As everyone interested in sport realises the media has been full of the Andy Gray debacle and I thought the best way of freeing my mind from all of this unexciting sports news was to go for a hike in Killarney. Luckily enough I had been invited by four American students who are studying here at UCC so I jumped at the offer.

We started out from the famous cottage of Kate Kearney. I was surprised to see how dead and empty the area was of action but then I quickly remembered it was still January and in the summer months this place will be throbbing with hill walkers, tourists and nature lovers.

It was nice to have to have the Gap to ourselves, memories of having my local GAA pitch to myself as I attempted to kick frees off the ground as an enthusiastic young footballer. So Andrew, Dick, Dylan, Joe and I began our journey. The sights were incredible.  I was in New York last July and was flabbergasted by the awesome size of the buildings in Manhattan but it’s easy to forget about the beauty that, luckily enough for me could be a short spin away.

The tranquillity we all experienced was fantastic. For the first time in months I could just switch off and enjoy the trail, the company and the rugged beauty of the area. We then headed for Lady’s View through the famous Killarney National Park. As we walked we spoke about American sports like ice hockey and its brutality and Dick spoke to me about his days as a left tackle in high school and how pivotal the role is in American Football. We passed the upper lake and headed up the road to one of Ireland’s premier viewing spots.

It was a tiresome trek, about 14 miles in Andrew’s estimation. We stopped at Molly D’Arcy’s for a quick drink and headed home. As soon as I got to the door of my house I headed for bed and I from five to till about half eight. It’s easy to sleep when there is nothing on one’s mind.

If for any reason you are stressed and need time to unwind and de-tox from the big bad world, And Gray, maybe you should think about getting your hiking boots on and taking a long walk. You’d be surprised with how a day in the mountains can change your mood.

There’s only one possible place to start…
“Well, somebody better get down there and explain offside to her…. Yeah, I know. Can you believe that? Female linesman. Forget what I said – they probably don’t know the offside rule…. See charming Karen Brady this morning complaining about sexism? Yeah. Do me a favour, love.”
The original recording that sparked the week’s biggest media story. Sky Sports presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray are caught on tape making sexist remarks ahead of the Wolves vs Liverpool game, which featured female assistant referee Sian Massey.
“Andy Gray’s contract has been terminated for unacceptable behaviour. After issuing a warning yesterday, we have no hesitation in taking this action after becoming aware of new information today.”

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, confirms Andy Gray’s
sacking after a second video was leaked showing the pundit making lewd comments towards fellow Sky presenter Charlotte Jackson. A third video later surfaced online showing Richard Keys making further unguarded remarks.
“I rang on behalf of Andy and myself and made it an official apology, which she accepted. We enjoyed some banter together and left on good terms. She was in good spirits and I expressed my disappointment that Andy and I were misguidedly having fun, and had got it wrong.”
In a long and frank interview with TalkSPORT, Richard Keys repeatedly apologises for his controversial comments and says he called Sian Massey within hours of the story breaking to say sorry. He talked about “dark forces” at work during the fallout and, later that day, handed in his resignation.
“Are you OK with her (a female journalist) being in the room?”

Liverpool FC manager Kenny Dalglish quips at the expense of a Sky Sports journalist in the wake of the sexism row.
“It makes no sense to cut back the BBC website as increasing numbers of people rely on the internet. The NUJ will not stand by idly if members are forced out of their jobs.”
Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, condemns the BBC’s decision to cut a quarter of its budget for websites and axe 360 jobs.
“Please, fellow creatives, boycott this outrageous bun fight for scraps from the table. By any rules £500 is below a pittance for a rebrand. By these rules its plain offensive. If ever there was a misnomer then ‘Pride’ is it – don’t devalue design!”
A Manchester designer urges his contemporaries to boycott Manchester Pride’s search for a new identity, a brief which comes with a mere £500 budget.
“Manchester Pride is a registered charity and, as such, we have to use our very limited budget wisely. This includes spend on branding the event. We are a not-for-profit organisation and have donated £895,000 to local LGBT charities and groups across Greater Manchester since
2003. We ran a similar competition in 2008, which was very successful, with almost 100 entries. These ranged from amateur to professional designers.”
Manchester Pride festival director Jackie Crozier replies to the criticism and explains why the charity can only offer a limited budget.
“I have been lucky to work alongside some brilliant and talented people who I will no doubt miss very much, but the time is now right for me to take a breather and spend some time with my family. I’ll be exploring other opportunities and interests in due course.”
Liane Grimshaw, managing partner at Manchester marketing agency Amaze, announces she is to step down and leave the company.
“This is a big surprise. I don’t agree with the concept of award ceremonies, but I’m prepared to make an exception for the ones I’m nominated for. The last time there was a naked man covered in gold paint in my house, it was me.”
Elusive street artist Banksy expresses his surprise at being nominated for an Oscar for his film Exit Through the Gift Shop.
“The public want to finally close the curtain on the joke that is the Audley Harrison show. I want to see him stretched out for a final time.”

