AVIVA Stadium now "almost certain" to host 2013 Heineken Cup Final:

IRFU set for bumper May 2013 Heineken Cup Final pay day

It is expected that Lansdowne Road's AVIVA Stadium will be confirmed as host of Northern hemisphere rugby's premier club rugby competition for the culmination of the 2013 event.  The Irish capital could also host the Amlin Challenge Cup Final the same weekend; but the big prize for the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is undoubtedly the Heineken.  It will be a fantastic opportunity to advertise the country with up to 500,000 rugby fans arriving in the city for Final weekend and media from more than 20 countries broadcasting the event around the world.

Fingers crossed for Friday:  IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne

While there are those who will (correctly) argue that the organisation who shares the Aviva Stadium with the IRFU (that is the Football Association of Ireland - FAI) are much more in need of a bumper payday having only sold out the venue twice in 16 attempts; hosting such a big event will help attract top rugby names to Irish shores. 

The announcement is expected to be made at a Committee Meeting of the European Rugby Cup (ERC) in Dublin on Friday afternoon with the AVIVA Stadium odds on favourite to be announced as 2013 host.

From Tolka Park to Japan and tonight Skopje: Robbie Keane reaches an historic landmark:

SPECIAL MOMENT:   Robbie Keane nets his 50th international goal

The Republic of Ireland recorded a famous win in Skopje tonight in garnering a fully meritted (even - though Macedonia missed a first-half penalty and had a 'goal' disallowed) 0-2 away win at a venue that Ireland had never won before in two previous competitive fixtures.

Keane celebrates becoming 12th all-time international goalscorer

Keane has always shown immense pride in playing for his country ever since his Ireland (under - age) debut as a fresh faced 15 year old at Tolka Park.  It is an attitude that now sees Robbie Keane as Ireland captain and the senior elder statesman in the ranks of the national team.  As the only survivor of the last time Ireland played Macedonia in Skopje; Robbie Keane had some ghosts to exorcise and tonight surpassed some of the greats of international football to score his 5oth and 51st international goals.  Only 11 other footballers have now scored more international goals than the lad from Tallaght; with Robbie tonight eclipsing the record for the Brtish and Irish Isles held by one Bobby Charlton, who netted 49 times for the "Three Lions."

MAGICAL MEMORY:  Keane scores last ditch World Cup equaliser v Germany

Robbie Keane has provided me with my all-time favourite sporting moment;  that being his magical last gasp equaliser against Germany at the 2002 World Cup to rescue Ireland's campaign.  For that memory alone; I will always be grateful to him.   I will also always respect his undying commitment and dedication to his country.

Getting the ball rolling:  first international goal back in 1998

The fact that Robbie was
struggling with a groin injury earlier in the week was utterly appropriate and totally summed up his international career.  Whilst others might have cried off at the end of a long season; Keane would do and has done anything to play for his country.  This generation of Irish players (looking at Keane, Duff, Dunne and Given here) deserve to play at a major international tournament.  There chances of doing so are now running out; but tonight's victory keeps qualification hopes for Euro 2012 very much alive for the Boys in Green.  
Continuing the theme of aptness tonight was the fact that the result was decided mainly by two of Ireland's most important players over the last 12 years;  Shay Given with two world class saves and Keane with his two goals; really summing up Ireland's positive competitive international football results over the last decade and more.  
Tonight nobody besides Robbie could be declared man of the match on a night of nights for him personally and professionally.

“At a dark hour in Ireland; Barry McGuigan’s spirit shone a light towards peace. Barry’s not only a champion, he’s a hero,”

FINEST HOUR: McGuigan celebrates World Title Triumph

 - those words come from U2's Bono who was asked to sum up Barry McGuigan for the cover of his new book.  For Barry McGuigan delved far beyond the boxing world, far beyond the sporting world to be an Irish and indeed, international, symbol of peace in what is the cruelest of cruel games.  

At the height of ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland Barry McGuigan ‘The Clones Cyclone’ was the new featherweight boxing champion. In his new autobiography he has revealed that undercover police officers issued him with a gun for his own protection.

