22-5-17 FINAL DAY AND PLAY OFFS PLUS CHAMPIONSHIP
PREMIERE LEAGUE
FINAL DAY
ARSENAL 3-1 EVERTON
BELLERLIN EARLY GOAL
GIVES ARSENAL A CHANCE
Arsenal took the lead early on through Hector Bellerin's
far-post finish and Alexis Sanchez scrambled in a second after Koscielny's
dismissal to put the Gunners in control.
The Gunners did end the league campaign with a flourish
though thanks to Aaron Ramsey's brilliant injury-time strike from 20 yards
after Romelu Lukaku pulled a goal back for Everton from the penalty spot.
MY
OPINION
Arsenal are going into the cup final
now with a sense of achievement that they won something but the fans want
something that makes this season a success. I think the great question is what
will Arsene do next I think he will stay. Arsenal will try to sort out problems over the
summer I can be sure about that and that will mean big signings but Arsene is
usually cautious so it might be more about whether he can save a player from
leaving. Everton must consider this a good season but you do have to ask where
will Lukaku be playing his football next season.
LIVERPOOL 3-0 BORO
WIJNALDUM GOAL
ALLOWS LIVERPOOL TO QUALIFY
Georginio Wijnaldum eased the tension in injury time,
bursting into the box and smashing in a fierce shot at the near post.
Philippe Coutinho's low curling free-kick six minutes into
the second half was quickly followed by Adam Lallana slotting in to give the
Reds a comfortable cushion to ride out to full-time.
MY
OPINION
Klopp has done what he has
needed to keep the fans off him but to me this season has been a failure as
they had the chance for the title and they blew it. I still think Klopp is
leaning about English football but he needs to find smarter and better players.
Next season is a big one for both Liverpool and Klopp as it will be 6 years
without a trophy. They do need smarter defenders and a good plan d for when
teams set up to defend. As for Boro the championship is not an easy thing to
get out of and will probably have to sell their stars to survive.
WATTFORD 0-5 MAN CITY
AGUERO DOUBLE SENDS CITY DIRECT TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
City skipper Vincent Kompany was left unmarked to head in an
early opener before Sergio Aguero twice clinically fired in after quick
counter-attacks.
The Blues, needing a point to guarantee a finish in the top
four, were 4-0 up at half-time after Fernandinho bundled in.
Gabriel Jesus clipped in a fifth after the break as Watford
ended the reign of departing manager Walter Mazzarri with a shocking display.
MY
OPINION
We know that Man City are
capable of performances like this and that will be Pepes target but I do wonder
did the earliness of the goal just destroy Watford’s resilience. Pepe now
understands that English football is unpredictable and everyone at the club
will feel that City must build for next season. As for Wattford they must be disappointed
in
MAN U 2-0 PALICE
HARROP PROVES YOUTH
BREEDS CONFIDENCE
Harrop was one of four players given their first top-flight
starts as manager Jose Mourinho named the youngest United line-up in Premier
League history, with an average age of 22 years and 284 days.
The 21-year-old midfielder was brimming with confidence and
lashed in a superb finish from inside the box in the first half, and could have
had a second, but curled an effort narrowly wide.
Paul Pogba doubled the advantage with a low strike before
being replaced by Michael Carrick.
MY
OPINION
Man United are showing in that
match that they can do a job when needed but they made a choice in my opinion
when they played Arsenal to loose and go through the Europa League final
against Ajax. I think that playing a youth team is something every manager
should do at a certain point in a season. As for Palace when they beat Hull the
celebration begun and I don’t think they have come down from that. Palace will
be about how much money they are allowed to spend.
CHELSEA 5-1 SUNDERLAND
BASTSHUAYI DOUBLE
GIVE CHELSEA WIN BUT DAY ABOUT TERRY
The Blues, who sealed their sixth top-flight title nine days
ago, fell behind to an early Javier Manquillo strike but hit back quickly through
Willian's angled drive.
Eden Hazard lashed in his 17th goal of the season to give
the home side the lead before his replacement, Pedro, capitalised on a poor
backward header from Joleon Lescott to head in.
