A pitch inspection was required pre-game by match referee David Coldrick and he deemed the pitch playable. Armagh had the aid of the strong wind in the opening half. Aidan Nugent got the opening score of the game, but Paul Cribbin levelled up matters on 8 minutes. Mark Donnellan had to be at his best when making a super save from Nugent minutes later. Stefan Campbell knocked over the lead point, Niall Grimley extended the lead 0-03 to 0-01 after 22 minutes. Campbell’s second point had Armagh ahead by 5 on the half hour mark. Jamie Clarke then hit a brace of scores as Kieran McGeeney’s charges took a 0-08 to 0-01 advantage in at half time.
Rian O’Neill and Stephen Sheridan landed points immediately after the restart to stretch the lead. Armagh were then reduced to 14 players when Jamie Clarke was sent off on a second yellow card. However, it seemed to spur on Armagh as Rian O’Neill stretched the lead to 11 points. A Kildare revival of sorts then occurred with Paddy Brophy pointing, while Adam Tyrrell and Daniel Flynn also getting a few scores. Paul Cribbin and Brophy edged the Lilywhites closer, but in truth they never got close enough to Armagh on the scoreboard. Mark Shields and Rian O’Neill sealed the win for Armagh with late scores. Kieran McGeeney’s men certainly back in the promotion bid with this win over Kildare.
Armagh: B Hughes; P Burns, C O’Neill, A Forker (0-01, f); M Shields (0-01), S Sheridan (0-01), J McElroy; N Grimley (0-01), O O’Neill (0-01); J Og Burns, S Campbell (0-02), C Cumiskey (0-01); C Turbitt, R O’Neill (0-04, 3f), A Nugent (0-02, 1f, 1 mark).
Subs: J Clarke (0-02, 1f) for Turbitt (27), J Morgan for C O’Neill (45), G McCabe for Nugent (68), B Donaghy for Shields (69), A McKay for Cumiskey (71)
Kildare: M Donnellan; P Kelly, M O’Grady, S Ryan; K Flynn, D Hyland, C Cavanagh; K Feely, T Moolick: P Cribbin (0-02), P Brophy (0-03), K Cribbin; N Kelly, D Flynn (0-01), J Hyland.
Subs: N Flynn for O’Grady (h-t), A Tyrrell (0-03, 2f) for Hyland (44), J Byrne for Cavanagh (45), J Robinson (0-01) for Moolick (56), L Power for N Kelly (65)
We have updating Irish general election betting after the exit poll and it looks like FG will do a lot better than betting had suggested.
We know Elections are not quite a sport, but they certainly have most of the characteristics.
High profile candidates unlikely to get elected.
Shane Ross, Joan Burton, Katerine Zappone, Eoghan Murphy or Kate O’Connell, Peter Casey, Saoirse McHugh, Noel Rock, Mary Hanifin, Catherine Connolly, James Reilly.