McGuigan fought with a dove of peace on his shorts and united fans from the North and South. He even sparked the cross-border slogan “Leave the Fighting to McGuigan”. The former boxer admits that the day he was handed a firearm is burnt into his memory. 
“I was told there was a plot to kidnap me…Security forces on both sides of the border were keeping an eye on me. It came at a time when people were disappearing and not long after the kidnapping of the racehorse Shergar. So I was issued with a gun and the police taught me how to shoot it.”
Speaking to "The Mirror" he said “I couldn’t hit a barn door! I was terrible. It was really funny...but at the same time deadly serious. I had plain clothes police guys travelling with me everywhere for a while in case I was nabbed.
“My suspicion is it was all about ransom – attempting to raise money for terrorist activities. But I think the terrorists then realized that because of my popularity and non-political stance, kidnapping me had the potential to backfire.
“Perhaps that’s why – thank God – the threat never materialized. Now, when I look back at some of the things I did and the statements I was making, I was very lucky to come through it unscathed.”

ICON FOR PEACE: Barry McGuigan at the launch of his book

McGuigan (50) is now a columnist with the Mirror and a boxing commentator. He was born in 1961 in Clones, a Monaghan Cavan border town.
Although his grandfather had been an IRA captain in the 1920 McGuigan said “I always promoted peace and reconciliation. It was important to make a statement of neutrality.”
McGuigan still feels passionately about promoting reconciliation in Ireland. Last year he was honored with the UN Inspiration Award for Peace.  

A fitting tribute to a man who transcended boundaries when boundaries were all that people knew.

Rebels operating on different planet to Waterford:

Cork celebrate All-Ireland & should have too much for Déise

The big obstacle for Cork is to beat Kerry when it really matters. And that's at Croke Park.

To be called 'Great' Cork need to beat Kerry at Croke Park

 The June Bank Holiday Weekend traditionally sees the movers and shakers making their move in the GAA world and this year is no different.  Cork are long odds on to beat Waterford in the Senior Football Championship and only a collapse of cataclysmic proportions would see the Rebels fail to put the Déise to bed.  This is reflected in the bookies' odds with a  -11 handicap at odds of evens; meaning the Rebels are almost guaranteed a birth in the Munster Final; where the oldest of old foes should be lying in wait.   The big obstacle for this Cork side is to beat Kerry when it really matters and that's at Croke Park; but victory in the Munster Final would certainly also lay down a marker for the battles ahead this summer.

IRB introduce much needed new concussion guidelines:

IRB President Lapasset announcing new guidelines

The International Rugby Board has underscored its commitment to promoting player welfare best practice with the approval of revised protocols governing concussion evaluation and graduated return to play guidelines.

An amendment to Regulation 10, approved by the IRB Council at its Special Meeting of Council in Dublin on Tuesday, May 24, has paved the way for a new robust set of guidelines surrounding concussion that will enhance the protection of players at all levels of the game.
Players, coaches, medics and administrators now have access to an easy-to-use dedicated set of guidelines that cater for the elite and community levels and recognise that medical diagnosis and support is not always available to players at every level of the game. Importantly, greater clarity and flexibility will aid the process.

IRB need more influence on player welfare

Grounded in extensive research to increase understanding, the new guidelines are now available at the IRB's dedicated Player Welfare website, www.irbplayerwelfare.com. Underpinning the programme will be the roll out of a game wide education programme that highlights the dangers of ignoring the symptoms of concussion.

View the new guidelines here:
http://www.irbplayerwelfare.com/?documentid=3

"Sat Nav" retires: Tribute to the "greatest midfielder of his generation:"

Paul Scholes:  the Premier League's Number One midfielder

"One of my greatest regrets is that the chance never arose to play alongside Scholes," - Zinedine Zidane


I know that Paul Scholes retired from football two days ago; but any player labelled "the greatest midfielder of his generation" by no less a judge than Zinedine Zidane deserves a well researched article.  