David Haye talks the talk ahead of his world heavyweight title fight with Harrison.
“My left hand will at some point land on your chin. I’ve tasted his power and punching in training and he never hurt me. Ten years on from my Olympic title I will shock the world.” Harrison leaves the Ready Steady Cook studio to offer a stinging rebuke. I am a coach not Harry Potter. He is a magician. Magic is fiction and I live for football which is real. I’ve only been two months in Madrid. Do you know how many training sessions I have had with
everyone together, including the new signings? Not even 10.”

Jose Mourinho in a surprisingly bashful mood after Real Madrid kicked off his tenure with an insipid draw.

Michael Twomey

A master class of point taking from Orla Cotter, from placed balls, and Shauna Corcoran, in general play, helped UCC Camogie side take the points at the Mardyke. Between them they accounted for 0-10 of their side’s tally and if they can keep up this form the UCC management will feel that they have every chance of success in the coming months. It must be said however that this team is not dependant on two players with Gráinne Kennelly and Patricia Buttimer completing a dominant half-forward line alongside Corcoran while Miriam Crowley and Fionnula Carr were particularly impressive throughout.

UCC did not have it as easy as they would have liked for the hour as UL took control of the game at various stages. Even at one stage the visitors looked like causing an upset when two second half goals, the first in the 31^st minute from Fionnala Kealy and the second in the 45^th minute when Linda Bulger found the net, gave them a 2-7 to 0-11 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Prior to this UCC had opened up a 0-9 to 0-5 interval lead. In the opening minutes Cotter, Corcoran and Carr were on target to lead 0-4 to no score by the 5^th minute. UL finally opened their account with a well taking Fionnala Kealy point and by the 20^th minute trailed 0-6 to 0-4. UCC managed to extend their advantage in the closing stages off the half mainly thanks to their dominance around the half-forward line and midfield.

Lisa Bulger tapped over a close in free for UL before Miriam Crowley had the pick of a number of UCC scores to give them a four point lead at the break. With the brilliant Maria Walsh having a greater influence on the game they a surprise was in store when they raised two green flags to give them a two point advantage. This was as good as it got for them however as they were on a downhill slope from here.

UL managed only one more score in the final stages of the game and this came at a time when the game was well out of their reach. Shortly after conceding a second goal UCC reacted quickly and drew level in a matter of minutes. The half-forward trio all contributed on the scoreboard as they retook the lead, 0-16 to 2-7 by the 55^th minute. UCC made a number of changes in the dying embers of the game with Caitriona Mackey and Denise Cronin doing considerably well. Both of them had late points, which were sandwiched in by a Linda Bulger score for UL, to give their side a comfortable lead to run out easy winners by the full time whistle.

Scorers for UCC: O Cotter (frees), S Corcoran 0-5 each, G Kennelly, P Buttimer 0-2 each, F Carr (free), C Mac Sweeney, M Crowley, C Mackey, D Cronin 0-1 each.

UL: F Kealy 1-2, Linda Bulger 1-1, M Walsh 0-3 frees, Lisa Bulger 0-2 frees.

