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All-Ireland GAA Championships weekend betting and predictions

Eleven teams will be knocked out of the Championship this weekend, along with Sligo who were knocked out without kicking a ball. Things are getting very interesting in what is a unique championship. But why not consider a few bets to make it that bit more intriguing?

 

Saturday picks:

Cork vs Dublin (Hurling)

Cork 4/7, Draw 9/1, Dublin 15/8

This could be a tough one to call and promises to be a close game. Dublin were within a point of last years All-Ireland finalists last week, so will be no pushover for Cork. Cork are favoured -2, so why not bet on Dublin and take the 2 points?

Verdict: Dublin +2

 

Clare vs Laois (Hurling)

Clare 1/20, Draw 25/1, Laois 9/1

Clare are obviously big favourites for this one, but we now know that Laois were beaten by a good Dublin team. Eddie Brennan has done well with this Laois team and I expect they will put up a good fight. The 11-point spread looks attractive here.

Verdict: Laois +11

 

Limerick vs Tipperary (Football) 

Limerick 11/4, Draw 17/2, Tipperary 2/5

Limerick are coming into this off the back of promotion from Division 4 and a convincing win over Waterford last week. Whereas Tipperary had a shaky Division 3 campaign followed by a win against Clare last time out. I see limerick winning this but maybe back the handicap to be safe.

Verdict: Limerick +3 looks a certainty

 

Sunday Picks:

Roscommon vs Mayo (Football)

Roscommon 2/1, Draw 15/2, Mayo 4/7

Let’s look at the bigger picture here. Mayo had an awful league campaign with one outlier victory over Galway perhaps creating a bit of recency bias in our minds. Roscommon on the other hand had an excellent League campaign which earned them promotion from Division two. Add to this Roscommon’s home advantage if that still exists in these times.  Yet, Mayo are heavily favoured against a team who beat them at the same stage last year. I see this as a 50/50 battle. Why not back Roscommon with those odds? Or at least take +2 points against the spread.

Verdict: Roscommon outright

 

Cork vs Kerry (Football)

Cork 9/2, Draw 11/1, Kerry 2/9

Kerry look to be the form team of this year’s championship and I expect they will win here. However, Cork have been steadily improving for the last couple of seasons. Last year they lost by just 3 points against Kerry. I expect a close game here.

Verdict: Cork +5 

 

Fermanagh vs Down (Football)

Fermanagh 2/1, Draw 15/2, Down 4/7

Down had an efficient Division 3 campaign which earned them promotion. Whereas Fermanagh are headed down to division 3 next year. Fermanagh’s conceded a big score in a short period of time to allow Laois stay up in Division 2. Down are the for team here so I am taking them.

Verdict: Down -2

Limerick vs Tipperary: Football Championship Preview, TV Channel, Betting, Prediction

The counties of Limerick and Tipperary meet in Championship for the second week in a row on Sunday. However, this time football is the code. For the first time in four years, a team that is not Kerry or Cork will compete in the Munster Football Final.

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Limerick overcame Waterford in their Championship opener last weekend by a comfortable 11 points. Early goals from Cillian Fahy and Adrian Enright set them on their way.

Previously, Limerick won Division 4 by defeating Sligo. Manager Billy Lee will be glad to see his team’s league success carry into the Championship. Limerick followed up on their good start against Waterford by managing the game well in the second half, picking off points with no major pressure ever coming on them.

Limerick last reached the Munster final in 2010. Now, they have a great chance to begin the new decade in the same way.

Last season, Tipperary’s Championship was a short one. Firstly, they lost to Limerick in Munster. Next, Down knocked them out in round 1 of the qualifiers.

This year, the absence of a back door means their form has to be better. So far, they have started well by beating Clare.

Last Sunday, they led from start to finish to eliminate the Banner county. Like Limerick, two goals went a long way to their dominance. Conor Sweeney and Brian Fox raised green flags to open an eight-point lead that Clare couldn’t reel in.

In recent seasons, Tipperary have failed to replicate the form that saw them reach the 2016 All-Ireland semi-final. However, nine survivors from the side that lost that game to Mayo started last Sunday. Those players know how to win and they’ll be keen to take advantage of being on the opposite side of the draw to Kerry and Cork.

Paddy Power have backed Tipperary to qualify at 4/11. Otherwise, the Division 4 Champions are 11/4 and a draw is 15/2.

RTÉ News Now are showing the game live.

