2007: A year in Irish sport

JANUARY – A massive year in Irish sport gets under way.  The national soccer team are battling to qualify for Euro 2008, following a disastrous start to the campaign. Manager Steve Staunton is hoping to revitalise the squad and bring Ireland to Euro 2008. The rugby team are being touted as the best ever and possible world champions.

 

While Ireland’s cricket team are preparing for the World Cup, having qualified for the first time in their history. However, many expected the Irish just to be travelling to the Caribbean to make up the numbers. Meanwhile Bernard Dunne was hoping to defend his European Super Bantamweight champion and carry his brilliant form into 2007. Padraig Harrington was looking for that illusive major victory that had eluded him for so long.   

FEBRUARY – Minnows San Marino humiliated Ireland, when it took a 95th minute goal from Stephen Ireland to defeat the part timers 2-1. Ireland’s rugby team entered the six nations high on confidence and looking for their first grand slam in almost 60 years. After a win away to Wales, France travelled to Croke Park to play the first ever rugby international at the famous GAA stadium. An extremely emotional afternoon ended in heartbreak, when France stole victory in the dying moments of the game, and thus ended any chance of a Grand slam. Ireland then hammered England in another emotional day at Croke Park.

MARCH – Ireland beat both Scotland and Italy away to end the six nations with a Triple Crown and second place in the table. The soccer team beat Slovakia and Wales in Croke Park to keep our small hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 alive. The Cricket World Cup got under way and Ireland shocked the World with a draw against Zimbabwe and victory against former world champions Pakistan. Ireland then lost to Sri Lanka but qualified for the elite Super 8 stage. The next stage began with a loss to England. Bernard Dunne retained his European Super Bantamweight title by technical knockout over Yersin Jailauov in the third round.

APRIL – A quiet month for Irish sport, our cricket team managed just one victory in their remaining games, against Bangladesh, meaning we finished bottom of the Super 8's stage. But this took nothing away from the Irish team’s heroic performances in the tournament. We travelled there expected to lose every single game, so the two victories and a draw were a massive over achievement.

MAY – Padraig Harrington became the first homegrown winner of the Irish Open since John O'Leary in 1982. Ireland's cricket team successfully defended their ICC Intercontinental Cup with a comprehensive victory over Canada. This meant Ireland maintained their status as the most successful non-test playing nation.

JUNE – In another relatively quiet month, Bernard Dunne successfully defended his EBU title against Walstad Reider by a unanimous decision. This latest victory was witnessed by another packed Point theatre.

JULY – Padraig Harrington sealed a great moment for Irish sport when he won golf’s open championship at Carnoustie in Scotland. The Dubliner defeated Spaniard Sergio Garcia by a single hole in a dramatic playoff, becoming the first European this century to win a major title and the first Irishman in 60 years to win the oldest competition in golf.

AUGUST – Bernard Dunne prepared for a third defence of his European Super Bantamweight, against Spanish challenger, Kiko Martinez. As soon as the bell sounded, Martinez came at Dunne like a tornado, knocking him down in a matter of seconds. And after less than a minute and a half it was all over, the referee stopped the fight and Dubliner Dunne lost his title. Some of the capacity crowd at the Point Theatre hadn’t even reached their seats yet. Ireland’s soccer side defeated Denmark 4-0 in an impressive friendly victory. Staunton’s team was high on confidence going into September’s crunch qualifiers.

SEPTEMBER – The rugby world cup began in Paris. Ireland travelled with high hopes, however following narrow wins over minnows Namibia and Georgia, they had a mountain to climb if they were to progress form the pool. Following the 25-3 loss to France; the Irish would need a miracle against Argentina to reach the quarter final. However the ‘Pumas’ easily won 30-15, meaning Ireland crashed out. Ireland’s soccer team didn’t fare much better in their two vital qualifiers away to Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Against the Slovakians Ireland twice squandered their lead, the game finished 2-2, thanks to a last minute goal. Then they lost 1-0 to the Czechs, thus ending any chance of reaching Euro 2008.

OCTOBER – Despite Ireland’s having no chance of reaching Euro 2008, Staunton’s men had to Germany and Cyprus at Croke Park. Ireland earned a scoreless draw and produced a spirited performance against the Germans, but the unimportance of the game was emphasised by the viewing figures, as more Irish people watched England lose to South Africa in the rugby world cup final. Once again the Cypriots humiliated Ireland, and it took a last minute goal to give Stan’s side a 1-1 draw. The final whistle was greeted with boos and chants calling for Staunton’s sacking, and ten days later Stan’s reign of terror was finally ended.

NOVEMBER – Ireland’s qualifying campaign culminated in Cardiff, as they took on Wales. Ireland’s U-21 coach, Don Givens, took temporary charge of the side. But otherwise it was business as usual for Ireland; Paul McShane was at fault for Ireland conceding a last minute penalty and thus drawing the game 2-2. Domestically Drogheda United celebrated their first ever Premier Division title.

DECEMBER – A Dennis Behan goal was enough to land Cork City the FAI Cup at the RDS early in the month. Ireland continues to search for a new manager. They draw Italy in the qualifications for the 2010 World Cup but the group could have been much worse. The rugby team will be preparing for the six nations and play Italy at the beginning of next year.

- Chris Blake and Robert Redmond