UCC: E White; J Breen, A Coughlan, N Butler; A McNamara, F Carr, S Hayes; O Cotter, M Crowley; S Corcoran, G Kennelly, P Buttimer; A Barry Murphy, N Goulding, C Mac Sweeney

Subs: C Mackey, P Mackey, S Collins, D Cronin

UL: S Vaughan; E Murphy, A Hobbins, E Dunne; C Motherway, A McInerney, E Frisby; J Mulcahy, M Moran; R Byrne, M Walsh, C Hayes; Lisa Bulger, F Kealy, Linda Bulger.

Referee: J Dorgan (Nemo Rangers)

Originally published in the 23/11/2010 edition of the UCC Express

Michael Twomey

A determined display from CIT secured home advantage in the knockout stages of the Fresher’s Hurling League after defeating rivals UCC in their final group game at the Mardyke. Both teams were already assured of their place in the final rounds with this game deciding who would have the home advantage in the next round. With both sides containing current inter county stars from counties such as Cork, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Waterford this was always going to be a game full of skill and passion.

This could be seen early on as both sides sought for local bragging rights. Kevin Hallisey, a dual Cork minor, opened the scoring for CIT in the opening minute but it was UCC who took control of the half with Patrick O’Mahony, James Roche and Eoin Healy dominating around the middle. Dara Ring opened UCC’s account with a free before a series of points from Roche, Healy, Stephen Moore and substitute Pauric Mahony, who replaced the injured Brian Murray, gave the college side a 0-7 to 0-2 lead. It would have been easy for this CIT team to fall apart after falling this far behind but, with Sean Carey, David Drake and the inspired Hallisey, this was never going to happen.

The key score of the half came in the 20th when Hallisey flicked the ball to the net after a long delivery. The CIT dominance was furthered when Drake and the influential Darragh Lordan added points of their own. Ger Cunningham’s charges did have the last say of the half though when Mahony slotted over two frees to give his side a 0-9 to 1-4 lead at the short whistle. An exciting second half was ensured due to CIT’s three pointer.

Similar to the first half, a second goal for CIT midway through the second half would prove to be the decisive factor in the outcome of the game. It was of little surprise when Hallisey pounced for his second of the night in the 43th minute to give his side a 2-6 to 0-11 lead. Up to this UCC had maintained their half time lead with scores from Mahony and midfielder Darragh Murray.

Despite the blow of conceding a second goal UCC responded well and regained the lead when Colm Curran pointed. Unfortunately UCC were unable to push on and failed to score for the final 10 minutes of the contest. CIT quickly drew level before John Michael Kelly gave them the lead. UCC tried hard to get the equalising score but were repelled on several occasions by the CIT defence with Ed Finn in outstanding form.

CIT further extended their lead to three in the closing stages thanks to Hallisey and Sean Carey. UCC had one last chance to draw the game when they were awarded a last minute penalty. However Pauric Mahony’s strike was well saved by CIT keeper Darren Curran to ensure his side’s victory and secure home advantage in the knockout stages.

Scorers for CIT: K Hallisey 2-2 (0-1 sideline), S Murray 0-3 frees, D Lordan 0-2, D Drake, JM Kelly, S Carey 0-1 each.

UCC: P Mahony 0-6 (0-4 frees), D Ring 0-2 frees, J Roche, E Healy, S Moore, D Murray, C Curran 0-1 each.

CIT: D Curran; S Lordan, E Finn, J Cronin; T McGuinness, J Cashman, N O’Doherty; P O’Keeffe, D Drake; S Carey, D Lordan, C Buckley; K Hallisey, J O’Connor, JM Kelly.

Subs: S Murray, D Collins

UCC: C Ryan; D O’Mahony, F O’Mahony, F Olden; D Brennan, P O’Mahony, S Mahon; D Murray, J Roche; N Kennedy, E Healy, B Murray; D Ring, S Moore, C Curran.

Subs: P Mahony, P Lupton, O O’Connor

Referee: J Dorgan (Nemo Rangers)

Originally published in the 23/11/2010 edition of the UCC Express

Deadlines…the bane of my life. The sun sneaks through the blinds and into this ravaged abode. My eyes are heavy and sore from the previous night’s exertions. It is difficult for a moment to part my eyelids as the sleep slime has settled. I sit up and do the customary regretful exhalation followed by the fleeting despair at my situation.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, I turn around; there is someone present next to me. It is not the spouse. She and I parted ways along time ago. “You’re married to your job Sydney,” she would shout. There was always shouting. “Shat ap,” I would reply. A witty retort. Jesus, if she could see me now. The sheets lie still while another hapless victim snores off the sins from our chance encounter. Serendipity? I don’t think so.