Prediction: Tipperary. It will be a very close game but Tipp have found form at the right time.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES  

2019: Limerick 3-11 Tipperary 1-10 (Munster quarter-final) 

2014: Tipperary 2-14 Limerick 1-11 (Munster quarter-final) 

2009: Limerick 1-11 Tipperary 1-9 (Munster quarter-final) 

2008: Limerick 1-8 Tipperary 1-5 (Munster quarter-final) 

2004: Limerick 0-16 Tipperary 3-5 (Munster quarter-final) 

 

Talking points

(1) Both had impressive wins last weekend – Tipperary, who finished fifth in Division 3, beat Clare, who had  finished sixth in Division 2 while Limerick ran out easy winners over Waterford. 

(2) Conor Sweeney top-scored on 1-4 (0-2 frees) for Tipperary in their win over Clare.

(3) Hugh Bourke on 0-4 (0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘mark’) and Cillian Fahy (1-1) were Limerick’s top scorers in the win  over Waterford. 

(4) Tipperary are bidding to reach the Munster final for the first time since 2016 while Limerick’s last ap pearance in the decider was in 2010. 

TEAM NEWS

    • Limerick : Donal O\’Sullivan; Sean O\’Dea, Brian Fanning, Paul Maher; Tony McCarthy, Iain Corbett, Gordon Brown; Darragh Treacy, Tommie Childs; Killian Ryan, Cillian Fahy, Adrian Enright; Hugh Bourke, Tommy Griffin, Sean McSweeney. Subs: Eoghan Sherlock, Gareth Noonan, Michael Donovan, Robbie Childs, Cian Sheehan, Seamus O\’Carroll, Padraig De Brun, Mike Fitzgibbon, Davy Lyons, Danny Neville, Gerard Stack.

      Tipperary : Evan Comerford; Alan Campbell, Jimmy Feehan, Colm O\’Shaughnessy; Bill Maher, Kevin Fahey, Robbie Kiely; Conal Kennedy, Liam Casey; Jack Kennedy, Michael Quinlivan, Emmet Moloney; Jason Lonergan, Conor Sweeney, Colman Kennedy. Subs: Michael O\’Reilly, Tadhg Fitzgerald, Brian Fox, Jack Harney, Padraic Looram, Paudie Feehan, Riain Quigley, Shane Foley, Sean O\’Connor, Kevin O\’Halloran, Liam Boland.

       
     

Munster Football Championship Semi-FInal: Limerick vs Tipperary, Saturday, November 7th, 13:15 (Gaelic Grounds).

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Laois vs Clare: Hurling – Preview, TV Channel, Betting, Prediction

Unlike the football Championship, the Hurling Championship is giving teams a second chance this year. The first qualifying round takes place on Saturday. First up, Laois and Clare do battle to stay in the competition.

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Laois lost out to Dublin in their opener by fourteen points, failing to replicate last year’s upset. But, this was the stage of the competition where they came alive in 2019.

Laois were hit hard with absences for the Dublin game but there were silver linings among the wreckage. For example, Eamonn Dillon hit 1-1 off the bench to put his hand up for selection on Saturday. Likewise, Ronan Broderick, Fiachra Fennell and James Keyes made debuts to make up for the absentees such as Matthew Whelan, Joe Phelan, John Lennon, Eanna Lyons and Cha Dwyer.

The midlands county had a decent second half against Dublin. However, the concession of 1-17 in the first 35 minutes meant the damage was done. Furthermore, there was evidence of tired legs on the open Croke Park field in the final ten minutes. Hopefully this was just a result of a seven-month interval.

On the other hand, Clare fell to Limerick by ten points in the Munster Championship quarter-final. At half-time they were very much deadlocked with 2013 Player of the Year Tony Kelly leading them out.

But, it was Limerick who came out firing in the second half and soon Clare found themselves at a deficit they couldn’t overturn, despite Kelly’s heroics.

Clare are very much favourites to continue in the competition. Paddy Power have priced the Banner men at 1/20 versus Laois’ 8/1. Meanwhile, a draw is 20/1.

The winner will take on Wexford the following week after their loss to Galway last weekend.

The game is live on GAAGo.

TEAM NEWS

Laois : Enda Rowland; Lee Cleere, Sean Downey, Donnchadh Hartnett; Jack Kelly, Padraig Delaney, Ryan Mullaney; Fiachra C Fennell, Patrick Purcell; Aaron Dunphy, Willie Dunphy, James Keyes; Mark Kavanagh, Ross King, Stephen Maher. 

