Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Gongs for Smyth and Daly: News in brief

* Railway Union's Emma Smyth was named as the Irish Sportswoman of the Month for November following a year in which her club won their first ever Leinster Senior league title and Smyth was called up to make her international debut, subsequently travelling to the Netherlands for the European championships.

Smyth joins the likes of boxing world champion Katie Taylor, equestrian Olympian Jessica Kurten and the talented golfing twins Leona and Lisa Maguire on the list of monthly winners for 2009 and will be in the running for the yearly prize. Among the judges are the Irish Times' Mary Hannigan and the Evening Herald's Lindie Naughton.

* Loreto's Nicci Daly, meanwhile, has been named as one of the Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football All-Stars for 2009 following a stellar year with her club, Ballyboden Wanderers. Daly made her intercounty debut for the 'Jackies' in the spring while doubling up the sport with hockey.

Hers was a rare inclusion, though, as Wanderers currently play in the Junior championships with the vast majority of Stars named this year hailed from Senior clubs. As part of her call-up, Daly has been included in a team to play the Dublin team on December 29 in Kilmacud Crokes' ground.

* Pembroke can move top of the men's Leinster division one standings for the first time this season as they continue their catch-up mission against Monkstown tonight. Tip off at Serpentine Avenue is at 8.30pm.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Prediction: Monkstown (1) v Pembroke (5)

Anonymous said...

good to see teams trying to make up their games.... wish glens would follow suit

Anonymous said...

Smythie!!!

Anonymous said...

on another note, does anyone know ho won the railway cup game between Monkstown and Trinity on Sunday?

Stephen Findlater said...

I believe Monkstown won it 2-1 after extra-time.

Anonymous said...

Railway Cup is really open this year, Pembroke, TRR and Corinthian all out already.

3x div four teams in last eight and only Railway II from div 3 in top half of the draw!

Anonymous said...

Monstown won it with a golden goal in extra time. Tight match both teams had their fair share of chances.

Anonymous said...

how is it that Glennane got postponements with only two players in the World Cup when YM also had two first team players away on Irish world cup duty and weren't given postponements. Seems really unfair.

Anonymous said...

Congrats Emma and Nicci. 2 great players who are always exciting to watch. Emma hope you go on to get 100 caps..you should have been capped yeas ago.

Anonymous said...

Glenanne share there pitch with a school which rent it out to different sports clubs aswell as glenanne. And as there us training everyday of the week its hard for them to get a open slot during the week with out distirbing others training which would be very unfair.

Anonymous said...

10.26 we've been through this already and you were probably the one who left the comments the last time. Three points:

1 The postponements were pre-arranged and since Glens originally had three in the squad it seemed acceptable
2 They lost their coach as well
3 Did YM apply for postponements? I reckon if they did they should have got them so would like to know if they did

Just let it go know will you...

Anonymous said...

To 10.26 - just out of interest, did YM ask for postponements? Glenanne asked and received so a case could have been made.

For the Glens, there's two issues which I think are interesting.

1) It is clear Pembroke two years ago and Three Rock last year suffered a bit due to injuries from too many games in the second half of the season. Having them stack up is not going to serve them well at all. After christmas, they're likely to have 11 league games, four more IHL and possibly ISC and Mills stuff. it will be a tough ask in that environment to keep all bodies healthy.

2) I heard a rumour of this which worried me - that the league season will be allowed extend on to allow back matches be played. This is completely wrong in my opinion and the final date in the blue book should be adhered to. Should a side be given a leeway it allows for a distortion of competition as happened in a couple of women's leagues last year. PLaying beyond the final day, increases the likelihood of sides already knowing their fate re IHL, relegation, playoffs which has the knock-on effect of how serious a side takes these games.

Anonymous said...

Guys If you check out lb website you will see that all postponed fixtures have been re arranged barring two involving Fingal for some reason?

Anonymous said...

11:49 PM

That's a rather silly point.
1. You're wrong. Glenanne lease the site from St. Marks (built the pitch themselves) and give St. Marks a licence to use it during the day.

2. Even if that was the case what they do is play the matches during the time they would normally train in like other clubs. Even if the 2nd's team or someone train at that time aswell I'm sure they will get over it.

P.s. Congratulations Emma and Nicci you should be proud of yourselves.

Queso said...

It's amazing to think Rovers will have played 13 league matches by Christmas with only 5 to play in Jan, Feb, Mar.

If they get knocked out of the Cups (Leinster & Irish), that'll leave them with only 2 matches a month until May (Leinster & IHL)

Anonymous said...

It is really open this year, looks like the winner will come from the bottom half of the draw. Either Monkstown, Fingal or Glens.

Anonymous said...

I think with this season has shown is that their are too many games in Div 1.

With the withdrawal of 3 teams in Div 2 I think the most sensible thing to do would have the top 2 leagues consist of 8 teams. that would free up 4 weekends for back matches/weather postponements.

Anonymous said...

Well done Emma and Railway. No coincidence that the two are rising in Irish hockey at the same time

Anonymous said...

12.45pm - I think the bottom five in division one would then be a bit upset as they'd have barely any games to play - say UCD, who would then only have three games left having stuck to their pre-arranged programme!

Anonymous said...

1.03, I was taking in relation to next year.

Hardly makes sense to break up the leagues mid Season!

Anonymous said...

we should have 2 leagues of 8.
In div 1 they play each other twice (just 14 league games) . and then in div 2 they should play each other 3 times ( 21 games )
1 up 1 down... Will improve standard of div 1 and also improve div 2 ...

Anonymous said...

That's a pretty good idea 10:13. Only problem is for the non-IHL teams in Div 1... They play less games than Div 2 with your plan. But the basic idea is good and would bring div 2 up closer in standard to div 1, thus increasing competitiveness.