Barry's Blog

MUNSTER FOOTBALL FINAL CORK V KERRY MY OPINION I would be very shocked if Cork won the Munster title as Kerrigan O Neil and Collins will have to be on top form in the forward line and they will have to play as a solid unit defensively as well. Fitsgerald at the back O Donaghue and Walsh in my opinion have got too much class. I say Kerry by 6 LEINSTER HURLING  FINAL GALWAY V WEXFORD MY OPINION O Hanlin Chin and O Connor will have to play out of their skins for Wexford to stand a chance in this match  but I think the game itself is quite finely balanced Burke Cooney and Flynn will be an important part of what Galway can do but I think that this game will be close and just think it will be about who can play better I say Galway by less than 3 FOOTBALL QUALIFERS LAOIS V CLAIRE MY OPINION O Loughlin O Caroll and Kingston should be big players for Laois as  Brennan Cleary and Malone for Claire can be important but I feel that this c...

CONFEDERATIONS CUP GERMANY 4-1 MEXICO GREAT GORETZKA Leon Goretzka scored twice in the opening eight minutes as Germany beat Mexico 4-1 in Sochi to join Chile in the Confederations Cup final. The Schalke midfielder swept home a Benjamin Henrichs pass from 20 yards and then slotted home from Timo Werner's through ball. Werner then tapped home Jonas Hector's pass to increase Germany's lead. Marco Fabian scored a brilliant 35-yard strike for Mexico, before Amin Younes added a fourth for Germany. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40410798 MY OPINION Germany has shown in this competition that they are definitely the team to watch out for in this competition and moving forward. I feel that you cannot call them anything but hot favourites against Chile as they look impressive in world cup qualifying while Chile do not look as impressive . I say Germany 2-0 Chile in final LEDVIA TALIN 0-2 CORK CITY BRILLIANT BUCKLY  Goals from Garr...

New Zealand team to face the Lions in second Test: 15. Israel Dagg, 14. Waisake Naholo, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Beauden Barrett, 9. Aaron Smith; 1. Joe Moody, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Owen Franks, 4. Brodie Retallick, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Kieran Read (capt). And the replacements: 16. Nathan Harris, 17. Wyatt Crockett, 18. Charlie Faumuina, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Ardie Savea. 21. TJ Perenara,  22. Aaron Cruden, 23. Ngani Laumape. Lions Hogg; Watson, Joseph, Te’o, Seymour; Sexton, Laidlaw; Marler, Best, Sinckler; Jones, Henderson; Moriarty, Warburton, Faletau. Replacements: George, Vunipola, Furlong, Kruis, Tipuric, Webb, Farrell, Payne. MY OPINION I think that this game will be tight again but to me New Zealand’s have the edge as shown last week when the Lions could not score their drop goal. If the Lions play well I think that they can win but they have shown this tendency to blow h...

CONFEDERATIONS CUP SEMIS PORTUGAL 0-0 CHILE CHILE WIN 3-0 ON PENALTIES BRAVO SAVES CHILE ON PENALTIES Arturo Vidal, whose shot hit the post in closing stages of extra-time before Martin Rodriguez's follow up also hit the woodwork, was successful from the spot for Chile along with Charles Aranguiz and Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez. Bravo denied efforts from Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho and Nani as Chile converted all their spot-kicks. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40410791 MY OPINION This was a surprise for me as I thought that in most matches Ronaldo would be able to rule the roost and control the game from start to finish. The game did not go like that at all and Chile had a penalty claim ruled out in extra time. Video referrals again how should they be used this will be a great question that they do need to sort out as I don’t think it will be before the world cup in Russia. LINFIELD 1-0 LA FORINA STEWART KEEPS LINFIELD IN TIE Lin...

EURO U21 SEMI FINALS GERMANY 2-2 ENGLAND GERMANY WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES POT LUCK HURTS ENGLAND Aidy Boothroyd's Young Lions had fallen behind when Davie Selke headed home, but Demarai Gray levelled the scores. Tammy Abraham made it 2-1 to England with a tap-in but Felix Platte's header took the game to extra time. Julian Pollersbeck saved Nathan Redmond's spot-kick as the Germans edged through in Tychy, Poland. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40406867 MY OPINION There are a few players here who will make their mark at senior level both for England and for Germany but losing a penalty shootout for a few players at senior level that will help them as England will lose more penalty shootouts at senior level. SPAIN 3-1 ITALY NIGUEZ HAT TRICK SUPER SPAIN Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez scored a hat-trick as Spain beat Italy to set up a European Under-21 Championship final with Germany. The 22-year-old put Spain ahead w...