Clare : Eibhear Quilligan; Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan; Stephen O\’Halloran, Aidan McCarthy, Seadna Morey; David McInerney, Tony Kelly; Cathal Malone, David Reidy, Colin Guilfoyle; Shane O\’Donnell, Aron Shanagher, Ryan Taylor

Prediction: Clare.

They meet for the sixth time in the championship with Clare having won the previous five as follows: 2016: Clare 5-32 Laois 0-12 (All-Ireland qualifiers) 

2013: Clare 1-32 Laois 0-15 (All-Ireland qualifier) 

2007: Clare 2-14 Laois 0-11 (All-Ireland qualifier) 

2004: Clare 7-19 Laois 2-15 (All-Ireland qualifier) 

1914: Clare 5-1 Laois 1-0 (All-Ireland final)

(1) Clare have beaten Laois by an average of 21 points in four qualifier ties since 2004.

(2)  Clare lost to Limerick by 0-36 to 1-23 in the Munster quarter-final while Laois lost to Dublin by 2-31 to in  the Leinster quarter-final. 

(3) Tony Kelly scored 0-17 (0-9 frees) in Clare’s defeat by Limerick in the Munster quarter-final. *

(4) Ross King was top scorer for Laois (0-10, 0-9 frees, 0-1 ‘65’) in the defeat by Dublin in the Leinster quar ter-final 

HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP SHORTS 

*Limerick and Waterford will meet in the Munster final for the first time since 2007 when the Deise won  by 3-17 to 1-14. 

*Limerick will be bidding to retain the Munster title for the first time since 1980-81. *Waterford last won the Munster title in 2010. 

*Galway and Kilkenny last met in the Leinster final in 2018. 

*Kilkenny last won the Leinster title in 2016; Galway last won in 2018. 

Hurling All-Ireland Qualifier Round 1: Laois vs Claire, Saturday, November 7th, 13:15 (Nowlan Park).

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Cavan vs Antrim: Ulster Football Preview, TV Channel, Betting, Prediction

For the second year in a row, Cavan have caused upset in Ulster by beating Monaghan. After looking like they were down and out last Saturday, a late rally saw them earn extra-time. Then, it looked like penalties were on the cards until Cavan keeper Raymond Galligan won the game with a long-range free. On the other hand, Antrim last featured in an Ulster final in 2009. The straight-knock out format of this year’s Championship doesn’t work in their favour. Yet, it may give the Antrim players the freedom to challenge Cavan on Saturday evening.

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Cavan re-writing the script

After a disappointing relegation from Division 2 recently, Cavan were big underdogs going into the Championship opener. But, the Breffni men showed why they were not to be written off just yet with an incredible never-say-die attitude.

Cavan started the brighter against Monaghan. After ten minutes, they had a four-point lead. Oisín Pierson’s goal pushed them out in front. However, Monaghan came back strongly and took a seven-point lead into the break.

In the second-half, Cavan used the wind advantage wisely and began to claw in the deficit. By the time the clock was up Cavan had drawn level thanks to a superbly taken equaliser by Gerard Smith.

In a nervy extra-time period, Monaghan edged in front before Martin Reilly found the net for Cavan. Then, the final few minutes was a demonstration of long-range free taking. It looked like Rory Beggan had sealed a penalty shoot-out with a free in added time. But, with the last kick of the game Raymond Galligan sent Cavan through with a free from 58m out.

Last year, Cavan went all the way to the Ulster final. Mickey Graham will be delighted with the fight his team showed last weekend and will be hoping they can reach the decider again.

Antrim claimed third spot in Division 4 this year. In fact, they could have earned promotion if not for a thrashing by Wicklow in the first game back from lockdown. Lenny Harbinson will be hoping the extended break his team has had will work in their favour. In winter conditions, Cavan’s 90 minute battle with Monaghan will have its effects. No doubt, Antrim will be the fresher of these two sides.

The winner of Cavan vs Antrim plays Fermanagh or Down a week later.

Paddy Power don’t see another upset on the cards. They have Cavan at 1/7 versus Antrim’s 11/2. A draw is 12/1.

The game is live on BBC Northern Ireland.

Prediction: Cavan.

Antrim: Michael Byrne; Patrick Gallagher, Declan Lynch, Kevin O\’Boyle; Peter Healy, James McAuley, Niall Delargy; Colm Duffin, Michael McCann; Kevin Quinn, Mark Sweeney, Dermot McAleese; Paddy Cunningham, Conor Murray, Patrick McBride. Subs: Oisin Kerr, Ruairi McCann, Odhran Eastwood, Paddy McCormack, Mark Gardiner, Eoin Nagle, Tomas McCann, Eunan Walsh, Kristian Healy, Marc Jordan, Ryan Murray, Adam Loughran.

