66 72, C PAVIN (USA) 69 69,
139 M WATSON (ENG) 74 65, D PRIDE (USA) 66 73, J KINGSTON (RSA) 70 69, P LAWRIE (SCO) 69 70, M BROWN (USA) 72 67, J REMESY (FRA) 69 70, M BRIER (AUT) 67 72, R GREEN (AUS) 67 72, R GOOSEN (RSA) 70 69, P MARKSAENG (THA) 68 71, A DA SILVA (BRA) 69 70, C WI (KOR) 73 66,
140 P O’MALLEY (AUS) 71 69, D BARRON (USA) 69 71, S HENDERSON (SCO) 69 71, T GILLIS (USA) 70 70, D MORLAND IV (CAN) 71 69, P PRICE (WAL) 69 71, A BOSSERT (SUI) 70 70, A BUTTERFIELD (ENG) 67 73,
141 H RUDOLPH III (USA) 73 68, S DODD (WAL) 69 72, T BJ?RN (DEN) 67 74, I WOOSNAM (WAL) 71 70, M CAMPBELL (NZL) 71 70, G OWEN (ENG) 69 72, P STREETER (ENG) 70 71, A OLDCORN (SCO) 70 71,
142 J KEMP (AM) (ENG) 73 69, C KRESGE (USA) 72 70, T LEVET (FRA) 69 73, K TRIPLETT (USA) 72 70, P MCGINLEY 71 71, H FRAZAR (USA) 69 73, R COCHRAN (USA) 73 69, T FOSTER (AM) (ENG) 71 71, J HAEGGMAN (SWE) 71 71, R GOMEZ (ARG) 76 66,
143 R DINSDALE (WAL) 72 71, C FRANCO (PAR) 72 71, Y TSUKADA (JPN) 70 73, A CEJKA (GER) 70 73, W AUSTIN (USA) 70 73, W SHORT JR (USA) 72 71, M JONZON (SWE) 71 72,
144 S BERTSCH (USA) 73 71, P WILSON (ENG) 71 73, J BICKERTON (ENG) 69 75, J COCERES (ARG) 74 70, G WOLSTENHOLME (ENG) 71 73, R STRAWN (AM) (USA) 72 72, B BREEN (USA) 69 75, T PETROVIC (USA) 68 76, S MICHEEL (USA) 72 72, D SHACKLADY (ENG) 70 74, T G?GELE (GER) 73 71, S WHIFFIN (ENG) 70 74,
145 V SINGH (FIJ) 72 73, S TINNING (DEN) 75 70, F QUINN (USA) 71 74, J RIPLEY (ENG) 74 71, J CARRILES (ESP) 74 71, K TANIGAWA (USA) 71 74,
146 T SAPERE (USA) 75 71, I FELIU (ESP) 73 73, N SHINOZAKI (JPN) 69 77, A MCLEAN (CAN) 74 72, M REALE (ITA) 70 76, S EDWARDS (WAL) 74 72, E MCINTOSH (SCO) 75 71,
147 P BAKER (ENG) 76 71, R CHAPMAN (ENG) 74 73, J OLAZÁBAL (ESP) 73 74, R LABRITZ (USA) 75 72, A ARCHIBALD (ENG) 74 73, A RAITT (ENG) 72 75, P GOLDING (ENG) 72 75, R GONZALEZ (ARG) 72 75, B KEENAN (AM) (USA) 73 74,
148 P WESSELINGH (ENG) 72 76, D CHARLTON (ENG) 73 75, J SANDELIN (SWE) 75 73, J WADE (AUS) 73 75, G HJERTSTEDT (USA) 73 75, M MCCOY (AM) (USA) 75 73,
149 S GREEN (ENG) 72 77, C ACUTIS (ITA) 75 74, P FOWLER (AUS) 73 76, J BARNES (ENG) 78 71, G JOYNER (AUS) 73 76, D DUVAL (USA) 75 74,
150 C WILLIAMS (RSA) 73 77, J LYONS (USA) 75 75, S LYLE (SCO) 72 78, J SINGH (IND) 75 75,
151 S FITZGERALD 76 75, J CRAMPTON (AM) (ENG) 73 78, E CANONICA (ITA) 72 79, K KAMI (NEP) 76 75,
152 R ALLENBY (AUS) 76 76, A WELSFORD (AUS) 77 75,
153 M STEVENSON (ENG) 77 76, M ASHWORTH (ENG) 78 75, R MAXFIELD (AM) (ENG) 76 77, L MATTIACE (USA) 74 79,
154 R BEEM (USA) 77 77, N BEAUFILS (FRA) 75 79, B CAMERON (ENG) 80 74, R SABARROS (FRA) 77 77,
155 N CONNOLLY (ENG) 78 77,
156 N FASTH (SWE) 78 78,
158 J WARNE (USA) 76 82, R TUDDENHAM (ENG) 75 83,
159 D CARTER (ENG) 78 81, R GERWIN II (AM) (USA) 78 81,
160 R BARNES (AM) (ENG) 80 80,
163 B ROLLINSON (USA) 81 82,
**
OUT B LANE (ENG) 71 WD