Most Seats
Fianna Fail was 8/11(14th Jan) moved to 2/9 (19th Jan) then 1/10 (5th Feb) Now 1/5 (Sunday 9th)
Fine Gael was EVS (14th Jan) moved to 11/4 (19th Jan) then 7/1 (5th Feb) Now 7/2 (Sunday 9th)
Sinn Fein was 50/1 (14th Jan) stayed at 50/1 (19th Jan) then 10/1 (5th Feb) Now 16/1 (Sunday 9th)
Taoiseach After Next Election
Micheal Martin was 4/6 (14th Jan) moved to 1/6 (19th Jan) then 1/12 (5th Feb) now 1/7 (Sunday 9th)
Leo Varadkar was 11/10 (14th Jan) moved to 7/2 (19th Jan) then 8/1 (5th Feb) now 4/1 (Sunday 9th)
Mary Lou McDonald 50/1 (14th Jan) moved to 66/1 (19th Jan) then 10/1 (5th Feb) Now 20/1 (Sunday 9th)
Government After Next Election (must have at least 1 Minister to be considered part of government)
FF/SD/Lab/Green was 5/1 (14th Jan) moved to 6/1 (19th Jan) then 16/1 (5th Feb) now 10/1 (Sunday 9th)
FG/Lab/SD/Green was 6/1 (14th Jan) moved to 10/1 (19th Jan) then 33/1 (5th Feb) still 33/1 (Sunday 9th)
Fine Gael/Fianna Fail was 7/1 (14th Jan)moved to 14/1 (19th Jan) then 6/1 (5th Feb) still 6/1 (Sunday 9th)
Fianna Fail/Green was 8/1 (14th Jan) moved 5/1 (19th Jan) then 9/1 (5th Feb) now 14/1 (Sunday 9th)
Fine Gael/Independents was 9/1 (14th Jan) moved to 16/1 (19th Jan) then 50/1 still 50/1 (Sunday 9th)
Fianna Fail/Independents was 10/1 (14th Jan) now 8/1 (19th Jan) now 14/1 then 14/1 (Sunday 9th)
Fine Gael/Green was 10/1 (14th Jan) now 12/1 (19th Jan) now 40/1 still 40/1 (Sunday 9th)
Fianna Fail/Sinn Fein was 12/1 (14th Jan) moved to 10/1 (19th Jan) now 4/1 (5th Feb) still 4/1 (Sunday 9th)
FF/Green/independents was 40/1 (14th Jan) moved to 20/1 (19th Jan) then 10/1 (5th Feb) now 4/1 (Sunday 9th Feb)
FF/Lab/Green/Independents was 33/1 (14th Jan) moved to 16/1 (19th Jan) then 12/1 5th Feb) now 11/1 (Sunday 9th)
All other options over 20/1
Fine Gael Seats
Under/Over (+49.5) 5/6 (14th Jan) moved to (+42.5) at 5/6 (19th Jan) moved to (+35.5) (5th Feb) now it’s (38.5) on Sunday 9th Feb
Fianna Fail Seats
Under/Over (+50.5) 5/6 (14th Jan) moved to 58.5 (19th Jan) now 52.5 (5th Feb) now it’s 48.5 on (Sunday 9th Feb)
Labour 1st Seats
Under/Over (+9.5) 5/6 (14th Jan) moved to 7.5 (19th Jan) now 5.5 (5th Feb) still 5.5 (Sunday 9th Feb)
Green Party Seats
Over (+9.5) 5/6 (14th Jan) moved to 10.5 (19th Jan) now 10/5 (5th Feb) now it’s 9.5 on (Sunday 9th Feb)
Sinn Fein Seats
Over (+18.5) 5/6 (14th Jan) move to 22.5 (19th Jan) now 28.5 (5th Feb) now it’s 34.5 (Sunday 9th Feb)
Conor McManus grabbed a Farney county goal after just 42 seconds. He got on the end of a pass from Ryan McAnespie before dashing past Michael Fitzsimons before finishing to the net. Dean Rock had a Dublin point from a free by 4 minutes, then Dublin hit a scoring drought for 19 minutes. They didn’t score till the 23rd minute. Monaghan however made up for that.
Monaghan reeled off seven points with Ryan McAnespie and Michael Bangan knocking over two points each. Dublin lost Paddy Andrews through injury on 12 minutes also. Dublin finally broke their duck with a 23rd minute point from Dan O’Brien. Rory Beggan responded for Banty McEnaney’s charges with a long range free on 28 minutes, while Conor McCarthy added to that two minutes later. Monaghan in full control and 10 points ahead of the All-Ireland Champions. Dean Rock kicked a point for Dublin before the break to leave it 1-09 to 0-03 at the break.
Paul Mannion was brought on at half time to some impetus to the Dublin attack. Monaghan were reduced to 14 men after Darren Hughes picked up a black card and was sin binned. Dublin powered into the game with Rock and Kilkenny pointing. However, Monaghan weren’t going to let them back into the game with scores from Rory Beggan and Conor McManus both from frees.