Here I am again, picking clothes off a stranger’s floor. These mornings are becoming de rigeur. The life of a sports writer: neither humorous nor hyperbolic, neither righteous nor gracious. Where did I leave my car?

The latch is undone, nice one. I wander down another lonely suburb. Socks damp and shirt grimey and clinging to my back. A modern day Harry Angstrom I am, sans any sporting talent. I manage to pry open my Chevy. First destination, pick up pay cheque for previous weeks, ahem, work. The money will travel into the account, subtract child support, tax, levies and a host etc, and there’s just enough for yours truly to exist and inebriate oneself for another week.

I begin driving. The destination is uncertain. I’ve been threatening to quit for almost a decade now. I’m not going to be a copy monkey anymore. I was supposed to be one of the greats. “I had weird memories of you, pissing in a sick I think, I had weird memories,” cries Mr Berninger from the cassette player. A tape of the National, those Ohio crooners that soothe my soul, got stuck in there years ago. No harm.

I used to be, all starey eyed, eager and full of hope for this game. “You’re too much of an optimist for this gig Sid,” they used to say to me. A bless, if they could see me now. I sit idle and bored on the periphery of courtsides, pitches and halls. I roll my eyes across the table from athletes and coaches. I treat my fellow comrades with contempt. It wasn’t meant to be like this surely. The Smiths: Gary and Red; no relation, McLaren, Humphries, McIlvanney, Keating and so on. I thought I would be in the pantheon of the greats by now. I thought I would weave words and tell the stories from beyond the game.

Must quit drinking. The car is making me nauseous. I get out and decide to have a canter through the city of my birth. I pass by the window of a book selling conglomerate; that old war horse Giles is signing copies of his new tome. What does he make of all the antics of today’s stars? It wasn’t like that in our day. Sleeves rolled up, the sphere heavy and bruised, studs flying into shins, elbow to chest, “get up and get on with it” they’d shout. Hard unforgiving pitches up in the industrial towns in borough where on one could hide.

These modern day fellas won’t even answer their phones. Maybe it can all be different. The boss tells me there’s a kid from Killybegs making it big across the water. Maybe I’ll try to listen to him today. Try to understand his story and his motivation. What made him want to go beyond the ordinary? Maybe I can be debonair in the company of others instead of hallowing the atmosphere of every space I occupy.

I hear talk of sovereignty going out of fashion. We lost that a long time ago lads. The lines that separate our beloved back pages from the “real” writers have become blurred in recent times. At least we work in the toy section. I don’t think I could stomach writing about things that actually matter per se.

Originally published in the 23/11/2010 edition of the UCC Express

Intense patriotism. Dilute to taste. Two anthems? Only in Eire. “The last refuge of a scoundrel,” they will shout. I remember being young and carefree on those old side streets kicking the leather around.

Austerity measures? As long as they stay away from my gonads I’ll be happy. There are some things you just can’t cut back on. I pass a news stand and stare at the settled ink. Seems the “Association” and the Pontiff are finally agreeing on the use of helmets. Blurred lines.

I can hear the din of a far away crowd. Marx was right; we are all looking for that collective experience. Maybe sport is not such a bad thing? Yes, the great world would continue to spin if games did not exist, but who would care. And God knows who would employ my sorry ass? Wait a second. Noise? Crowd? The ball game is on now! Fuck! The deadline!

Sid races off into the distance and the rat race begins again.

Originally published in the 23/11/2010 edition of the UCC Express

There’s plenty to differentiate between karting and motorcycling, the most obvious being the fact that a bike has two wheels under you but on a kart there are four wheels and you sit bang in the middle of the four wheels, your backside barely two inches from the track. However the sense of position, grip and machine control that you develop on a motorbike can carry straight over to a kart. If you’ve never driven a kart then you should certainly get a group together and treat yourselves – the kart consists of a frame and small, though wide, slick tyres at the four corners with the engine directly behind the driver.