Another substitute, Michy Batshuayi, ensured the win was an
emphatic one with two well-taken finishes late on to end his season with five
goals in three games.
30 premierships wins a new
record.
MY
OPINIION
The early goal was the thing
that woke the beast for me but today was about John Terry on his final match
for Chelsea and Antonio Conte and how he had taken a poor team last season to a
good one this. I have a feeling about Conte that he could be a legend at the
club. As for Sunderland they have to search very deep in order to get an answer
to what has gone wrong.
HULL 1-7 SPURS
KANE HAT TRICK GETS
HIM GOLDEN BOOT
Kane scored twice in three first-half minutes when he beat
Hull goalkeeper David Marshall from the edge of the box and then tapped in from
a Kieran Tripper cross.
Dele Alli added a third before Victor Wanyama headed in
after the break to cancel out Sam Clucas' consolation for the relegated hosts.
Alli then sent the prolific Kane clear to beat Marshall for
his third with 18 minutes to play.
It took the 23-year-old striker to 29 goals for the season,
his highest tally in a league campaign.
Defenders Ben Davies and Toby Alderweireld completed the
rout with late goals as Hull exited the top flight with a whimper.
MY
OPINION
This a great Spurs team that is
ready to go somewhere but I am not that sure where as if they stick together
and bring another few players through I would not be surprised if they were
European Champions in a few years. I think where they will be playing their
football might harm them as they are not used to anything. For Hull this was a
disaster and they will have to look at themselves in the championship.
BURNLEY 1-2 WEST HAM
AYEU KEEPS HAMMERS
HAPPY
Burnley went ahead when Sam Vokes scored his 10th league
goal of the season when he finished off Andre Gray's low cross.
The hosts' lead only lasted four minutes before Sofiane
Feghouli netted to complete a fine move that also involved Edimilson Fernandes
and Andre Ayew.
MY
OPINION
West Ham is better than this and
should be chasing for Europe of this I have no doubt but being safe is a good
season for Burnley as they do not have the biggest budget in the world.
SOUTHAMPTON 0-1 STOKE
CROUCH GOAL BRINGS
STOKE TO MID TABLE
The home side enjoyed the majority of possession but Nathan
Redmond's lob on to the bar on the stroke of half-time was their best moment
until Crouch pounced.
The striker's 10th goal of the season arrived when he headed
home a Geoff Cameron cross and they deserved the lead after creating openings
throughout.
MY
OPINION
This is not the best season for
Southampton with the squad that they have and the question has to be asked why they
are so far off Everton. Are they going to sell a big player to a big club and
try to make the money from it as they have the best academy in England? As for
Stoke they should be happy with Mid Table.
LEICESTER 1-1
BOURNMOUTH
VARDY SCORES LEICESTERS FINAL GOAL AS CHAMPIONS
Junior Stanislas put the Cherries ahead after just 59
seconds, smashing in a rebound from Ryan Fraser's shot at the end of Lys
Mousset's driving run.
Leicester started poorly but were transformed after the
break and Jamie Vardy poked in Islam Slimani's knockdown early in the second
half.
MY
OPINION
Jamie Vardy a main part of last season’s
glory as Leister go back to what would be considered normal for them a position
in mid table that they should be content with as for Bournemouth finishing in 9th
in the premiere league must be considered a dream.
SWANSEA 2-1 WBA
LLORENTE SHOWS WHAT
SWANS SCAN DO
Having secured survival a week earlier, the hosts were in
relaxed mood at a relieved Liberty Stadium but fell behind in the first half as
Jonny Evans nodded in from a corner.
Swansea improved after the interval and equalised as Jordan
Ayew headed his first goal for the club, before Fernando Llorente volleyed the
winning goal with five minutes left.
MY
OPINION
West Brom are not doing the job
that we know that they have done all season as they were sitting in 8th
position for most of it. I think that in recent weeks West Brom has been a huge
disaster but the Swans are on a roll and I would have been very surprised if
they did not win.