Dublin’s late rally earned them a point against a Monaghan side that had dominated the first half and looked to be hanging on deep into added time!
Monaghan retained a 9 point lead up to the 60th minute. However, from here Dublin reeled them in outscoring them 1-06 to 0-01. Dessie Farrell’s subs worked a treat with them posting 1-04, Kevin McManamon netting on 70 minutes after some good work from Sean Bugler. Bugler incidentally kicked a brace of points, before Davy Byrne proved the unlikeliest of heroes with a last gasp effort.
In truth it was the first half display of Ireland that won them this game. They completely out played the visitors running in four tries. Ireland were coming into the game on the back of a good win over Scotland on the opening weekend, while Wales suffered a shock defeat to Italy.
This game began with Ireland getting a try inside 70 seconds. An attempted clearance by Dafydd Buckland was blocked down by Mark Hernan who touched down. Jack Crowley kicked over the conversion. Dan Kelly got the second try of the game as he powered over to make it 12-0. Ireland’s third came courtesy of Lewis Finlay after a good counter attack. However, with the half hour approaching Wales got on the scoreboard with a try from Osian Knott. Ireland had the bonus point wrapped up before the break. The try coming from that man Mark Hernan once again. He touched down following a maul to leave it 31-7 at the break. Ireland in a commanding position and were not going to lose this game.
It was all Wales in the second half though as they sparked a revival. In fact they had a penalty within 9 minutes. Ireland also lost Joe McCarthy through a yellow card sin binning. The scores leaving it 31-17. Any hopes of a Welsh comeback were ended on 63 minutes with some good play from David McCann, who found Andy Smith who crossed over the line for Ireland’s fifth try on the night.
Wales had the final try of the game but it was merely a consolation. Knott running in for his second five pointer. However, it was too little to late as Ireland secured a bonus point win.
Leinster will still face the Saracens despite the English club receiving a 50,000 euro fine following a Disciplinary Hearing on Friday in London. 25,000 euro of the fine will be suspended till 2021/2022 season.
The fine comes after Saracens played Racing 92 Heineken Champions Cup meeting. They were found to be in breach of the Disciplinary Rules of its 2019/20 Participation Agreement. Tito Lamositele a USA international was who named in the match day squad to play and came onto the field of play as a replacement with 20 minutes to go. In the fixture at Allianz Park with Racing , he may have been ineligible due to an administrative error on behalf of the club.
The disciplinary committee compromising of Roger Morris (Wales), Chair, Pamela Woodman (Scotland) and Jean-Noel Couraud (France) considered submissions from the EPCR Disciplinary Officer, Liam McTiernan, from the Saracens Chairman, Neil Golding, and from the club’s legal representative, Paul Harris QC.
However, the committee acknowledged that Lamositele’s work permit had expired and this was unknown to the club. Despite this the committee upheld the misconduct complaint as the English giants had broken disciplinary rules. Therefore, a 50,000 euro fine was imposed.
Following the meeting Roger Morris said,Following careful consideration of a complaint involving a player who has been contracted to Saracens since 2014, and who remains contracted to the club, the Committee believes that this was an unfortunate sequence of events brought about by an administrative oversight”. “However, Saracens are in breach of the Disciplinary Rules of the Heineken Champions Cup, and that breach constitutes misconduct which can be proportionately dealt with by way of a financial penalty.”
Saracens could appeal the decision if they fill they have been mistreated here. However, I personally can’t see that happening.
The third Mixed Ability Rugby World Cup is coming to Ireland in June 2020 and fundraising efforts are underway throughout the country to ensure that funding targets are met, to enable the release of an additional €500,000 in backing in the form of EU grants.
The EU Erasmus+ for Sport fund have committed to giving the project half a million Euro if the same amount can be raised by the IMART 2020 Project team.