The plan is always to face forward and try and go as fast as you can but for the 21 participants at the motorcycle club’s karting night last Wednesday, the plan wasn’t always evolving into actual action. The night had been organised by club captain Ciara Utsch and was set up by Karworld in Watergrasshill as a Grand Prix event with a practice session and then a 35 minute race. After suffering through the rush hour traffic and finally making it to the track everyone signed the usual “motorsport is dangerous, don’t blame us if you have an accident of your own making” forms after registering to the system and then heading over to fit into the waterproof overalls.

After squeezing into the overalls all 21 of us crossed into a separate building where helmets were fitted and a quick briefing was given by one of the track marshals on what not to do. He asked how many had karted before and it turned out that quite a few had never sat in a kart before but even so this didn’t always show out on the track once the practice session was finished and the rolling start procedure explained. It was time to race.

With practice over and a damp and slippery track apparent for all who sped around in those first few minutes, we clambered out of the karts. The race would begin with the safety kart taking us around in formation for one lap, much like how the safety car in Formula One racing works. I started near the end of the pack keeping my position throughout that opening lap as the safety kart led us around but even on that lap there was a fair amount of karts jostling for position. The sound of 21 kart engines even on that opening lap was something to behold and everyone knew it was only a matter of time before they really started to make noise.

With the safety kart having pulled everyone was free to race, tyres squealed around the turns as some of the more experienced drivers slid their machines through the damp corners, powering down on those who were still just getting used to it. As the laps went on by the gap between those with experience and those without steadily grew leading to some very interesting situations on the track. Somewhere in the middle of the race I began to push on to catch someone who was ahead of me. Approaching the first turn, I turned in a bit late, hit the brakes and tried to recover but the wet track was giving up no grip at all and I was put right in to a spin. This particular corner was a long right-hand bend which dipped slightly downhill. My kart was now facing the wrong way and just over the crest of the hill.

Two karts were on their way to get through the bend. They were side by side. I had no time to move, I could only hope that I wasn’t going to be hit. The karts came by – “shit”, I thought, both of the bearing karts veered to either side of me as I looked, spun it around to face the right way and carried on. There was some battling to do.

This was to continue for the next half of the race as people spun off on the damp corners of the track, not quite being able to push their karts through the corners at a speed that would enable them to catch the front runners. Come the end of the race most people had spun off at least once with one competitor even managing to have a mini-crash as he parked up due to what he later described as a “brake failure”. Needless to say, no one believed him. In the trackside building the podium finishers were awarded their trophies while timing sheets were handed around for all to compare.

It had rained; almost everyone had been off the track at some point and some more than a few. Yes, it was four wheels instead of two but the fun factor was definitely still in evidence.

Originally published in the 23/11/2010 edition of the UCC Express

Michael Twomey

UCC Ladies team braved the elements Tuesday last to take on a physical Galway side which featured Irish international Carol Staunton. The game kicked off at a frantic pace but continuous downpours and gale force winds forced a sloppy game. College had much of the possession in the first half but only managed to cross the try line once with what was a typical forward try from scrum-half Mona Fehily.

UCC’s only interprovincial player this year Amy O’Callaghan who plays her club rugby with Highfield and provincial with Connaught slotted over the conversion with ease. 7-0 to college and the rain did not alleviate.  The force of the wind was well and truly showing its impact on the game when NUIG’s out half failed to kick the required ten yards at the re-start.

The Galway side threatened the UCC try line on numerous occasions through the Ireland No.8, Carol Staunton. Her ability to spot gaps and break UCC’s defensive line proved a major difficulty for the home side throughout the game.  The Galway side were infuriated frequently as colleges Sinead Cremin showed her strength around the rucks to win the ball back at vital moments. UCC’s captain Eimear Galvin gave an outstanding display of rugby leading the team out of the danger zone.

At the break the rain and wind did not lessen in any way as spectators rushed to their cars for shelter. There was no such luxury for these two determined sides as they faced back into what was evidently storm weather to try and collect the much coveted 4 points and sit on top of the division 1 league table.

