Each weekend we review the best of the Irish sporting action from around the world through the medium of numbers…
13 – Brian Cody’s All Ireland Finals
On a weekend where the English football League claimed it’s first managerial casualty of the new season, after one match, Brian Cody steered his Kilkenny hurlers to an incredible 13th All Ireland final under his stewardship. This was a match in which he chose not to start so many of the greats of his era, the likes of Henry Shefflin and Richie Power but who came through with a stronger panel as a result. The teams success is testament to many things from players to structures but above all else to the constant thread of Cody.
17 – Dublin’s Margin of Victory
It rained from the skies and it rained on Monaghan’s goalmouth on Saturday as Dublin moved effortlessly towards their Football All Ireland semi final with a 17 point margin of victory over the beaten Ulster Finalists. Only once before has that tally been bettered, by Tyrone over Fermanagh in 2003. It’s equal to the defeat which Kerry inflicted on Dublin themselves in 2009. The latter result just goes to show that dominance can never be taken for granted and that sport can be very fickle indeed.
3 – Belfast Trojans Secure Three-peat
Amid torrential rain and a first quarter stoppage for lightning, the Belfast trojans did enough with a single touchdown to defeat Trinity College at Tallaght Stadium and secure their third successive Shamrock Bowl. The Irish American Football Association continue their ‘Month of Football’ with the Division 2 and 3 finals at Navan next weekend and the Croke Park Classic between Penn State and the University of Central Florida on August 30th. It’s a sport that is growing quickly across the country.
6 – Lifetime Bests at Paralympic Swimming
If preparation is all about giving your best when it is most important than few can better the result of the Irish Paralympic Swimming team at the European Championships in Eindhoven. James Scully’s bronze was the only medal but Ellen Keane came 4th in three finals and there were no fewer than six personal lifetime bests across the team of five. This sets up well for Rio 2016 when Paralympic Sport will once more capture the nation’s interest. Next up for now is the European Athletics Championships is Swansea later this month.
74 – Daveta Capture Inaugural Limerick 7’s Title
Fiji’s Daveta scored a total of 74 points in their three game Sunday march to the inaugural Limerick World Club 7’s Rugby event at Thomond Park yesterday. Despite only going into the Quarter finals as the seventh seeds they scored 12 against Munster, 26 against Aukland and 36 against Vancouver in the final of the tournament which was hailed by organisers as a massive success and which has already been confirmed to take place again in 2015.
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3, 6, 13, 17, 74 – Sports Weekend in Numbers