John Murphy three shots off German Challenge lead

John Murphy lies in sixth place, three shots off the lead after the second round of the Big Green Egg German Challenge.

The Irish golfer shot a round of 66 on Friday, five strokes better than his opening round to lie on seven under par. He is joined on that mark by Frenchman Félix Mory.

The second round joint leaders at Wittelsbacher Golfclub are Spaniards Alejandro Del Rey and Manuel Elvira as well as Poland’s Mateusz Gradecki.

Del Rey recovered from a triple-bogey on his first hole to post a six under par second round 66. Gradecki shot a 68, one shot better than Elvira’s 69.

Del Rey, who holds the record for the lowest round in European Challenge Tour history after posting a 14 under par 58 at the 2021 Swiss Challenge, was delighted with the mental resilience he showed during the second round in Germany.

“I couldn’t have got off to a worse start,” he said. “I wasn’t nervous or anything it was just a bad swing on a tough hole. I had to mentally reset with a couple of pars and then I started to make birdies.”

Co-leader Gradecki kick-started his second round in style with a hole out eagle on the first and was pleased to reap the rewards of his hard work on the practice greens.

“I started with a hole out eagle on the first hole which was a nice bonus,” he said.“My putting wasn’t great to start with, but I stayed patient and the birdies started to come. There wasn’t much wind and the greens were receptive so it was definitely scoreable out there.”

Overnight leader Tadeáš Tetak sits in fourth place on nine under par, while Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist is a shot further back in fifth.

Round two scores (Irish golfers highlighted):