UCC’s Karly Fairman and Louise Buttimer displayed fantastic pace on the wings as they gained vital ground for the home side. Each dashing sprint was well supported by an organised UCC side, protecting the ball at each break down. College’s fast hands allowed the back line to break through NUIGs defence and it wasn’t long before UCC were again inches from the try line. The pack once more showed immense strength as UCC’s Zoe Grattage set up a maul which was driven over the line by the ever courageous pack and touched down by colleges No.8. With the wind now against the home side the conversion was missed.

As Galway pushed back downfield an impressive tackle made by UCC’s out half Ali Askins broke down yet another attack. A further ruck was turned over, and a fast pass to centre Niamh McGrath on the blind side set her sprinting for the try line. Onlookers would have thought UCC were heading for the third try but a superb last ditch tackle from NUIG’s Alison Nolan forced Niamh in her debut game to knock the ball on. This was to be the last play of the game and saw UCC Ladies collect all 4 points in what was a vigorous battle in a bid to reach this year’s final and dethrone current champions UL.

UCC will take on University of Limerick Tuesday 23^rd November at 3.30pm in the Mardyke. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

UCC Team: (13 Aside) 15-Aine McKenna, 14-Karly Fairman, 13- Louise Buttimer, 12- Niamh McGrath, 11-Amy O’Callaghan, 10- Ali Askins, 9- Mona Fehily, 8- Kd Ernst, 7-NONE, 6-NONE, 5-Louise Shanahan, 4- Eimear Galvin, 3-Clare McSweeney, 2- Sinead Cremin, 1-Amanda Orgach.

Replacements Used- Zoe Grattage, Louise Fitzgerald, Megan Birtch, Jessica Bertrand, Justine Fitzgerald

Originally published in the 23/11/2010 edition of the UCC Express

When it comes to sport there are those of us who don’t look past the core sports. Ahead of the Irish Open Indoor Intervarsity’s last weekend I met up with team captains Deirdre Corbett and Fergus McAuliffe to discuss the intervarsities, their chances and everything Frisbee.
Q: What drew you both to Ultimate Frisbee?
Deirdre: I started playing when I worked in an Irish college and some of the people there played it in DCU.  We started playing it at night and when I came to UCC I joined the Ultimate Club and the rest is history.
Fergus: I was in America for the summer before college and I saw it being played in a park. I thought it looked like it could keep you fit and it was mixed as well so I thought that was pretty cool. I’ve been playing for six years.

Q: How does the honour distinguish Ultimate from other sports?
Deirdre: Well it’s self refereed so people who play have to go into the game knowing it is a spirited game. We have to play fair and there is also a rule that if you think a member of your team is not playing to the rules you can correct them which doesn’t happen in many sports.
Fergus: Well the way I see it is we’re all mature people we shouldn’t need someone there to tell us what to do and what not to do. And people say to me well there’s no referee so why don’t you just cheat. If you start cheating the person next to you will start cheating and then what’s the point of going all the way to Dublin to play a game because it won’t be any good.
Q: It’s a sport rising in popularity; do you think it’s on its way to no longer being seen as an alternative sport?

Fergus: Definitely, when I first started playing back in 2005 and I was asked to be captain after only six months, it was seen as a sport for alt-athletes but that’s changed a lot it the past few years. When I joined there we’re fifteen people in the club now we have seventy people training every week. So it’s definitely rising in popularity.
Deirdre: We’re bringing it into schools as well, we’ve been to schools all over Cork showing them how to play and teaching them about the sport. Also in Dublin it’s really catching on.
Fergus: People like Deirdre were playing for Ireland internationally over the summer.
Deirdre: I went to the world club championships in Prague and then to the world U23’s in Florence, it’s a really good chance for you to play for your country at a sport and you get to meet loads of people and travel as well.
Fergus: Last year we had ten people playing for their country six of which only started playing last September. So that shows you what a great opportunity’s you can get playing Ultimate Frisbee.

Q: What do the challenge of intervarsity’s mean to the teams?

Deirdre: Intervarsity’s are really important, there are a lot of universities competing and we all know each other and get on well. There are a lot of healthy rivalries and a great chance play against some great teams. All of our teams were successful last year so we really want to go out and continue to be successful.
Fergus: We’ve been training nonstop over the past few weeks in the gym squad training and had a couple of morning sessions. We started about 7am and in all I’d say we’ve had 11 training sessions over the past 2 weeks so that alone shows you our will to compete and do well.