Cavan’s superb win over Monaghan in the preliminary round last Saturday set them up for a first  Ulster championship clash with Antrim since 2009. 

Team News

Antrim: Michael Byrne; Patrick Gallagher, Declan Lynch, Kevin O’Boyle; Peter Healy, James McAuley, Niall Delargy; Colm Duffin, Michael McCann; Kevin Quinn, Mark Sweeney, Dermot McAleese; Paddy Cunningham, Conor Murray, Patrick McBride. Subs: Oisin Kerr, Ruairi McCann, Odhran Eastwood, Paddy McCormack, Mark Gardiner, Eoin Nagle, Tomas McCann, Eunan Walsh, Kristian Healy, Marc Jordan, Ryan Murray, Adam Loughran.

 

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES 

2009: Antrim 0-13 Cavan 1-7 (Ulster semi-final) 

2008: Cavan 1-19 Antrim 1-14 (Ulster first round) 

2005: Cavan 1-15 Antrim 2-6 (Ulster quarter-final) Replay 

2005: Cavan 0-11 Antrim 0-11 (Ulster quarter-final) Draw 

2003: Antrim 2-9 Cavan 1-10 (Ulster quarter-final) 

Main Points

(1) Antrim, who finished third in Division 4 last month, are having their first championship outing  and are bidding to reach the Ulster semi-final for the first time since 2014. 

(2) Cavan are bidding to reach the semi-final for a second successive year.  

(3) The winners will play Fermanagh or Down in the Ulster semi-final. 

Ulster Championship Quarter-Final: Cavan vs Antrim, Saturday, November 7th, 13:15 (Breffni Park).

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Longford Town through to promotion/relegation playoff after victory over Galway United

‘De Town’ ran out 2-1 winners on the night

Longford were tipped as one of the favourites for the Irish First Division title before the season commenced. Their title hopes weren’t fulfilled in the end as they finished 4th. They do, however, have a second chance of promotion following their 2-1 win over Galway yesterday.

Their win against Galway in the playoff final yesterday means they are now guaranteed a place in the promotion/relegation playoff. All their hard work this season will culminate next Saturday as they aim for their first promotion since 2014. Their opponents will be decided in the coming days after the Premier Division seasons is wrapped up. Finn Harps are their opponents as it stands, but that could change based on various results. The other two teams in the mix are Derry City and Shelbourne.

The match was played at the UCD Bowl. Longford had only frequented the same stadium a week before as they defeated UCD on their way to the final.

Galway United were tipped as slight favourites prior to the game given their recent form and resurgence under the helm of John Caulfield. You wouldn’t think so given their first half performance, however.

Longford manager Daire Doyle had his team firmly in control for long periods of the first half. They controlled play as Galway consistently struggled to retain possession. Galway were unable to cope with the relentless pressing of the midlanders resulting in several inaccurate passes. Aodh Dervin was particularly impressive as he marshalled the midfield area with his impressive work rate and passing range.

The Longford pressure nearly told in the 16th minute as a long-range effort from Dylan Grimes rattled the woodwork. Grimes isn’t impartial to a wondergoal as he’s shown his ability from range during the regular season. He was very unlucky on this occasion.

Both teams struggled to create clear cut chances throughout the half despite Longford largely dominating. It looked as though the first half would end scoreless. That is until the 43rd minute. Aaron McNally’s cross was poorly dealt with by Galway keeper Micheál Schlingermann before falling to the feet of Karl Chambers. Chambers made no mistake as he tapped the ball into an empty net.

Chambers is the longest serving senior member of the Longford Town squad having joined the senior setup in 2015. He should be elated with his performance as his goal only added to an already impressive display of pressing.

John Caulfield was obviously very unsatisfied with the first half performance as he made no less than two changes at the break. Conor Barry and Wilson Waweru – who scored the decisive goal in the playoff semi-final – were brought on.

Galway looked much better at the start of the second half, pressing with more intensity and keeping the ball well on occasion. Chances were still slim, though, as both teams failed to create many opportunities of note. Maybe that was a sign of the tension radiating from both camps.

