“It was an amazing feeling to be playing in front of my family on the ground where I won a the Irish Cup as a juvenile in 2002 and to get a standing ovation from the crowd for my century is a feeling hard to beat.”
England’s Irish Captain Eoin Morgan showed little mercy in the Cricket international at Malahide but was gracious in victory.
“A record summer of spending needs to be considered in the wider financial context of the Premier League. The 2013/14 season will be the first in which clubs will benefit financially from the increased broadcast deals and we are seeing this translate into increased spending. However, transfer spending this summer is still likely to be less than the total incremental revenue clubs will receive from these new broadcast deals.”
The Deloitte Sports Business Group hints that the new record summer spending by football clubs of £630 million on transfer fees is actually less than it might have been.
“I just said I’d try and aim for the crossbar and it might sneak under or go over, at least we’d get something out of it.”
Dublin footballer Kevin McMenamon highlights the glorious uncertainty of sport after breaking Kerry hearts and sending Hill 16 into delirium for the second time at Croke Park.
“John Pullin, England’s captain, the hooker … McBride trying to get … Wilkinson … Going … Williams again … everyone with him … Sid Going … good tackle by Slattery of Ireland … almost on the half-way line … Kirkpatrick, to Williams … this is great stuff … Phil Bennett covering, chased by Alistair Scown … brilliant … oh, that’s brilliant … John Williams, Bryan Williams … Pullin … John Dawes, great dummy … David, Tom David, the halfway line … brilliant by Quinnell … this is Gareth Edwards … a dramatic start … What a score!”
Legendary commentary on a legendary try. The words used to describe Gareth Edwards’ famous Barbarians try by Cliff Morgan who passed away yesterday.
“That is the greatest thing I have ever done in football.”
Celtic manager Neil Lennon sums up the magnitude of their comeback and advance to the group stage of the Champions’ League after a 94th minute winner from Anthony Stokes in the final qualifying round at Celtic Park. You really could not make up the drama of the night.
“It would certainly assist our growth substantially if elements of the Irish corporate world can also see what positive role models we have representing the country — and what a great product hockey is at this elite level — and look to align themselves with a group of committed, hardworking athletes as we move towards the qualification process for Rio.”
Irish Men’s Hockey Coach calls for more business involvement in the sport on the Road to Rio.
“There was a lot of stuff that went wrong, but we just kept playing and grinding it out and kept trying to figure it out.”
Mayo Manager James Horan highlights that the best laid plans need to be adjusted as circumstances dictate.
“My other nominations from the Thai Cycling Association and the Fédération Royal Marocaine are valid and were all received in accordance with the UCI rules by the designated closing date. Federations all over the world want me to stand for re-election. I am standing as a candidate for re-election.”
Pat McQuaid talks tough after the Swiss Cycling Federation withdrew its nomination of him for another term as President of the UCI.
“The world championships are over now and Marian’s four months pregnant and I’ll have to put the hard yards in when I go home. The tables will turn.”
Ireland’s Gold Medal hero Rob Heffernan recognises that reality is often tougher, and more rewarding, away from the spotlight.
“After the final it was relief, emotional relief. I didn’t realise how intense that had been. It was a lifelong dream and my dream had become the family’s dream because we were in it together. It was definitely a burden. Afterwards I felt thank God I’ve done it and can move on.”
Katie Taylor relives the relief of London 2012 one year on in an interview with the Irish Times.
“Major League Baseball has reportedly told the Players Association that it intends to suspend a minimum eight players this week for acquiring performance-enhancing drugs from the Biogenesis clinic in Miami.”
MLB.Com covers its own major news story, the latest in a bad summer for doping in sport.
“It is no wonder that many in the cycling family as well as fans and sponsors have lost faith in the UCI to govern ethically when the man at the top of the organisation is prepared to embarrass an entire sport in an attempt to try and cling on to power.”
UCI Presidential Candidate Brian Cookson is unequivocal in his feelings for Ireland’s Pat McQuaid, his rival for the post.
“Talk of Kilkenny being a finished force caught in a time warp made me all the more determined to get things back on track. I swore that by Christ we’d prove Kilkenny weren’t gone.”
Brian Cody’s memoir reveals his feelings after Championship defeat in 2006. Will he feel the same now seven years on?
“Coming to major championships it is all about winning. The times are irrelevant. I am delighted. I have put a lot of hard work to get here.”
Jason Smyth reveals his winning drive after landing Ireland’s fourth Gold medal at the Paralympics World Championships in Lyon.
“Jeering crowds have accused Chris Froome of doping. The same mob once idolised Lance Armstrong. They were wrong about him. And they are wrong about Froome.”
Journalist David Walsh gives his imprimatur to the new Tour de France Champion.
“You’re going to go through highs and you’re going to go through lows. It’s just about trying to work your way out of the lows. Yeah, I haven’t played my best golf this year, but I’ve showed signs that it is there. It’s just a matter of trying to do that more often.”
Rory McIlroy on the eve of the Open Championship at Muirfield.
“Allianz support is massive. It enables Paralympics Ireland to do what it does in enabling us to achieve what we can on a world stage for ourselves and for Ireland.”
Jason Smyth, Paralympian
“Sitting here after a historic day, we’re talking about doping. My team-mates and I have worked our asses off for months and here I am accused of being a cheat and a liar and that’s not cool.”
Chris Froome gets frustrated by insinuations on the Tour de France.
“I am not now, nor have I ever been a cheat.”
Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell fails to join the dots as he comments after being told that a banned substance had been found in a drugs test taken at the Jamaican National Athletics trials.
“The club is the main thing. That’s where everything starts and that’s where everything finishes”
Dublin Footballer Ciaran Kilkenny echoes the thoughts of many, even on the eve of a major final with Dublin GAA
“They really should be marketing the boxers better, getting them more coverage and helping make the most of what they have done.”
Pete Taylor has a jab at the IABA speaking to Hugh Cahill on RTE2FM.
“Think of your first sporting event. It was probably your parent taking you there. Do you remember the score? Or do you remember who you were with? We don’t sell a game. We sell unique, shared emotional experiences.”
Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks argues that for fans sport is about much more than just the result.
“Defeat. Failure. Falling on your face. Falling on your ass. Are the only things that teach you how to win”
Kevin Spacey adds a theatrical élan to a sporting truism in the BBC Documentary on Andy Murray.