Q: Finally what do you see as the positives of playing Ultimate Frisbee and being a member of the club?

Fergus: We’re a really proactive club we train a lot we hold events throughout the year and we travel to various competitions. We’re a club that like’s to compete and it’s a great chance for people to play a fun sport , get fit and meet new people and we’re always looking for new members.

Originally published in the 23/11/2010 edition of the UCC Express

On October 23rd, three UCC Students and several former members of UCC Kickboxing Club Left Cork Airport bound for the WKA World Championships in Edinburgh, where the toughest and best international fighters amassed for a week of combat seen but once each year. Among The UCC contingent were Diarmuid MacSuibhne, UCC Kickboxing club coach for the past 6 years, Brian Kelleher, a former Cork minor footballer and Conni Vaughan, a sports studies student who dedicated her life to the sport of kickboxing since she started training in UCC.

After a breathtaking opening event at Edinburgh Castle where the competitors were preceded by a large pipers tattoo over the drawbridge of this Ancient Castle, the competitors were met by crowds of thousands from the City of Edinburgh who were excited to see warriors march through the forecourt of their historical stronghold.

The fighting commenced on Monday. All of the UCC competitors were on flying form but were worn down by the German support and prowess in all sections. Ms. Vaughan was very unlucky, achieving a split decision against a high profile German opponent. This was Brian Kelleher’s first International Tournament as a senior competitor, having competed on the Irish Junior Team in Germany in 2006, and fought valiantly against a much more experienced German opponent.

What Brian lacked in result, he made up for in spirit, a good first day as a senior international senior. Diarmuid MacSuibhne was also unlucky, facing a far taller opponent, but gained too many warnings for excessive contact to be in contention at the end of the fight, Diarmuid left the ring disappointed, black-eyed and ready for the Team Sparring event which would be held on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the Irish ladies team fought off stiff competition to achieve a Bronze medal in the team sparring section. When all other events of the day had finished, the Irish men’s team marched to their battlefield determined to gain retribution from their common defeats by the hands of the Germans in their individual events. Chants from the amassed German and Irish

Crowds filled the Meadowbank Arena in Edinburgh as both teams gallantly readied themselves for the war that was to ensue.

With Irish pride at stake, Irish Coach, Master Don Dalton, began the battle by engaging former UCC Coach Padraig O’Connor, who at this stage had assumed the demeanour of a bull against an experienced German. After a roar, Padraig engaged his German opponent with a barrage of blitz and kicking combinations that left the German crowd speechless. The German coach was forced to throw in the towel after one minute and thirty seconds to preserve what dignity the German competitor had left. MacSuibhne was next on off the blocks.

With a solid side Kick and a wreckingball-esque left hand, he left his German opponent rear-ended on the matt for most of the fight. In the end there could only be on winner, with a stream of blood gushing from a wound next to his right eye, MacSuibhne’s hand was raised and the Irish Team were on the way to obliterating the Germans. Cathal Hardiman, a graduate of Trinity College finished the Germans off in a nail biting finish, scoring a 6mpoint combination ending with a jumping front-kick to the face of his German opponent. The English awaited at the last hurdle.

Friday came slowly as Brian, Diarmuid and Padraig readied themselves for their fights. On the day itself, all their relatives and friends watched the live streaming of the day’s events in anticipation on events on 247.tv. Though the noise in the hall was deafening, Saighduirí na h-Éireann seemed almost mesmerized by what lay ahead of them, they were ready. Come evening time, it was time to rise up and fight.

All eyes were on the Irish team as they warmed up and jeered each other up, little children, though fighters themselves, watch in fear as the Irish punched each other bare-knuckled in a spirit raising exercise. As the teams lined up, the English looked fearful. Brian Kelleher pushed his lighter opponent through the ring with style, though was beaten tactically in earnest, and was unlucky at the end. Master Wolf of England then played his trump card, Gavin Williamson, 3 time WKA Heavy Weight World Champion, and Master Dalton decided that Diarmuid was the man for this task.