Galway nearly got their equalizer in the 71st minute. Former Longford man Carlton Ubaezuono was another sub brought on by Caulfield and it didn’t take him long to make an impression. He delivered a dangerous cross into the box from the left wing, but the ball just evaded an incoming Shane Doherty. It surely would have been a goal if Doherty made sufficient contact.

It wasn’t long afterwards when Longford got their 2nd goal to solidify their lead. The aforementioned Aodh Dervin unleashed a shot from 30 years which whistled into the bottom left. Dervin was undoubtably man of the match in a fixture which he described as the biggest of his career so far. He put in an imperious midfield performance which has become a norm for the local hero at this stage. There were rumours of Premier Division clubs being interested in his signature last season and that may well be the case again after tonight’s performance.

To their credit, Galway didn’t slow down after the Longford goal was scored. Their determination resulted in a Vinny Faherty strike in the 88th minute to pull back the deficit. The goal came as a result of less than convincing goalkeeping from Lee Steacy. Steacy has been ever-present for Longford over the past couple of years, but could have done better on this occasion.

A tense few minutes followed as Galway attacked with all their might and Longford did similarity defensively. Longford had their backs to the walls for the remaining minutes. The time kept ticking in what would have felt like an eternity for Daire Doyle and his men.

After an unnerving few moments for both teams, the referee blew his whistle after 4 minutes of added time. Longford players roared in relief as the Galway players appeared dejected.

As mentioned beforehand, Longford will now look forward to Saturday’s promotion/relegation playoff. They’ll face the 9th placed Premier Division team on the night. Both clubs will have so much on the line come Saturday in what promises to be a fascinating affair.

Troy Parrott set for injury return with Ireland u21s

The striker has been out with injury since September

It has been a difficult season for Troy Parrott so far. The Tottenham man is on loan at Millwall for the season but has only made one appearance thus far. This is down to no fault of his own, though.

The frontman sustained an injury in Millwall’s EFL Cup game against Burnley back in September. He managed to get through the first half but was immediately hooked at half time. He and Irish/Millwall fans alike would have been disappointed given his impressive pre-season performances for the club.

Millwall boss Gary Rowett had previously suggested that Parrott may be available for selection in November. He appears to have been correct as Parrott was called up to the Ireland u21 squad yesterday. Rowett is unhappy with Parrott being called up for international duty amid his recovery from injury, however.

Some questions have been raised about Parrott’s inclusion following Gary Rowett’s comments. Ireland u21 manager Jim Crawford has attempted to ease concerns. Crawford suggested that Parrott wouldn’t have been called up to the squad if there were fitness concerned. He has also suggested that he won’t be rushing the striker into action, though.

European Championship qualification

Parrott’s inclusion occurs with upcoming games against Iceland and Luxembourg. The long qualification campaign will come to an end after the Luxembourg fixture on the 18th. So far, he has scored 4 goals in 4 games in u21 European Championship qualification for his country. He’ll be hoping to add to his tally in the upcoming weeks.

The upcoming fixtures are pivotal to Ireland’s qualification chances. Their loss to Italy last month came as a blow so they’ll be keen to get back on track. They currently sit level on points with the Italians, however Italy also have a game in hand. Iceland are also just 1 point behind, sitting in 4th place as it stand. Iceland also have a game in hand, meaning it’s vital pick up at least a draw in that fixture.

The top 2 placed nations qualify for the European Championships so Ireland are in a good position, but it’s far from over. Qualification would mean a first appearance at the u21 European Championships for Ireland. It would be a great achievement for the country if it comes to fruition. It would also be a great opportunity for players coming through the system to gain experience in an international tournament.

The squad

Barring Parrott, several other prospects have been included in the squad. Mark McGuinness is one name that jumps out immediately. The Arsenal youngster is currently on loan at Ipswich where he’s been impressing of late. We included McGuinness as an Irish teenager to watch in a recent article. Luca Connell has also been added to the squad, having missed out on previous squads. Connell has struggled for game time since moving north to Scotland, but he remains very highly rated.

Here is the selected Ireland u21 squad:

Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Rochdale, on loan from Manchester City), Edward McGinty (Sligo Rovers).

Defenders: Lee O’Connor (Tranmere, on loan from Celtic), Danny McNamara (St Johnstone, on loan from Millwall), Darragh Leahy (Dundalk), Thomas O’Connor (Gillingham, on loan from Southampton), Nathan Collins (Stoke), Mark McGuinness (Ipswich, on loan from Arsenal), Conor Masterson (Queens Park Rangers), Liam Scales (Shamrock Rovers).