134 M GRADECKI (POL) 66 68, M ELVIRA (ESP) 65 69, A DEL REY (ESP) 68 66,
135 T TETAK (SVK) 64 71,
136 R SCIOT-SIEGRIST (FRA) 68 68,
137 F MORY (FRA) 70 67, J MURPHY 71 66,
138 M SCHMITT (GER) 67 71, C MIVIS (BEL) 69 69, J FAHRBRING (SWE) 69 69, D BROWN (ENG) 66 72, J PARRY (ENG) 68 70,
139 A BERGSTROM (SWE) 69 70, A SADDIER (FRA) 70 69, A JOHN (GER) 70 69, J FREIBURGHAUS (SUI) 68 71, J SAINZ (ESP) 70 69, D YOUNG (SCO) 71 68, B VIRTO (ESP) 68 71,
140 E ROUSAUD (ESP) 71 69, F SCHOTT (GER) 69 71, L SCALISE (ITA) 69 71, D GERMISHUYS (RSA) 68 72, T MCKIBBIN 67 73, S TILEY (ENG) 70 70, A BLOMME (SWE) 73 67,
141 K CANTLEY (SCO) 71 70, D MCELROY 71 70, N BACHEM (GER) 71 70, B RITTHAMMER (GER) 73 68, K JOHANNESSEN (NOR) 70 71, J KO (FRA) 72 69, T SLOMAN (ENG) 70 71, V RIU (FRA) 74 67, V MEYER (GER) 70 71, R MCGEE 70 71, C BLOMSTRAND (SWE) 73 68, A HIETALA (FIN) 71 70, M HIRMER (GER) 70 71,
142 C FYFE (SCO) 70 72, M ROTTLUFF (GER) 71 71, G BLOOR (ENG) 73 69, I CANTERO GUTIERREZ (ESP) 67 75, O FARRELL (ENG) 69 73, T BALTL (AUT) 73 69, R KAKKO (FIN) 71 71, A KNAPPE (GER) 71 71, M HAMMER (GER) 70 72, E DI NITTO (ITA) 71 71, C SORDET (FRA) 68 74, T VAHLENKAMP (GER) 73 69, J GIRRBACH (SUI) 68 74, P MARGOLIS (FRA) 72 70, R CONRADIE (RSA) 73 69, P L0NGFORS (SWE) 70 72, M LINDBERG (SWE) 74 68, M LUNDBERG (SWE) 70 72, D BORDA (ESP) 70 72, H ELLIS (ENG) 71 71, L RUUSKA (FIN) 70 72, J BAUMGARTNER (AM) (GER) 70 72, O LINDELL (FIN) 72 70,
143 J GARCIA (ESP) 74 69, J DE BRUYN (GER) 72 71, P MEJOW (GER) 72 71, R VAN WEST (NED) 70 73, R KLEU (AM) (SUI) 71 72, M WAITE (ENG) 71 72, ZACH (CZE) 70 73, P MOOLMAN (RSA) 70 73, L CIANCHETTI (ITA) 69 74, B RUSCH (SUI) 74 69, E LIPPARELLI (ITA) 69 74, K DAVIDSE (RSA) 71 72,
144 T WIEDEMEYER (AM) (GER) 71 73, K KOIVU (FIN) 68 76, D RAVETTO (FRA) 70 74, D FOOS (GER) 76 68, A ZEMMER (ITA) 71 73, L VAN MEIJEL (NED) 74 70, C BERARDO (FRA) 71 73, Y VAN DOREN (BEL) 70 74, B NEIL (SCO) 71 73, G STAL (FRA) 71 73, J WIKSTROM (SWE) 69 75, V LOPES (POR) 72 72, P ERIKSSON (SWE) 70 74, H RONEBLAD (SWE) 71 73,
145 V GARCIA BROTO (ESP) 72 73, U COUSSAUD (FRA) 73 72, S HEISELE (GER) 73 72, J QUESNE (FRA) 74 71, J MEYER DE BECO (BEL) 70 75, C BRING (DEN) 73 72, J ARNOY (NOR) 75 70, S GROS (FRA) 72 73, T STRYDOM (RSA) 73 72, M MANASSERO (ITA) 71 74, C ROSS (SCO) 71 74, W GLAWE (AM) (GER) 75 70, N JOHANSSON (SWE) 73 72, J RUTHERFORD (ENG) 75 70,
146 M HERRMANN (GER) 73 73, C WILLIAMS 72 74, J LANDO CASANOVA (FRA) 74 72, B POKE (DEN) 72 74, A DE BONDT (BEL) 77 69, T WIDING (SWE) 72 74, R KAMINSKI (RSA) 71 75, S FERNANDEZ (ESP) 71 75, J GUMBERG (USA) 76 70, B KESSON (SWE) 72 74, A ROMANO (ITA) 70 76,
147 S DEL VAL (ESP) 76 71, O LIESER (CZE) 71 76, M WIEGELE (AUT) 75 72, M ORRIN (ENG) 74 73, J VECCHI FOSSA (ITA) 72 75, H MAGNUS (ISL) 72 75,
148 N KIMSEY (ENG) 71 77, J BARES (CZE) 74 74, F MACCARIO (ITA) 72 76, S HENRY (SCO) 76 72, E BERTHEUSSEN (NOR) 70 78, P PINEAU (FRA) 74 74, A KORINEK (CZE) 76 72, B THALMAYR (GER) 72 76,
149 F BERGAMASCHI (ITA) 75 74, N REGNER (AUT) 75 74, M HONKALA (FIN) 76 73, M ITEN (SUI) 75 74, C WORSDALL (ENG) 73 76,
150 V PASTOR (ESP) 77 73, G BRIXI (CZE) 77 73, J SANDBORG (SWE) 72 78, E WALKER (SCO) 72 78, F PALSON (SWE) 71 79, I SAULO (FIN) 76 74,
151 C PURCELL (IRL) 74 77, P ELISSALDE (FRA) 77 74, D ERICKSON (USA) 73 78, A TIDEN (SWE) 77 74,
152 J KOLBING (GER) 80 72, R WATTEL (FRA) 73 79, C BRAEUNIG (GER) 74 78, J SCHAPER (RSA) 79 73,
153 D WICKS (ENG) 79 74, W PORTER (SCO) 81 72, F FLEER (GER) 72 81, A AHOKAS (FIN) 76 77, C WAUGH (USA) 80 73,
158 C SAHLSTROM (SWE) 82 76,
160 F KATZY (GER) 77 83,
162 M MURRAY (USA) 82 80,
**
OUT P EDBERG (SWE) 80 WD, R FOLEY (SUI) 76 RT,