CELTIC
UNBEATEN RECORD
he Celtic class of 2016-17 have
set a number of new SPL/Premiership-era records on their way to a sixth consecutive
title.
Here are the key figures behind
Scotland's 'invincibles'.
No Scottish champions have gone
unbeaten since the late 19th century. Celtic managed it in 1897-98, with
Rangers going one better the next season, winning every game. However, those
league campaigns were over 18 matches, not even half the duration of the
current one.
In the SPL/Premiership era,
Celtic lost one game in their 2001-02 and 2013-14 successes.
In 1967-68, both winners Celtic
and runners-up Rangers were beaten just once.
Only Juventus in Italy's Serie A
(2011-12), Arsenal in England's Premier League (2003-04) and Barry Town in the
League of Wales (1997-98) have been unbeaten champions over a 38-game campaign
in recent history.
106 points this season The
previous Scottish record was 103 points, set by Celtic in 2001-02 - Martin O'Neill's
second season in charge.
It is also a new European
record, surpassing Welsh side Barry Town AFC, who reached 105 in 1996-97.
34 wins Again, Celtic surpassed
a record of their own, having won 33 league games in the 2001-02 season.
Celtic needed a final-day
victory to edge past the 29-point margin of victory they managed in 2013-14.
No mean feat considering
runners-up Aberdeen set their best Premiership points tally with 76.
The champions scored four goals
or more on 14 occasions.
The biggest home win was 6-1
against Kilmarnock in September, while there were 5-0 away victories at Hearts
and Partick Thistle.
Juventus, Real Madrid and
Barcelona are the other European sides to have hit 100 or more points in a
season.
106 goals Stuart Armstrong's
second-half strike against Hearts on Sunday meant Celtic bettered the 105 league
goals they scored in 2003-04.
The champions scored in every
league outing, averaging just over 2.7 goals a game.
In 1966-67, under the legendary
Jock Stein, Celtic netted 111 goals in 34 Division One games, returning an
eye-watering 196 in all competitions on their way to a domestic treble and
European Cup glory.
8 games to spare the previous
record was seven games to spare, set by Rangers in 1928-29 and equalled by
Celtic in 2013-14, both over 38-game campaigns like this one.
PRO 12 SEMI FINALS
MUNSTER 23-3 OSPREYS
ZEBO PUTS MUNSTER INTO FINAL
Francis Saili, Simon Zebo and Andrew Conway went over for the clinical hosts while Dan Biggar kicked Ospreys' sole penalty.
MY OPINION
The Ospreys were on a downward Spiral going into this game and it did not help the fact that they were playing the team on top of the league. I still wonder though how it was that the Ospreys beat Ulster a few weeks ago as they were in a huge rut.
SCARLET'S 27-15 LEINSTER
G DAVIES SECURES SHOCK WIN FOR
Evans was red-carded for a tip tackle on Garry Ringrose in the 38th minute when Scarlets were leading 21-10.
Evans, back-row Aaron Shingler and scrum-half Gareth Davies scored fine tries for the visitors.
Centre Ringrose and number eight Jack Conan touched down for Leinster.
MY OPINION
Leinster are the best team in the pro 12 but this result says that form is more important than where you stand in the league. Leinster will improve for next season but I feel that the Scarlets will give Munster a good go in the final.
PREMIERSHIP SEMI FINAL
WASPS 21-20 LEICESTER
BRILLIANT BASSETT
Kurtley Beale helped Wasps build a 10-point lead but Peter Betham's try saw Tigers three points down at half-time.
Leicester led when Telusa Veainu dived over, and Freddie Burns' kick had them four points up and defending bravely.
Thomas Young spurned a chance as Wasps pressed but Bassett scored in the corner to set up a final with Exeter.
MY OPINION
This has been a real battle for both sides and I do not that there was a time when either side thought that they were out of it and to me that is what makes a good match. Wasps moving to Coventry does seem to have helped them as they are going to Twickenum. As for Leicester one bad decision there is no harm in that.
EXETER 18-16 SARACENS
SIMMONDS SECURES WIN FOR EXETER
Sam Simmonds was forced over as the clock wound down to deny Sarries, who beat Clermont to win the Champions Cup last Saturday, in a tense semi-final.