Midfielders: Conor Coventry (West Ham), Luca Connell (Celtic), Will Ferry (Southampton), Jason Knight (Derby), Danny Mandroiu (Bohemians), Connor Ronan (Grasshopper Club Zurich, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), Anthony Scully (Lincoln), Jack Taylor (Peterborough United).

Forwards: Jonathan Afolabi (Dundee FC, on loan from Celtic), Joshua Kayode (Carlisle United, on loan from Rotherham United), Zachary Elbouzedi (Lincoln), Daniel Grant (Bohemians), Michael Obafemi (Southampton), Troy Parrott (Millwall, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).

 

Everything about the Olympic Games and Olympic Betting

From the moment we can walk without stuttering, we run. Running away from problems to running for competitions, the running race has always been an art. Speaking of the running race, did you know where and when was a first running race held? For those who don’t know, the first and the chief running race dates back to 776 B.C. It was held in none other than the most celebrated of all competition, the Olympics. 

Running race is known to be the first and the absolute competition that has ever been written down in Olympics history. Even though it was initially celebrated as a festival or a grant function; Olympics, later came to be known as the world-renowned championship event. 

The legend speaks that multiple games and sports were dedicated to Greek Gods; most of them belonged to Zeus! Since the mother of all tournaments is Greece, every fourth year, they used to conduct then festival, present day’s championship. Olympics is a stage where the best competitor would combat and win the game. 

If you are a college student or an athlete who dreams of pursuing the Olympic, you have reached the right spot, read and enlighten about the Olympic Games. Without creating any further ado, let us dive right into the article, shall we?

The Story of Olympics and Rings

For those who don’t know, the Olympics were once known as the Olympiad. The name was derived from the place where initially the event took place, Greece. The story of the Olympics is vast, and it follows like this. 

  1. The first Olympics took place in the presence of King Georgios I. The venue had more than 60,000 audiences, and the ceremony had more than 280 participants coming together from 13 various nations. One fact to note here is that the sport was highly recommended for males alone.
  2. The first few major games categories comprised track and field, gymnastics, swimming, wrestling, cycling, tennis, weightlifting, shooting and fencing.  
  3. Every fourth year the Olympics took place, but there were years when the festival did not occur, and once it was during the World War. 
  4. Another fact about the Olympics is their symbols. The five rings on the Olympics flag represent five continents. The ring-colours represent ‘at least’ one colour of the flags of different countries across the world.
  5. It was in the year 1920; the first international Olympics game took place with the white flag with five rings swaying high. 

Facts on Olympics

At present, the Olympics have levelled-up to become one of the most renowned international events. People across the world gather around to watch this experience in a hair raising and nail-biting episode. Over the years, there appeared many facts that revolve around the Olympics. The following post will talk more about the various points regarding the Olympics. 

1. (Silver) Gold Medals!

The first fascinating fact is how silver constitutes for the majority of the gold medals. As the name suggests, you might have believed that the gold medal is gold until you read the title. The medal was gold only till 1912 Olympics, but as the event started transforming; imposters replaced the gold medal. To excite you more, the gold medal consists of 6 grams of gold where the rest is SILVER!

2. Torch and Tradition

The second fact about the Olympic tradition is the famous torch. Did you know that the ancient Olympics did not have anything related to this tradition? Legend says that the torch was a symbol; more like a tool for the supremacy of the Nazi party. Carl Diem organized the notion and this Olympic relay was passed through various countries like Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria and Czechoslovakia.

3.  Another Gold Medal Fact

The third fact on the list is something to do with the gold medals that happened during the summer and winter Olympics. The historians say that only one participant in the Olympics had won the gold and he was none other than the American Eddie Eagan.

4. Did You Know you can Bet on Olympics?

This may be a fascinating fact in the above-given list. Yes, just like sports, you can bet on the Olympics as well. With Olympic betting there are a few restrictions and strategies you have to keep in mind. This site https://www.slotsformoney.com has much to offer when it comes to learning about Olympics. Here you can find the best betting odds and bet on various and endless games and sports.

5. Young Olympics

Another fact about the Olympics is that the young competitor to participate in the Olympics is none other than Marjorie Gestring. She also won gold medals at the game. A 14-year-old named Kusuo Kitamura has bagged a gold medal for swimming as well in the later conducted Olympics event. 

Conclusion

The above given are only a few of the most exciting events and facts that took place in the Olympics, that happened so far. If you are new to Olympics betting and plan to pursue your dream of becoming a world-renowned punter, the website mentioned above can guide you more.