No fear of the Kingdom for ferocious Tribes

Expect no quarter asked and no quarter given as Galway and Kerry do battle again on Sunday. Photo credit: Shane Tighe

Kerry favourites to lift their 38th All-Ireland

Kerry’s 37 All-Ireland crowns ensures that the Kingdom are rightly feared and respected by footballing purists wherever the game is played. Their status as the kingpins of the game is due to generation after generation of fast, strong and stylish footballers. This legacy has created an aura around Kerry sides in the past, particularly for final opponents. Despite this reputation, Kerry hold no fears for the current Galway squad.

One of the counties most scarred by the sight of the Green and Gold jerseys are Galway’s near neighbors to the north, Mayo. They lost out to the Munster aristocrats in the finals of 1997, 2004 & 2006. The 1997 final in particular makes for a good study in sports psychology. A far-from vintage Kerry side overcame a Mayo team who had lost to Meath after a replay the previous year. Maurice Fitzgerald kicked 0-9 and was by far the most impressive player for either side. Their winning total of 13 points was one of the lowest winning totals in the last forty years. Pre-game favourites Mayo meanwhile repeatedly failed to find the target. Shooting wide after wide as the pressure and expectation of winning an All-Ireland title got the better of them. 

The crop of 2022

This year the Kerry men have finally beaten a Dublin side who have had the edge over them in big games in recent history. After Sean O’Shea’s dramatic semi-final injury-time free, the bookies have installed Jack O’Connor’s side as 1/3 favorites to lift their 38th All-Ireland title. (Technically it will be their 31st Sam as their first seven titles pre-date Sam’s first appearance. The first Sam Maguire trophy was presented to Kildare in 1928 after their win over Cavan. This trophy was then replaced by an identical Sam in 1989. I just thought I’d clear that up for the pedants out there!). 

Sean O’Shea stands over Galway’s Gary O’Donnell during a league meeting between the sides in February 2019 in Tuam. Photo credit: Shane Tighe

Kerry Confidence

Despite an almost decade-long dominance from the Dubs, Kerry sides still consider themselves superior to every other county in the land. This confidence comes from their success not just at Senior All-Ireland level, but also from countless victories at all levels of the game. Current superstar, David Clifford’s eye-catching 4-04 in the 2017 minor final win over Derry earmarked the Fossa youngster for greatness. Five minor titles in a row from 2014-18 and a runners-up spot in 2020 has continued on the green and gold production line.  

In recent years, however, that air of invincibility has lost some of its lustre at Senior level. Kerry’s most recent All-Ireland title came in the 2014 win over Donegal. Eight years is practically a famine by the standards of their illustrious past. Defeats to Dublin in the finals of 2015 and 2019 have created doubts in their previously unparalleled levels of self-belief. Particularly the 6-point defeat in the replayed 2019 final. 

In the first half of the drawn match, the dismissal of Jonny Cooper handed a sizeable advantage to Peter Keane’s side. They had come from five points in arrears to edge ahead in the closing stages. A converted free from Dean Rock four minutes into stoppage time gave Jim Gavin’s Dublin a second bite at securing their historic five in a row. It was a game that the Kerry fans felt they left behind them. 0-8 from 17 first-half scoring chances, which included a Paul Geaney penalty saved by Stephen Cluxton, was a poor return by their standards. 