ULTIMATE TRIBUTE FROM ONE ZINEDINE ZIDANE

He was the most decorated English player ever.  His prize list includes 10 Premier League Titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups, one Champions League, which would have been two were it not for earning a second yellow card in the 1999 semi-final and thereby being banned from the final.   'Scholes-ey' (as he was so wittingly nicknamed by his team-mates and manager) also won 66 caps for England, a tally which would surely have been doubled were it not for the love of his family and his desire to spend time with them during international weeks.  One of his great regrets was always that he didn't come out of (international) retirement to play at the 2010 World Cup, having been offered a place by Fabio Capello.

"Without any doubt the best player in the Premier League. Paul Scholes could do everything," - Thierry Henry


Thierry Henry, arguably the greatest foreigner ever to play in the Premier League described Scholes as: "Without any doubt the best player in the Premiership....He knows how to do everything."

United's greatest holds Scholes in highest esteem

The player called "Sat Nav" due to the accuracy of his passing had Rio Ferdinand lead the tributes to him stating:  "Paul would do ridiculous things in training like point at a tree that was 40 yards away and say 'I'm going to hit that.'  He would then hit the tree plum. Definitely the best player I ever played with."

Manchester United's (undoubted) greatest ever play, Sir Bobby Charlton stated: "Paul is always so in control and pin-point accurate with his passing — a beautiful player to watch."

TACKLING:   the one 'flaw' in Paul Scholes' game

Scholes was famed for not being able to tackle - the only 'flaw' in his game many said.  Attempts at tackles by the "Ginger Magician" usually led to flailing legs, a referee's whistle and the brandishing of a card raised in the air.  Probably the greatest disappointment of Scholes' career was when he missed the 1999 Champions League Final; due to being booked twice in the two legs of the semi-final against Juventus.  The two bookings were for two 'mis-timed' tackles; each tackle almost certainly saving a goal.
There are those who say that those bookings were due to Scholes' inability to tackle; but a more accurate assessment would probably be that Scholes' actions were those of a man who was selflessly keeping his side in the greatest club competition in the world.

A player who could do everything indeed.

Beck's appeal: David down for shock Dublin departure

Beckham to return to Ireland after marrying in Dublin

After a royal visit and a presidential one, Beckham would represent a bit of both.

The world's most famous (and 2010's highest earning) footballer David Beckham looks likely to play his final game as a professional at Dublin's Aviva Stadium in November.  

Beckham will be touring Europe with his club LA Galaxy in November after the MLS season finishes at what will be the end of Beckham's five year contract with the club.  Galaxy are working with sports promoters Platinum One to put the final touches to a three-game European tour.  Galaxy are understood to be seeking a friendly in Dublin, probably against Shamrock Rovers.
Beckham will return to Ireland after his 1999 wedding to former Spice Girl Victoria Adams in Luttrellstown Castle in Co. Dublin and it would the first time he has ever played in Ireland.

Beckham's main sponsor to have their say on where he goes

The main question to be answered from Beckham's visit is sure to be;  can the Beckham brand save the ailing Aviva Stadium?
The arrival of the likeable lad from Leytonstone in London, whose surname was the most 'Googled' word in 2003 and 2004; should certainly beef up the attendance at the €410million stadium.  The stadium has only been sold out twice from 16 previous soccer matches played at the venue; which certainly hasn't helped the FAI to lower the stadium debt.
Were any old MLS team to play Shamrock Rovers in November, the match could be staged in Tallaght Stadium but brand Bechham brings an aura and magnetism.

Ireland will cash in if David Beckham decides to finish his career here

If, as is distinctly possible, the three-game European tour represents the final leg of Beckham's career;  the chance to catch a glimpse of such a high-profile figure will reach out well beyond Ireland.  It could, if marketed properly, be the sports ticket of the year.  

Beckham remains a good player, if not a great one.  As a commercial phenomenon he is in a league of his own.  After a royal visit and a presidential one, Beckham would represent a bit of both.