Early Signs Suggest Emery Masterminding Resurgence of Yellow Submarine

Ex-Arsenal manager Unai Emery would probably have settled for 15 points from his first eight league games in charge of Villarreal. The Yellow Submarine have held Atletico Madrid to a goalless draw in the Spanish capital and beaten Valencia at El Madrigal among their results, so they sit third in La Liga as a result.

For Emery, a man with something to prove back in his homeland after high-profile departures from tough jobs at Paris St-Germain and the Gunners, it is a strong start to his latest role. He hasn’t managed in Spain since steering Sevilla to a hat-trick of Europa League triumphs between 2014 and 2016. 

Whatever criticisms Arsenal fans may throw at him, including the disastrous appointment of Switzerland holding midfielder Granit Xhaka as captain, he is plotting a course with the Yellow Submarine that could bring Champions League football with it. Emery and a squad packed full of quality can dream big based on their fine start to the campaign.

Spain striker Paco Alcacer has found his international career to be a little stop-start, but a midwinter move from Borussia Dortmund back to La Liga is starting to pay off. Like his current coach, Alcacer has been shipped out from big clubs but his talent, eye for goal and fine form may force Luis Enrique to bring him back into the national fold.

This Villarreal side lost the heart of its engine room over the summer when club stalwart Bruno Soriano hung up his boots after long struggles with injuries, and popular playmaker Santi Cazorla ended his second spell at El Madrigal. Emery replaced them with Valencia cast-offs Dani Parejo and Francis Coquelin. They look like astute additions, both out to show Los Che were wrong to transfer them.

Japanese wide prospect Takefusa Kubo joined on loan from Real Madrid, while Argentina duo Juan Foyth and Geronimo Rulli create competition for places at the back. The latter’s arrival from high-flying Real Sociedad has helped number one Sergio Asenjo raise his game between the sticks.

What the Yellow Submarine have are options in most positions. Former Liverpool and Leicester City players Alberto Moreno and Vicente Iborra are also at Emery’s disposal. The former’s fellow left back, Pervis Estupinan couldn’t get a work permit to play for parent club Watford, so the Ecuador international is in Spain for keeps too.

It’s not all about Paco in attack either. Gerard Moreno poses plenty of threat and now veteran Colombia hitman Carlos Bacca played under Emery at Sevilla. With strength in depth on the roster, it’s no wonder that Villarreal are priced at 11/4 for a top four finish in the La Liga betting markets, as of November 4th.

There is room for improvement of course. The Yellow Submarine’s defence could be tighter, after leaking a goal per game on average from their first eight in La Liga. They have simply outscored the opposition in the Europa League group stage so far as Emery targets yet another lengthy campaign in Europe.

Manuel Pellegrini, another coach who swapped Spain for the Premier League eventually, famously steered Villarreal to a Champions League semi-final in 2006. Emery will be looking to better that in Europe’s other club competition though. However, a top four finish would be an excellent start to his reign at Villarreal as he seeks to restore his reputation.

Is long-distance driving harming golf?

Rarely has a golfer dominated a golf course with as much confidence and verve as Bryson DeChambeau did at the US Open. At Winged Foot, New York, a notoriously troublesome course, the American simply bullied the course with a series of venomous drives to triumph over the difficult conditions and win the tournament by a clear margin. DeChambeau was the only player to register an under-par final scorecard at the major. 

It was justification for the methods DeChambeau used to improve his driving game. He deliberately gained a considerable amount of weight to make himself bulkier, and as a result more powerful from the tee. It is that transformation which yielded DeChambeau’s first major title, and although his methods gained scorn from many sections of the golfing community, it proved to be an effective way to maximise success in the sport. 

That improvement in driving distance is the main reason DeChambeau now finds himself as the favourite in the golf US Masters 2020 odds. The Augusta major is set to be played in the autumn for the first time, and with conditions likely to be heavier than they would be in the spring, an effective drive game will be the order of the day. 

One of the main debates in golf at the moment surrounds the distance many players can drive the ball, and whether it is detracting from the sport as a spectacle. For some, the fact that players can knock the ball over 300 yards from the tee means that much of the skill is being taken out of the game. At the end of the day, golf courses are only so big, and to have such a weapon as a long, powerful drive is crucial at the highest level. 

Of course, the theme of long-drivers having an edge in golf is nothing new – it’s the way the sport has been going for the last decade or so. DeChambeau, although his deliberate means of getting such a driving ability are novel, is by no means the first player to triumph using such technique to their advantage. 