Jack Nowell's try put Chiefs ahead after it was 6-6 at half-time, but Chris Wyles' try brought Saracens back.
Mike Ellery put Sarries in front on 76 minutes, before Simmonds' heroics.
The last-gasp victory gained revenge for Exeter, who had lost out to Saracens in their first Premiership final 12 months ago, while extending the Chiefs' unbeaten league run to 16 matches.
MY OPINION
This close match and one that both teams think that they should have won. Exeter is showing that this could be their year after so long without a Premiership title. Exeter is showing that they are ready for the next step.
TOLOUN 26-22 CASTRE
NONU TRY SECURES SPOT IN SEMI FOR TOLOUN
Three-time European champions Toulon were 3-0 ahead after just two minutes thanks to a penalty But Argentine fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta levelled just moments later with his trusty left boot.
In a gruelling, physical clash, Toulon grabbed the only try of the first period on the half-hour mark.
Scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde made the crucial break off the back of the scrum, freeing winger Drew Mitchell Halfpenny converted.
The Welshman was then penalised for not releasing the ball and Urdapilleta cut the deficit for Castres to 10-6.
Both kickers hit another penalty each as Toulon went into the break at 13-9 ahead.
The game boiled over early in the second half when Toulon's Australian No8 Liam Gill was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle on Rory Kockott.
Urdapilleta slotted over the penalty for 12-13 before Castres took the lead on the night for the first time when a penalty try was awarded for Mitchell's deliberate knock-on.
Halfpenny cut the gap to 16-19 with another penalty before the Welshman played the key role in his team's victory.
Veteran All Blacks centre Nonu's slick handling allowed the supporting Halfpenny to slip into the corner for the try which he converted for 23-19.
He knocked over an insurance penalty for 26-19 and Urdapilleta's late penalty was just a consolation
MY OPINION
This has been a poor season for Toloun with the money that they are meant to have they are supposed to be doing better than this and I think that the can improve but Casters did make a game off it but after the final Toloun try they didn’t stand a chance. La Rochelle has been the surprise package of this season and I don’t really know how to gage this because of that.
MONPELLIER 13-22 RACING METRO
ROKOCOKO TRY BRINGS RACING TO SEMIS
Racing hit back immediately from the line-out of the clearing kick, Nakawara peeling around off Bernard Le Roux's pass into open space to bound over for the opening score, Carter converting.
Montpellier's Timoci Nagusa sparked the home team's reply with his own silky handling skills, scrum-half Benoit Paillaugue eventually crashing over after taking a quick tap penalty.
Racing roared back into the lead when Teddy Thomas crossed in the corner after Nyanga gathered a speculative Maxime Machenaud chip and offloaded to the winger.
Rokocoko used all his strength to cross in the corner five minutes from time, and Dan Carter added a late penalty after Jannie du Plessis was sent off for punching to continue to the next step of their title defence of the Bouclier Brennus.
MY OPINION
We have seen it where the team that has that sense of confidence can pull off any type of win at any given time and in my opinion this was what that was. Montpellier did disappoint but I think that Racing will give Clermont a good go and after them losing to Saracens I would not be shocked if Racing reached the final.
CHAMPIONS CUP
NORTHAMPTON 21-15 CONNACHT
GROOM CROOM OF THE CROP
Saints fly-half Harry Mallinder touched down to put the hosts ahead inside one minute, only for Connacht wing Niyi Adeolokun to hit back on five minutes.
Nic Groom went over after the break to put Saints eight points up before David Heffernan's try cut the gap to three.
Mallinder then kicked a crucial third penalty late on at Franklin's Gardens.
Saints played the final two minutes with 14 men after Jamie Gibson was sent to the sin bin, but Pro 12 side Connacht could not find a way through the hosts' resolute defence.
