We know this year is far from over in terms of what’s to come in sport, but we couldn’t help taking a quick look back at all the highs 2014 has produced so far.
Indeed, with the Liberty Insurance camogie All-Ireland finals just around the corner, and with Dublin eagerly waiting to find out who they are going to meet in the All-Ireland ladies football final (either Armagh or Cork), an action-packed few weeks lie ahead.
Not to mention the upcoming All-Ireland hurling final (eeek it’s on this Sunday) followed by what is pipped to be a titanic battle when Kerry and Donegal go head to head in the football showdown.
As we wait for all these events to kick off though, we took it nice and easy this Saturday morning and looked back on a year that’s been… well it’s just been pretty much amazing to be honest…
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Irish Rugby Team glory
We have to start with perhaps the top moment in women’s sport this year. The day the Irish women’s rugby team beat the New Zealand All-Blacks in the World Cup is a day that will be etched in our memories forever. It’s one of those days that in the future people will ask you “Where were you the day Ireland beat New Zealand?” (We were jumping up and down and screaming at the telly!)
Shut the Front Door!
Rewinding back to April and another great Irish sporting moment in 2014 was when Shut The Front Door won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. The Barry Geraghty horse won by a length coming home the 8 to 1 favourite and we were certainly ‘horse’ after that finale (see what we did there?)
UEFA beckons Raheny!
Our next inspiring night in women’s sport came courtesy of Raheny United, Irish Women’s National League Champions. They qualified for the last 32 of the UEFA women’s Champions League. They topped their qualifying round group in Romania when they came from behind to beat Hibernians of Malta. The side will now face off to England’s Bristol-Academy in a tie that takes place over two legs. The first leg will be hosted by Raheny on the weekend of October 8th and 9th.
Wexford take the glory!
Who could forget perhaps the best hurling game of the summer (so far!). Underdogs, Wexford, overcame Clare on a scoreline of 2-25 to 2-22 after extra time in a replay. The epic battle had all the ingredients of an All-Ireland final, never mind a qualifier, with red cards, goals galore and an inspirational performance from Jack Guiney..
Nail biting semi-finals
Who could believe this year’s All-Ireland football semi-finals? Each was a nail-biter, edge of your seat affair.. we’re still not quite recovered and the final hasn’t even happened yet! Kerry crushed the dreams of Mayo after a replay last weekend, while Donegal inspired when they overcame Sam Maguire holders, and hot favourites, Dublin by six points. A sea of green and gold is headed to Croker next weekend, and we’re already steeling our nerves for what is set to be a fantastic encounter.
Conor is UFC hero
Conor McGregor was the hero when he won at the UFC Fight Night in the O2 in Dublin. McGregor won against the Brazilian, Diego Brandao. He then moved up two spots in the UFC Featherweight division, putting him in the Top 10 fir the first time in his career.
Johnny is coming home!
Finally, and although not exactly a sporting moment but still perhaps one of the favourite in the office here is that it was announced on Thursday that rugby star Johnny Sexton is returning to Ireland. The Irish international has just signed a new four-year contract with Leinster and will be pulling on a blue jersey in no time.