To date sponsorship has been secured to the value of €200k. Recent months have seen companies such as Permanent TSB (Headline Sponsor), KPMG, Musgrave Group, Heineken, Irish Distillers, Dell EMC, O Flynn Exhams and Cork Airport have come on board to support the event. With a gap of €300k the team continue to look to corporate entities, Government, sporting organisations and local communities to help reach the sponsorship goal that will release the balance of EU grant funds.
The IMART 2020 tournament will be officially launched at 10.30am today at the Lord Mayor’s Chambers, Cork City Hall.
The World Cup in Ireland
IMART 2020 will see up to 1,000 players together with national coaching teams and supporters from 14 countries travel to Cork from the 6th of June, and organisers are working hard to secure the necessary funding to provide food, accommodation, insurances, catering and logistics for players.
The winning bid to host the world tournament in Ireland this Summer, was secured by the Sundays Well Rebels – the team behind Ireland’s first ever mixed ability rugby team and responsible for winning the opportunity to host the event in Ireland.
Alan Craughwell co-founder of the first Mixed Ability rugby team in Ireland, ‘Sunday’s Well Rebels’, and Day Service Manager with Cope Foundation, said,
“The hosting of this World Cup event will be the culmination of years of effort and the unstinting determination of a unique group of people who witnessed first-hand how the power of sport can change the lives of individuals. The fact that participants are challenged by varying levels of disabilities comes secondary to the strength of their competitive spirit. A shared desire to push themselves, the instinct to participate and to strive to win and to be a part of a team, has, since the sport’s formation been wholly compelling. Players motivate and lift each other up and push on because they’re all in it together and the game matters.
This is serious sport, its competitive, the referee decisions will count. It will be high intensity for supporters from home and away and will be broadcast in 14 countries covered by domestic and international media teams. It is a World Cup in name and nature and will offer Ireland and Cork an opportunity to showcase world-class venue, event, tourism and visitor facilities. Its economic impact is set to generate over €3million for the Cork economy during the period”.
Sunday’s Well Rebels say the sheer scale of the event is unlike anything the region has seen in many years. 250 volunteers will be needed, with 28 teams to play, from 14 countries, including Argentina, New Zealand, Ecuador, Italy, Spain, UK, etc. Four women’s teams will also take part in the tournament for the first time – including the first ever women’s team which was set up in Ballincollig in Cork in 2019. A full plane load of players and supporters is expected from Argentina alone.
Mixed Ability Week 20
Mixed Ability Week 20 which will be happening from the 7th of June to 12th of June will run concurrently to the rugby tournament and will provide a framework for how the mixed ability model can be transferred to other sports and how the model can be used within business to develop a framework for Diversity and Inclusion. Mixed Ability Week 20 will showcase mixed ability in action in rowing, boxing, Kimball and running. There will be the first ever women’s mixed ability tournament and the event will play host to an International Conference to discuss “The Future of Mixed Ability” with high profile speakers which will culminate in a photo exhibition that will tour Europe until October 2020.
International Mixed Ability Sports Director Martino Corazza welcomed the choice of Ireland as the host country.
“Cork is a fantastic city, with a great rugby tradition, and Sunday’s Well Rebels are one of the best and brilliant examples of rugby clubs being truly representative of their local community. We are incredibly proud of this event and look forward to an exhilarating tournament in Cork. I know that IMART 2020 will spread IMAS’ inclusive message far and wide and inspire many more individuals, clubs and National Governing Bodies to take up Mixed Ability.”
Liam Maher (founder Sunday’s Well Rebels) spoke of their plans to showcase all that Cork has to offer to the tournament participants, as well as organisers and spectators who will flock to the event.
“We have worked closely with the IRFU, Munster Rugby, Cork City Council, IMAS, and others in an effort to bring this event to Cork. There has been a lot of work in the background – not just in preparing the bid for this global tournament, but in securing recognition for Mixed Ability Rugby as an official rugby sport. We have been in talks with the IRFU since the Rebels were set up in 2014 and were part of a pilot project which has resulted in the creation of 5 new men’s mixed ability teams and Irelands first women’s team, the ‘Ballincollig Trail Blazers’ from Ballincollig RFC. We are also delighted that the IRFU will be on site for the week bringing their expertise to support the running of the tournament.