]
MY OPINION
I expected to see more from Connacht as this would be Pat Lams final match for the side. I think there is a lot that Connacht have to improve on if they are to go anywhere near a team like Leinster or Munster again
STADE 46-21 BLUES
MACOLOU DOUBLE PUTS FRENCH IN DREAMLAND
Blues raced into a lead with tries from Macauley Cook and Nick Williams before the hosts hit back with Waisea Nayacalevu touching down.
Wing Sekou Macalou crossed twice in the second half for Stade.
The hosts also ran in tries from Giorgi Melikidze, Mathieu de Giovanni, Laurent Panis and Clement Daguin.
Cook scored a consolation second try for the visitors at Stade Jean Bouin.
MY OPINION
This was like men against boys and it does lead to a very interesting final between 2 of the best sides at the moment. Cardiff must be happy with finishing in 7th position.
GAELIC FOOTBALL
CONNACHT
MAYO 2.14 0.11 SLIGO
O CONNOR GOAL DOES
IT FOR MAYO
Diarmuid O’Connor slotted a crucial goal on the stroke of
half time as Stephen Rochford’s men led 1-06 to 0-05 at the interval.
Mayo had the wind behind them in the second half but they
weren’t overly impressive as Sligo kept within touching distance of their hosts
to trail by just three points with eight minutes to go.
But Cillian O’Connor scored 1-02 late on to give Mayo some
breathing space
MY
OPINION
This is a very good win for Mayo
as I think that they will learn more as the Championship goes on and this will
start with Galway in the Connacht semi final. I still wonder why Sligo had to
play New York in the quarters as they do not have the back door
LEINSTER
LOUTH 1.19- 1-14 WICKOW
MC SORLEY SECURES
LOUTH PATH TO QUARTERS
Eoin O'Connor's 1-02 haul and terrific display .The sides
were level with 20 minutes to go but a strong Louth finale and important points
from substitutes Declan Byrne, Jim McEneaney and Gerard McSorley secured their
passage.
MY
OPINION
This was a huge disappointment by
Louth and when they come up againsy#t better teams they will find it very hard
to play
CARLOW 2.17- 2.13
WEXFORD
MURPHY AND BRODRICK
GIVE CARLOW DREAM WIN
Brendan Murphy and Paul Broderick fired Carlow to their
first Leinster championship win since 2011 and qualified them for a provincial
quarter-final with Dublin at Portlaoise after a 2-17 to 2-13 win over Wexford
at Netwatch Cullen Park.
Broderick was immense for the home side and his ten points
were crucial, although Brendan Murphy’s two second-half points and his
injury-time goal helped his side over the line.
Eoghan Nolan’s sending off in the second-half hampered his
side’s hopes, but goals from PJ Banville and Naomhan Rossiter kept them in
touch, only for Carlow to pull clear.
Having faced each other in the league in April there was not
too much that these sides didn’t know about each other and after a dull, turgid
opening 35 minutes there was nothing to separate the teams as they sat at 0-8
each.
Carlow had the wind advantage in that first-half, but were
happy to crowd their own defence with 14 men when Wexford had possession.
MY
OPINION
I hope that Carlow can learn
things from this match as I think that Dublin will destroy them by so much it
will take them back 10 years this was a shock but I do think Wexford could
compete.
LAOIS 4.15- 0.16
LONGFORD
KINGSTON GOAL
SECURES BIG LAOIS WIN
The option of a route one long delivery to Donie Kingston
was frequently taken by the Laois men and that tactic yielded a bountiful
harvest as the big Arles- Killeen man struck three points of his own and helped
to set up scores for Evan O’Carroll, Niall Donoher and his brother Paul.
However while the first quarter belonged to Laois, the
second was owned by Longford, who eked their way back into contention, almost
entirely on the back of some superb play from Robbie Smyth. The Longford
attacker was deadly accurate from frees and from play, while several of the
dead balls that he sent over the crossbar were earned by his own excellent
lines of running.
There can be no doubt as to the moment when this contest
turned back in favour of the home side – a two minute burst before half time
which completely undid Longford’s hard work in mounting a comeback.
With the very next attack, Donie Kingston added to
Longford’s misery with an immaculately placed low shot into the bottom corner
of the net, leaving the visitors with a mountain to climb at 2-10 to 0-7 behind
at the interval.