Kerry hold no fears for the current Galway squad

Sunday’s final opponents Galway have none of the big game experience on All-Ireland final day that their opponents have. This is the Tribesmen’s first final since their 2001 victory over Meath. Current manager Padraig Joyce kicked ten points in a comprehensive 0-17 v 0-8 win. Despite the lack of exposure to the pressures that a final appearance can bring, this crop of Galway players are unlikely to be overawed.

Galway football is riding the crest of a wave at the moment. Last Friday week their minors lifted the Tommy Markham cup defeating Mayo in the All-Ireland final in Hyde pk, Roscommon. Earlier this year a NUI Galway side defeated University of Limerick 0-12 to 1-6 in the Sigerson Cup final in Carlow. The aforementioned David Clifford ended up on the losing side despite scoring 1-2. An IT Tralee side with a large Kerry contingent had been beaten in the semi-final in Rathkeale 0-18 v 0-15 a week previously. 

Galway’s Matthew Tierney was part of that victorious side and he also enjoyed success at u20 level in 2020. That Galway side defeated Kerry in the semi-final in the Gaelic grounds in Limerick before beating Dublin in the final. When reminded of his track record against some of the opponents he’ll face on Sunday he said “That’s not down to me, it’s down to the teammates as well. We have a load of leaders out there, ….It’s very enjoyable at the moment, so hopefully we’ll keep the success going”.

Tierney’s mother Marie hails from Castleisland in Kerry. When questioned about the loyalties of his mum Matthew said “I won’t talk to her now for the week”. Coincidentally Marie went to school with David Clifford’s mother Eileen. “I have the phone taken off her, don’t worry!” Matthew joked as he shot down any possibilities of a Kerry mole within the camp.

Relevance of past battles

When questioned on whether previous underage success bore any relevance to facing some of the same faces at Croke Park on Sunday Matthew said “I suppose you get a bit of confidence every time you win. But, it’s a different competition and a different Kerry side”. John Concannon a selector with this year’s team then interjected, “The belief that these young lads have from winning the Sigerson, from winning the under 20 All-Ireland, even the lads in 2017 that beat Kerry with a lot of the current team on it. These lads growing up now have a belief that they are winners”. Concannon went on to add “They fear no one, which is great and that’s one thing I’ve learned from them since we came in”. 

John Concannon was first involved alongside current manager Padraig Joyce and fellow selector John Divilly at under 20 level in 2019. Five of the current side played for them at that grade. Concannon is impressed by the attitude he sees within the current squad. “Every county is the same to them, they go out with the belief they can win”. He added, “We’re going to believe we can win on Sunday and they are going to go in with that attitude”.   

Galway’s captain on Sunday is Moycullen’s Sean Kelly. Alongside Tierney, he was also part of this year’s victorious Sigerson Cup team. He also spoke of the belief instilled in this group of players. “Padraig spoke to us and we believe we should be fighting for All-Irelands. Thankfully, this year now we’ve kicked on an extra step and we are in one”.  He was involved in the 2017 u21 semi-final win over Kerry (the final year at that age grade before it changed to u20 in 2018). “We got over the line that day, a lot of those young lads have come through” (to the senior squad). On the prospect of facing Kerry Kelly said “It’s not something we’re scared of, you can’t be scared of someone else. We’re looking forward to it. We know it’s going to be a tough battle”.

Galway’s Cillian McDaid kicks a first-half point in a man-of-the-match display against Armagh. Photo credit: Shane Tighe

Shock on the cards?

Galway will go into Sunday’s final as outsiders.  As mentioned earlier Kerry are strong favourites with the bookies offering the westerners at 10/3. It’s a similar price to what was being offered for Andy Farrell’s Irish side ahead of the third test in Wellington last weekend. I see similar value based on this growing and maturing Galway side. 

They have shown that they can win games in different ways and have grown as the championship has progressed. Obviously, the instant classic quarter-final penalty shoot-out win over Armagh grabbed the most column inches. It also put the team in the national spotlight. The win over Mayo in Castlebar gave the squad the belief that they could compete with the best. The Connacht final win over Roscommon gave them the silverware to back that up. The Derry semi-final saw them grind out a convincing victory after a very poor start. 