After a 20 second bombardment, MacSuibhne Gained the upper hand on Williamson, who was the larger of the two men. Diarmuid tossed and tumbled Williamson out of the Ring for the rest of the fight, and in the last 10 seconds Diarmuid scored with an impressive spinning back kick to Williamson’s solar plexus, landing his straight on his back. Diarmuid left out a roar to the crowd and raised his hand in triumph, only to have Williamson’s hand raised in his stead on a split decision. This was the end of the road for the Irish, with William Lowry, a Derry native and veteran of the ring losing his bout also.

Nevertheless, the Irish returned to Cork on the 30th of October with silver medals dangling from their necks. The following mornings training was filled with gallant stories and rabble rousing memories which would only serve to spur them on for the International Irish Open which was to follow 2 weeks later.

UL O

David Toms

Mardyke, Cork

On a miserable night at the Mardyke Arena, UCC Seniors took a break from league duty to play an intervarsity game against University of Limerick. The wind was high and westerly, the rain torrential; there was no doubting that the weather was going to impact on the course of this game.

Fortunately, the football itself was not as bad as the weather. The sand base of the pitch ensured maximum absorption and no doubt ensured the game was able to go ahead at all. The majority of the pitch maintained itself despite the weather, although one corner of the field quickly became a mire.

UCC began the game going from left to right from the stand-side and it was the top right corner from their point of view that developed into a bog. This made things very difficult for the College men since it meant that balls out to the right wing had to be severely curtailed for much of the first half.

On that bogged down right wing, Sean Stokes played his heart out, battling not just with the Limerick backs but the puddle of water around his feet. In spite of these difficulties he managed to put in a couple of good crosses, and engage in some great link-up play with Josh O’Shea in the early part of the first half. Paul Walsh of UL had a fine strike at goal on the twenty minute mark, but it went just wide.

The last big moment of the first half came when confusion in the box saw UL have a good penalty shout, but it was not entertained one bit by the referee.

As the rain continued to pelt down, the wind rose and the temperature continued to drop, the bog developing in the top right corner of the field continued to spread towards the centre of the pitch edging the corner of the eighteen yard box.

One change occurred at half time with Luke Burgess coming in for UCC. With UCC now playing against the wind and the right-wing once again free for use, the men wearing the Skull and Bones were able to open up their play and use the channels to create a lot more chances in the second half.  UL’s Robert Egan was tested greatly at the restart, making a brilliant save on forty-seven minutes.

UL’s Dave McGrath was able to get away a good strike that went just to the right of the post on the fiftieth minute mark, after UCC had been given offside. Eric Hegarty and Eoin Kilcommon displayed some great link up play but were snuffed out by great defending once again from the UL back-line.

After this Rufus Holmes and Dave O’Donovan made their way on to the pitch in place of Kilcommon and Max Taffe respectively. Holmes played a blinder, to put it simply, creating close to a dozen chances down the left wing for College. He assisted in the first goal with a simple cross. The goal came on the seventy-fifth minute mark and put UCC in the driving seat. There were a flurry of chances, and Holmes will feel he could have had a goal or two of his own.

UCC split the UL defence on a number of occasions, and despite UL’s best efforts at deploying the offside trap, they couldn’t keep UCC back who were rewarded with yet another goal, which was effectively the last action of the game.

UCC: Kieran McEnery, Max Taffe, Shane O’Callaghan, Ciaran Forde, Kyle O’Sullivan, Mike McSweeney, Sean Stokes, Rob Waters, Josh O’Shea, Eric Hegarty, Eoin Kilcommon. Subs: Paul Lawless, Luke Burgess, Dave O’Donovan, Richard O’Donovan, Shane Hegarty, Rufus Holmes.

UL: Robert Egan, Brendan Daly, Pat Durkan, Phil Lavan, Nigel Stanley, Alan Quill, Michael Deady, Brian Cleary, David Downey, Dave McGrath, Paul Walsh Subs: Rob Doyle, Rob Phelan, Eoin Burke, Dan Clinton, Alan Coleman, Jamie Richardson.

Originally published in the 23/11/2010 edition of the UCC Express