The strong wind would have given them some chance of
mounting yet another comeback but any such dreams were crushed within another
two minute spell, this time immediately after half time.
First Paul Kingston eschewed the option of an easy point to
instead play in a perfect pass that ended with Alan Farrell finding the net,
then the younger Kingston took advantage of a similar show of killer instinct
from his brother, placing a superb low strike across Collum and into the net
after Donie beat one defender with a gorgeous dummy and then took out another
with an inch-perfect handpass.
The remainder of the tie was somewhat pedestrian as both
sides exchanged points, over the course of the final half an hour, with nothing
more at stake than the final margin.
MY
OPINION
Laois look at least at this
stage like a good outside bet for a Leinster title and I know everyone would
say I am mad as no one can beat Dublin but this was a good Longford team put in
front of them and they cruised to victory.
ULSTER
MONIHAN 1.20- 1.11
FERMANAGH
MC MANUS GOAL BUT
MONIHAN HIT FIRE IN SECCOND HALF
Monaghan's Conor McManus and Ryan Lyons of Fermanagh scored
first-half goals as the hosts led 1-8 to 1-6 at the break.
The Farneymen pulled away in the second half, including a
run of 10 unanswered points, as the game fizzled out as a contest, McManus
finishing with 1-3.
Man-of-the-match Owen Duffy with three points was one of 13
Monaghan scorers.
MY
OPINION
I don’t really know what to say
as I have never seen a game that defines the words a game of 2 half’s in my
life as it was 1.8 to 1.6 after 44 minutes and them Monahan just hit form.
Again there is the question of how good they actually are and let’s just hope Cavan
give them a go as I think they could tear all to bits before the Ulster final.
DONEGAL 3.19- 1.09
ANTRIM
MURPHY SCORES 6 BUT
BRENNAN GOA MAKES
A Jamie Brennan goal helped the hosts to a 1-8 to 0-6
half-time lead, with Paddy McGrath and Paddy McBrearty also finding the net as
Donegal dominated.
Conor Small grabbed a late goal for Antrim, for whom the
impressive CJ McGourty top-scored with six points.
MY
OPINION
Antrim have been the team you
have wanted to draw in the Ulster Championship for a long time and it is like
that again but we still do not know how good Donegal are from a match like this
so early. I think the next match will be
big for them.
MUNSTER HURLING
TIP 1.26- 2.27 CORK
CAHALANE HELPS CORK
YOUNG HURLERS TO MUNSTER SEMIS
Kieran Kingston’s Cork have stunned Munster and All-Ireland
champions Tipperary in this afternoon’s provincial quarter-final at Semple
Stadium.
Cork ran out four-point winners in an absorbing contest,
with Conor Lehane contributing ten points for the Rebels.
It’s Cork’s first championship victory over Tipp since 2010
– and their first against their old rivals on Premier County soil since the
2006 Munster final.
Debutant Shane Kingston was another to impress for Cork,
with 30,103 spectators, lancing 1-04 from play on his full championship debut.
At the end of a first half that was level 12 times, the
sides were deadlocked at 0-15 apiece.
kingston scored the 43rd minute goal to hand Cork a huge
second half boost, a scruffy effort that Tipp goalkeeper Darren Gleeson won’t
look back on with too much fondness.
John McGrath’s excellent goal in the 56th minute, created by
Seamus Callanan’s sublime pass, had Tipp back in front, leading by 1-22 to
1-21.
But Cork hung in and a critical scoring run of 1-02 in a
four-minute spell approaching the finish proved crucial.
Behind by 1-23 to 1-24, Cork levelled and then went ahead
with points from Lehane, before sub Michael Cahalane ghosted in behind the Tipp
cover to drive a fierce effort past Gleeson.
MY
OPINION
What a match a match that you
could not predict who would win until the end and so many scores that is how
you sell Hurling to a foreign public. I think both of these teams will be able
to go far but Tip must look at themselves and ask why this happened.
Comments
Post a Comment