Barry's Blog

LIONS TOUR LIONS 31-31 HURRICANES FIFANA TRY GIVES HURRICANES  DRAW In their final midweek game of the 2017 tour the Lions led 23-7 at half-time courtesy of opportunistic scores from wingers Seymour and North, either side of Callum Gibbins' short-range try for the hosts. The Super Rugby champions scored within a minute of the restart through Ngani Laumape, but a third try of the tour from Seymour should have set the Lions on the way to victory. But, when Ireland's Henderson was sent from the field with the scores at 31-17, the Canes went on the attack and Wes Goosen and Vaea Fifita punished the Lions with converted tries to level the scores. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40403261 MY OPINION The Lions need to learn as much as they can from this draw as the main thing being when down to 14 men they need to know how to play sensibly and pull out a win. I think that the match on Saturday do will be seen as vital and one they must win. The...

EURO U21 CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIS TONIGHT ENGLAND V GERMANY MY OPINION I expect this to be a close run thing as both teams would have expectations of winning this whole tournament and you can be sure that a few players will come through to big sides but for every player the next 2 or 3 years will define their career. Will Hughes Wodrow and Ward Price will be a factor foe England and Selke, Meyer and Arnold for Germany will be huge factors. I feel that this will go to extra time and Germany 2-1 SPAIN V ITALY Doulofeu is going to be one of the major runners for Spain but to me this is going to be a game of who can keep their nerve for the longest.  After Spain winning the worlds and euros recently a lot of players would have looked at this and said they could do it but it might be about if Spain can break down Italy which relies on Niguez and Solar coming from the midfield to help. Ferari at the back will be huge but it will depend on Grassi from midfiel...

RUGBY FRIDAY SAMOA 17-19 WALES EVENS SHOWS HE HAS POWER Alapati Leiua's try gave Samoa the lead but three Sam Davies penalties brought Wales within a point at the break. Wing Evans' first international try put Wales ahead after 42 minutes, only for Manu Leiataua to restore Samoa's lead. Wales rallied and Evans' second try eight minutes from the end clinched the victory on a slippery pitch in Apia. It was Robin McBryde's team's second win on the two-Test tour, which saw them start without 12 players on British and Irish Lions duty in New Zealand and saw a further four called up by Warren Gatland before the Samoa game http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40374697 MY OPINION This is a win that Wales definitely does not want what with the injuries they got from the match and the players moving off to the lions this would make things very difficult for the Welsh manager to defend when the players move back to their clubs. SATURDA...

CONFEDERATIONS CUP GROUP A MEXICO 2-1 RUSSIA LORANZO PUTS HOSTS OUT OF SEMI FINAL Russia broke the deadlock in the 25th minute through Aleksandr Samedov but Nestor Araujo headed Mexico level five minutes later. Juan Carlos Osorio's side went 2-1 up seven minutes after the break thanks to Hirving Lozano's third international goal, before Russia had Yuri Zhirkov sent off for picking up a second booking in the 68th minute. http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10926240/mexico-2-1-russia-hosts-knocked-out-of-confederations-cup-after-defeat MY OPINION For the hosts this must be seen as a disappointment as this has been there first test of how well they have been doing since the euros. I feel that Mexico are improving and could be a force in the World Cup next year. NZ 0-4 PORTUGAL RONALDO ENSURES THAT PORTUGAL  ARE ON TOP Ronaldo was the one to break the deadlock, dispatching an emphatic penalty beyond Stefan Marinovic to score. The t...

GAA CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND DUBLIN 4-29 0-10 WESTMESTH ROCK THE RINGLEADER Jim Gavin’s side enjoyed 1-15 to 0-05 half-time lead, with Dean Rock palming the ball to the Westmeath net in the 28th minute, while Eoghan O’Gara, Ciarán Kilkenny and Kevin McManamon all raised green flags in the second half as the Dubs recorded their largest Championship win since dismissing Longford by 27 points two years ago. The lopsided 4-29 to 0-10 result is also Dublin’s biggest margin of victory under Gavin in Championship action. https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0625/885404-dublin-westmeath-report/ MY OPINION Dublin looked scary this weekend and looked like there was no one that could not beat them. Westmeath are better than this and we all know it we know that they will improve and will have to put in extra effort in the qualifiers.  Kildare will look at this result and be worried I can assure you of that. DOWN 1-14 0-15 MONIHAN O’HANLON THE DIFFERENCE  IN ...

IRELAND GAIN TEST STATUS The Ireland cricket team represents all of Ireland. They participate in Test, ODI and Twenty20 matches on an international level. They are the 12th Full Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), having been awarded Test status along with Afghanistan, on 22 June 2017. Ireland are ranked 12th in One Day International (ODI) cricket. Ireland played their first ODI in 2006 against England. Since then, they have gone on to play 117 ODIs, resulting in 51 victories, 57 defeats, 6 no results, and 3 ties. Cricket was introduced to Ireland in the 19th century, and the first match played by an Ireland team was in 1855. Ireland toured Canada and the United States in the late 19th century, and occasionally hosted matches against touring side. Rivalry with the Scotland national cricket team was established when the teams first played each other in 1888. Ireland's maiden first-class match was played in 1902. In 1993 the Irish Cricket Union, the pred...

CONFEDERATIINS CUP GROUPA MEXICO 2-1 NZ PERALTA SAVES MEXICO Mexico came from behind to beat New Zealand and moved top of the group amid ugly scenes at the Confederations Cup. Leeds United's Chris Wood gave the All Whites a first-half lead but second-half goals by Benfica's Raul Jimenez and Oribe Peralta sealed victory. But the game boiled over in the dying stages when Mexico skipper Diego Reyes pulled back Michael Boxall, who then lunged at Hector Herrera. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40265265 MY OPINION New Zealand is learning how to compete with the big boys and they must be happy with this win as it could have been a horror show for Mexico. Mexico to me would be a team with the potential to win this cup I haven’t seen that yet. MEXICO 0-1 PORTUGAL RAPID RONALDO  Cristiano Ronaldo headed the only goal as Portugal recorded their first win at the Confederations Cup by beating hosts Russia. Ronaldo, whose future at club Real Madrid i...