John Ó'Ríordáns Blog

As seen on The Examiner.

Lunatics

A few minutes before the end of the Cork v Waterford Munster Final yesterday the ball was sent wide by Waterford’s Dan Shanahan. For some unknown reason the umpire gives a 65. It goes over and now (after a Ben point at the other end) there is just a goal between the teams. Waterford attack once more with only seconds left and the ball goes wide. Me and all of the other Cork Supporters go crazy. That has to be it.

However at this stage the ref looks around at the poor attendance and probably realises the Munster Council haven’t made the money they would have expected to on this match. So he decides to give Waterford a free in. Seconds later the ball is in the back of the net. And the game is over. Replay! A joke!

Looking at the analysis after the match in the Sunday game in the Greyhound Track Bar across from Semple even the RTÉ analysts can’t figure out what the free was for. But I can. It’s widely believedthat statistically there are far more plays in GAA inter-county games than there should be for a game with such varied and high scores. Referee’s must be given incentives to play for replays in big matches.

In fairness to the Munster Council the game will be on next Saturday night which is a great time for a Final to be on. It should be some craic in Thurles that night. But I won’t be there. For the first time in year’s I’m not going to the Munster Hurling Final. Maybe the first time ever as far as I can remember. I don’t appreciate being taken for a fool. And I won’t be fooled twice.

I found out today that Chuck Liddell is coming to Cork on July 20th. He’s coming to the Boxing Clinic up by the airport. Check out their Facebook page here.

I just ran up to them there and threw down my €60. I was shocked to hear he was coming here. Cork isn’t exactly a hub of MMA. I wonder why he’s coming. Maybe he’s here on his Holidays. He does have some Irish in him. Nice to see he’s visiting the old country.

Still what an opportunity. I’ve only been training MMA for a few months but I hope to pick up a lot from him.

How was Paul Galvin left on the field against Cork this weekend? He blatantly stuck his fingers into Eoin Cadogans mouth metres in front of the ref and got away with it. The amount of crap that fella get’s away with is unbelievable.  Let’s hope he get’s a couple of months ban out of it. If they’d played Noel O’Leary on Galvin in extra time he would’ve sorted him out. I can’t understand why they didn’t.

I’m into Mixed Martial Arts. A sport where you can knee someone as many times in the head until they go unconscious or choke them until they pass out. But if you fish-hooked some one like Galvin did you’d be disqualified. He can’t be left get away with it. But sadly because he is Paul Galvin I wouldn’t be surprised if he did.

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My favourite reaturaunt in Cork has had a make over and a name change. Starvast is now Yuan Ming Yuan. Same great food but a much more Chinese feel to the place. I like it.

I’m watching Cork v Galway and it’s great to see fellas handpassing with the fist instead if throwing it. I also like the rule that the ball has to go out of play before the half is over. Makes things much simpler. Football still needs a tackle though. Too many frees in Football. It’s a nice clean game though, no Kerry involvement. :)

I read this in the Irish Independent today.  In it he says that Paul Galvin is “100% innocent” and “shouldn’t have been sent off”. Is he on crack? He punches a guy (again) which causes Eoins tooth to come out. Then he sticks his fingers into his mouth (fish hook) and worries the wound. Now Eoin had to have an operation. What kond of a thug sticks his finger into the whole where someones tooth was seconds before? And now O’Connor seconds his 6 week ban is too harsh? This is the same Paul Galvin who served a one year ban and is in trouble at work for abusing a school boy!

Still I suppose this is the same team that elbowed Nicholas Murphy in the first few minutes of the All-Ireland and nearly knocked him out. So obviously Jack has no issues with theses thugs and perhaps encourages them.

Went to see Hayseed Dixie in Cypress Ave Sunday night. Great band. Very up tempo energetic music. Really enjoyed it.

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Read this in the Hogan Stand today.

Cork boss Denis Walsh has confirmed Timmy McCarthy’s retirement from inter-county hurling.

The Castlelyons farmer was one of the most decorated hurlers in the modern game, winning All-Ireland titles at senior, under 21, minor and intermediate level. He also won a National League medal in his debut season of 1998 and an Inter-provincial medal with Munster in 2007.

McCarthy, who represented the Rebels in both hurling and football up to under 21 level, first came to prominence with the famed hurling nursery St. Colman’s, Fermoy before going on to win an All-Ireland minor medal in 1995 with Donal Og Cusack and Sean Og O hAilpin among his team-mates.

The flying half forward, who often came in for unfair criticism from Cork fans, won back-to-back All-Ireland under 21 titles in 1997 and ’98 before helping the Rebels to Liam McCarthy Cup glory in 1999.

McCarthy garnered two more All-Ireland senior medals in 2004 and 2005. In all, he won five Munster SHC medals and was a key player for divisional side Imokilly in their 1997 and ’98 Cork SHC successes.

“Timmy has been a fantastic servant to Cork over 10 years or so,” fellow East Corkman Walsh said.

“I was always a big fan of his and his style of play and he’s a player that owes Cork hurling nothing.”