It is one of the main reasons for Brooks Koepka’s recent success, the 30-year-old having won four majors over the last three years through a similar style of long drives, followed by pragmatic play closer to the greens. Rory McIlroy is another player who owes much of his success to his exceptional driving ability.

This trend of heavy-hitting, long-driving golf has been bubbling up for a long time now, and many feel that this growing force is detracting from the skill of golf in terms of pinpoint accuracy and precision. Players are now so adept at wedging the ball out of the rough that distance is king when it comes to lining up a drive, and this is how players like DeChambeau, Koepka and Dustin Johnson have gained so much of their success. 

There is no easy fix in terms of preventing players hitting the ball as far. It is a theme in every physical sport across the globe. Athletes are getting stronger, faster, more consistent, and as a result standards of physicality are rising all the time. The R&A and USGA recently launched an initiative called the Distance Insights project, which is geared towards examining the issue and coming up with solutions, but it may be a case of simply accepting that this is the game golf is going to become. 

We’ve seen it happen already in tennis, where height and speed of serve have become key components of many top players. Now golf is having to come to terms with this increase in the levels at which its players can perform in terms of physical aptitude. As far as DeChambeau is concerned, he is simply finding a way to win in a hugely competitive sport. 

“It’s tough to rein in athleticism,” he said after winning the US Open. “We’re always going to be trying to get fitter, stronger, more athletic. Tiger inspired this whole generation to do this and we’re going to keep going after it. Will they rein it back? I’m sure. I’m sure something might happen. But I don’t know what it will be. I just know that length is always going to be an advantage.”

 

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Will Dustin Johnson return with a bang at the US Masters?

Dustin Johnson is no stranger to Augusta National, and the American became agonisingly close to winning the coveted green jacket last year. Johnson joined Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele, who too, finished just one shot behind the winner, Tiger Woods. And following that disappointment, as well as a T2 finish at the PGA Championship and T6 placing at the US Open earlier this year, there’s no doubting Johnson would love to return to winning ways – and add to his solitary major title.

His preparations for this year’s unconventional autumnal Masters have been stilted, somewhat. While, the world number 1 is amongst the favourites when it comes to the latest US Masters golf odds, alongside Justin Thomas at 11/1 at the time of writing, he’s only recently returned to action.

With under a week to go until the Masters kicks off, Johnson has come out of isolation, after he contracted the coronavirus just last month. With one more warm-up event to play before Augusta National plays host to this year’s unusual final major of the season, Johnson will headline a series of contenders at the Houston Open. He returned to practice earlier in the week, having missed out on playing in the CJ Cup and the Zozo Championship. In fact, it was while travelling en route to the former in Las Vegas that Johnson tested positive for the virus, despite feeling “pretty much asymptomatic”, and ultimately was forced to withdraw and quarantine.

He told reporters: “I couldn’t really figure out if that was because I was stuck in a hotel room for like 11 days not doing anything or it was COVID that made me feel that way. I didn’t leave the room for 11 days; I was just laying around kind of doing nothing. It was one of those things I was, like, waiting to get sick because you know you have it and you’re sitting there. But for me it was very mild, and obviously I’m very thankful for that.”

There’s no doubt, it would have come as a shock, especially as Johnson won the FedEx Cup back in September. He finished three strokes ahead of both Schauffele and Thomas, to grab his maiden win in the tournament, but his third PGA victory of the year. Thankfully, DJ is deemed to be no longer contagious, and therefore, won’t be required to test ahead of the Houston Open or the Masters. Not only does he feel healthy, but it appears he’s overcome the knee problems which plagued the start of his season.

How he will fare at Augusta is anyone’s guess, but with a warm-up event in the bank, there’s hoping the enforced two-week break won’t have interrupted his current hot streak. 

In the last four Masters, he has cemented a top-10 finish, and is the only player in the field to record those kinds of stats for the past four editions. As well as the aforementioned T2 finish last year, DJ finished T6 in 2015, T4 the following year and after missing out in 2017, finished T10 in 2018. After last year’s performance, in which he came from T7 in the third round, to very nearly be awarded the green jacket, you could say, he’s knocking on the door – and should his form continue, it would be the fairytale ending to his topsy-turvy season.

DJ summed it up nicely with the quote he told reporters – “My health is good,” Johnson said. “The state of my game is … undetermined.” Augusta National can be notoriously unforgiving, so watch this space.

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