John Ó'Ríordáns Blog

According to Met Éireann it rains 5 days out of every week on average in Ireland. Well 255 out of 365 in the West of Ireland. Which works out as 5 days a week. Other parts of the country work out a little better. So basically you can expect it to rain nearly every day.

The image to the right will show you how wet it is where you live.

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.

Happy St. Patricks Day! I don’t care how cynical a person you are, when you are Irish you have to feel proud that the whole western world (and much of the rest of the world) stops and celebrates Ireland and Irish people. Saw on thwe news this morning that Sydnety Opera House was lit up with green lights, the London Eye was turned green, along with  the Empire State Building and the fountain in the White House in Washington had green water.

Beannachtaí Lá Féile Pádraig!

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.