The swagger is back in Galway football and red-hot favourites Kerry will hold no fears for Padraig Joyce’s side. Kerry may be the All-Blacks of Gaelic football. But just as the All-Blacks invincible aura was shattered in Chicago, Kerry hold no fears for the current Galway squad. The Tribesmen believe that the time has come to bridge a gap of 21 years. Padraig Joyce’s men are primed to lift the Sam Maguire this Sunday. 

Galway v Kerry – Preview, Facts to know, Betting and Team News

All Ireland Football Final 2022 – Galway v Kerry – Preview, Facts to know, Betting and Team News. Start time 3:30 pm on Sunday.

Kerry are seeking their 38th All-Ireland title and their first since 2014; Galway are bidding for their tenth crown and their first since 2001, which was also the last time they reached the final.

Kerry were last there in 2019 when they lost a replay to Dublin.

Jack O’Connor leads Kerry into the All-Ireland final for the sixth time in what is his third term, having presided over wins in 2004 (Mayo), 2006 (Mayo), 2009 (Cork) and defeats in 2005 (Tyrone) and 2011 (Dublin).

Padraic Joyce in his third season as Galway manager, having previously won two All-Ireland titles as a player in 1998 and 2001.

Kerry are attempting to win the All-Ireland and Allianz League double for the first time since 2009.

A Connacht county hasn’t beaten Munster opposition in the All- Ireland final since 1965 when Galway beat Kerry (0-12 to 0-9). Since then Galway lost to Cork in 1973, Roscommon lost to Kerry in 1980, Mayo lost to Cork in 1989 and to Kerry in 1997-2004-2006, Galway lost to Kerry in 2000 (replay).

Big changes in Galway…not so much in Kerry! Only five of Galway’s 26-strong panel for the All-Ireland semi-final against Derry featured in their last championship clash with Kerry in the 2018 ‘Super 8s’. They are: Johnny Heaney, Paul Conroy, Sean Kelly, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.

Kerry had 12 of the 2018 squad on their 26 for the semi-final win over Dublin last Sunday week: Jason Foley, Brian O Beaglaioch, Gavin

White, David Moran, Sean O’Shea, Jack Barry, Stephen O’Brien, David Clifford, Paul Geaney, Paul Murphy, Micheal Burns, Tom O’Sullivan.

The last competitive clash between the counties was in last year’s Allianz League (Division 1) when Kerry won by 4-21 to 0-11 in Tralee. David Clifford scored 3-6 for Kerry, 3-4 from play.

Kerry have played in 14 All-Ireland finals since the turn of the Millennium, winning six (2000-04-06-07-09-14), losing six (2002-05- 08-11-15-19) and drawing two (2000-19). Galway’s win over Meath in 2001 their only appearance in the same period.

David Moran (34) and Paul Conroy (33) made their respective debuts for Kerry and Galway in 2008. Conroy captained Galway to the All-Ireland minor title in 2007.

Galway are attempting to win the All-Ireland senior and minor titles for the first time. They beat Mayo in this year’s minor final.

This is the first year since 2014 that neither of the previous year’s finalists were in the decider.

Goals have been in very short supply in Galway-Kerry All-Ireland finals. Declan Meehan’s goal for Galway in the 2000 replay was the only one scored in the last four finals involving the counties (2000 draw and replay, 1965-1964). It leaves Garry McMahon as the last Kerryman to score a goal in an All-Ireland final against Galway in the 1959 decider which they won by 3-7 to 1-4.

PATH TO THE FINAL – GALWAY

Galway 1-14 Mayo 0-16 (Connacht quarter-final)
Galway 4-20 Leitrim 0-9 (Connacht semi-final)
Galway 2-19 Roscommon 2-16 (Connacht final)
Galway 2-21 Armagh 3-18 aet – Galway won 4-1 on penalties – (All- Ireland quarter-final)
Galway 2-8 Derry 1-6 (All-Ireland semi-final)

PATH TO THE FINAL – KERRY

Kerry 0-23 Cork 0-11 (Munster semi-final) Kerry 1-28 Limerick 0-8 (Munster final)
Kerry 1-18 Mayo 0-13 (All-Ireland quarter-final) Kerry 1-14 Dublin 1-13 (All-Ireland semi-final)

TOP SCORERS – GALWAY

Shane Walsh ……….1-27 (0-16 frees, 0-4 ‘45s’)