We are exceptionally proud that Cork has been chosen to host IMART 2020. Cork won the bid in part due to Ireland’s international reputation as a rugby powerhouse, but also because we have a reputation in Mixed Ability sport. Mixed Ability is about valuing everyone’s potential and celebrating what’s at the heart of true sport – participation, passion and fun!”
Get Involved
Mr. Craughwell concluded,
“There are various ways individuals, companies and organisations can get involved. Whether you have a few hours to spare to act as a volunteer during the week or whether you would like to come on board as a sponsor the project team would love to hear from you”.
When you think things can’t get any worse for Saracens they are now in trouble for fielding an ineligible player.
But Leinster fans will be delighted because they would face Glasgow if Saracens get deducted points.
This is all coming to light after an investigation, EPCR has decided to bring a misconduct complaint against Saracens arising from the club’s Heineken Champions Cup, Round 6 match against Racing 92 on Sunday, 19 January.
EPCR was informed by Saracens earlier this week that their player, Titi Lamositele, who was named in the match day squad for the fixture at Allianz Park and who came on to the field of play as a replacement in the 60th minute, may have been ineligible due an inadvertent administrative error on behalf of the club.
Lamositele was eligible at the time the Saracens match day squad was announced, however, the club has indicated to EPCR that the player’s work permit expired on Saturday, 18 January, the day before the fixture against Racing 92, and this may have constituted a breach of the Disciplinary Rules of the 2019/20 EPCR Participation Agreement.
An independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Roger Morris (Wales), Chair, Pamela Woodman (Scotland) and Jean-Noel Couraud (France) has been appointed to hear the misconduct complaint in London this evening (Friday, 7 February) at 18.00 local time.
EPCR will be making no further comment until the decision of the independent Disciplinary Committee has been communicated.
Notes
a) Independent Disciplinary Committees are chosen by the Chairman of the independent Disciplinary Panel, Mike Hamlin.
b) EPCR’s Disciplinary Officer presents the case against the club/individual.
c) All parties to the hearing (EPCR and the club/individual) have the right to appeal decisions of the independent Disciplinary Committee. Appeals must be lodged within three working days of receiving the full written decision from the Chairman of the independent Disciplinary Committee.
d) The full written decision of the independent Disciplinary Committee will be available on www.epcrugby.com/discipline/decisions.php when the disciplinary process is complete.
There is no Allianz Hurling League this weekend but there is action in the football league. With that in mind let’s take a look at our top 5 gaa bets for the weekend below.
Waterford v Wexford – Wexford win @ 4/9 – Paul Galvin’s side will be boosted by the big win over Carlow last weekend. They sit in mid table here. A win would certainly put them back in the hunt for promotion. They are playing a Waterford side that have struggled losing two games. Wexford should win.
2. Donegal v Galway – Donegal win @8/13 – This is a tricky game to call but Donegal have an impressive record in Letterkenny. They beat Meath last weekend easily enough. They should have more in the tank here and come out winners.
3. Dublin v Monaghan – Dublin -4 @10/11 – Dublin have looked comfortable enough this season already with one draw and then a win over Mayo last weekend. This game will be in Croke Park which will obviously benefit them. I expect them to put on another good show.
4. Westmeath v Fermanagh – Westmeath @ 11/10 – Not much to separate the teams here but home advantage swings in Westmeath’s favour. Division 2 is very close with 6 teams on 2 points. At 11/10 the Lake County are great odds.
5. Wicklow v Sligo – Sligo @ 8/13 – Sligo currently sit top of Division 4 and a win here will do no harm to their prospects of promotion. They should beat Wicklow on paper but Aughrim is a tough place to go so it will be a close game. But the Yeats county should nick the win by a point or two.
This pays around the 14/1 mark this weekend. It is certainly worth a 2 euro bet even for fun. That completes our top 5 gaa bets for the weekend.
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