Damien Comer……..2-9
Robert Finnerty…….0-13 (0-1 mark)
Patrick Kelly…………3-2
Johnny Heaney………2-5 Cillian McDaid………..1-7

TOP SCORERS – KERRY

Sean O’Shea………..1-23 (0-11 frees, 0-2 ‘45s’) David Clifford………..1-13 (0-5 frees, 0-2 mark) Paul Geaney…………0-10 (0-2 mark)
Killian Spillane…………1-4
Tom O’Sullivan………..0-7 Paudie Clifford………..0-6

GALWAY v KERRY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

They have met 22 times in the championship, with the Kingdom leading 12-7, with three draws.

They have met in nine All-Ireland finals with Kerry winning four to Galway’s three while two were drawn.

Galway’s win in their most recent championship meeting (2018) with Kerry was their first success over the Kingdom since the 1965 All- Ireland final. Kerry won six and drew one of the seven clashes in between.

2018: Galway 1-13 Kerry 1-10 (‘Super 8s’)

2017: Kerry 1-18 Galway 0-13 ((All-Ireland quarter-final)

2014: Kerry 1-20 Galway 2-10 (All-Ireland quarter-final)

2008: Kerry 1-21 Galway 1-16 (All-Ireland quarter-final)

2002: Kerry 2-17 Galway 1-12 (All-Ireland quarter-final)

2000: Kerry 0-17 Galway 1-10 (All-Ireland final)

Replay 2000: Kerry 0-14 Galway 0-14 (All-Ireland final) Draw

1984: Kerry 2-17 Galway 0-11 (All-Ireland semi-final)

1965: Galway 0-12 Kerry 0-9 (All-Ireland final)

1964: Galway 0-15 Kerry 0-10 (All-Ireland final)

1963: Galway 1-7 Kerry 0-8 (All-Ireland semi-final)

1960: Kerry 1-8 Galway 0-8 (All-Ireland semi-final)

1959: Kerry 3-7 Galway 1-4 (All-Ireland final)

1954: Kerry 2-6 Galway 1-6 (All-Ireland semi-final)

1942: Galway 1-3 Kerry 0-3 (All-Ireland semi-final)

1941: Kerry 1-8 Galway 0-7 (All-Ireland final)

1940: Kerry 0-7 Galway 1-3 (All-Ireland final)

1938: Galway 2-4 Kerry 0-7 (All-Ireland final) Replay

1938: Galway 2-6 Kerry 3-3 (All-Ireland final) Draw

1919: Galway 4-2 Kerry 2-2 (All-Ireland semi-final) Replay

1919: Galway 2-6 Kerry 3-3 (All-Ireland semi-final) Draw

1913: Kerry 1-8 Galway 0-1 (All-Ireland semi-final)

GALWAY v KERRY IN ALL-IRELAND FINALS

2000: Kerry 0-17 Galway 1-10 (Replay) 2000: Kerry 0-14 Galway 0-14 (Draw) 1965: Galway 0-12 Kerry 0-9
1964: Galway 0-15 Kerry 0-10
1959: Kerry 3-7 Galway 1-4
1941: Kerry 1-8 Galway 0-7
1940: Kerry 0-7 Galway 1-3
1938: Galway 2-4 Kerry 0-7 (Replay) 1938: Galway 2-6 Kerry 3-3 (Draw)

LAST FIVE ALL-IRELAND FINALS – GALWAY

2001: Galway 0-17 Meath 0-8
2000: Kerry 0-17 Galway1-10 (Replay) 2000: Kerry 0-14 Galway 0-14 (Draw) 1998: Galway 1-14 Kildare 1-10
1983: Dublin 1-10 Galway 1-8

LAST FIVE ALL-IRELAND FINALS – KERRY

2019: Dublin 1-18 Kerry 0-15 (Replay) 2019: Dublin 1-16 Kerry 1-16 (Draw) 2015: Dublin 0-12 Kerry 0-9
2014: Kerry 2-9 Donegal 0-12
2011: Dublin 1-12 Kerry 1-11

BETTING

 

TEAM NEWS

We will have team news on Friday evening.

TRAINER GAVIN CROMWELL TALKS ABOUT HIS RUNNERS FOR GALWAY

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