Sometimes you have to cut your losses, celebrate your successes, and also be aware of your limitations. Sometimes when you wake up beside a beautiful woman, you should be proud of your achievement, but also know that it is what it is, and not embarrass yourself by asking for her number.

The Republic of Ireland and the FAI have stark nakedly embarrassed themselves, in front of the world, trying in vain to get another date from their French temptress despite the world and his dog knowing it’s impossible.

There was plenty to build on and plenty to be proud of  – we were only a goal away from the World Cup, but it was Roy Keane who was one of the few Irishmen to be realistic in the wake of last week’s events. In criticising the Irish defence (of course) Keane was opening himself up to criticism, since it was the man Keane himself brought to the Premier League for £2.5 million – Paul McShane – that allowed Thierry Henry to ghost past him. What’s more, Keane appreciated that these things even themselves out over time. Were the Georgians looking for a replay after the ridiculous penalty decision at Croke Park that allowed Ireland to rob them with a late winner? Would Ireland have given them a replay? Not so likely.

~~

This column has long shown its mistrust of the Springboks, and admiration for Robbie Deans’ Wallabies. Hence, it was with some smugness that FOS saw Australia very nearly beat the champions of the Northern Hemisphere (Scotland don’t count, and that’s just that), and to see South Africa have their crown so seriously rattled against France. In avoiding defeat against Australia and gaining their facile victory over Fiji, Ireland have at least continued Declan Kidney’s extraordinary unbeaten run. Much as I don’t rate the ’Boks, however, it will take a mammoth effort for Ireland to beat them.

The timing of the Autumn Internationals doesn’t seem to suit anybody. With the southern countries dying to get their extended summer season over, and the Six Nations teams having had such a long break, particularly in Lions years, it doesn’t make for a fair gauge of any team.

Ireland did seem to be trying to play ‘sexy rugby’, as Ruud Gullit might have called it, against the Aussies, and by playing such a strong (!) team against Fiji, Ireland have had further opportunities to iron out the creases ahead of the ultimate test. Roll on this weekend: it’s time for my judgement of the ‘Boks to be put to the test once and for all.

~~

Back to the soccer. FOS avoided watching the second leg of the playoff in a pub, like most people, and instead booked a room in the Jackson Court Hotel to watch it there, saving myself the bother of queuing to get into Coppers in the rain later on in the night. When Keane’s goal was scored, the screaming and noise from all over the city was amazing. Horns blowing, cars beeping and sheer joy everywhere; it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever witnessed.

It only brings into clearer focus the disappointment of not actually making it to South Africa, when we could have had probably four or five of those days. Most readers of this newspaper are probably too young to have been going out to celebrate in 2002 for the last World Cup, just as I regret not being old enough to celebrate Offaly’s glory days in the 1990s. The taste of what a World Cup month would have been like, in those few seconds looking out over the city, is what leaves me most bitter of all.

I don’t mind the despair; it’s the hope I can’t stand.

The end of the domestic soccer season might be celebrated within Belfield for the return of UCD to the top flight, but for the most part, it’s hard to envisage there having been a crisis like this before within the Irish game. The farce involving Derry City’s finances see the club ejected from the League of Ireland, and the club’s long term future could be in grave doubt.

If a club like Derry can get into this level of financial trouble, what hope is there for the rest of Ireland’s clubs? As anyone who lived in Merville during the Belfield Park days will know, the Candystripes have the loudest and most passionate fans in the league, and attendances at the Brandywell have always been high, unlike at many other grounds.

In addition, Derry are based in a large city with a strong footballing history. Sectarian issues aside, one would have imagined the club would find sufficient backing from its sponsors. Thus, the only conclusion can be that Derry City have been horribly mismanaged from the boardroom. Greed and short-sighted planning seem to have caused every problem in the country at the moment, but it certainly rings true for Derry. Just as it did for Shelbourne and Cork City, the bell is tolling for Derry and the solution will not be pretty.

The whole sorry affair raises many questions about the future of the League and the viability of the professional game in this country. Whether the answer is an amalgamation of some of the Dublin clubs, an All-Ireland League, or even an inter-county system, the only thing for sure is that the current League of Ireland structure is a danger to the future of the domestic game.

~~~

Australia’s win against England in the Cook Cup opened the Autumn International series, and gave Declan Kidney his first look at Ireland’s opening opponents. This columnist has long been a fan of Robbie Deans from his days of dominating the Super 14, and believes the Aussies were unlucky not to have made a greater impact in the Tri Nations.

However, I seem to be the only one that believes that. Either way, the past couple of months have seen them defeat New Zealand, South Africa and now England. These are no mugs, and in Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper, the Wallabies have a perfect dovetail in the back line. Giteau alone could cut any team to shreds.

Then there’s Rocky Elsom, who as captain is well known on these shores as the man who galvanised Leinster into a formidable defensive outfit and with it brought a first Heineken Cup. It will be interesting to see the contrasting athleticism of Wallace and Elsom at the back of the scrums.

The bookies have it more or less spot on with both teams starting off at evens. Against almost any other test nation, Ireland’s dearth of props would hand the victory to the others, though the Wallabies have their own problems at the set piece. It’s one to look forward to, and will be a great test of just how good the Champions of the Northern Hemisphere are.

~~~

Out of Europe, and that’s a fact. It’s great to see arrogant people fall on their own sword, so great pleasure was had from Rafael Benitez’s recent spate of balls-ups. Not to hark back to the Robbie Keane saga, but a lot of Liverpool’s problems can be traced back to it.

Rafa might not have wanted Keane at the club, and yes, he may not have been good enough, but if Robbie Keane was to be let go, he needed to be replaced. Torres has been injury prone from the beginning at Liverpool, so having a young player like David N’Gog as second choice striker doesn’t make sense when Torres misses as many games as he plays. What’s more, it is abundantly clear Rafa doesn’t rate N’Gog, since he’s so reticent to allow him the rest or surgery that he clearly needs.

Oh Rafa – it’s hard to know whether to love him or hate him.

It hasn’t been the greatest start for the Irish teams in this year Heineken Cup. But while Ulster will be disappointed with their performance on Matchday Two, there’s a sense that perhaps it won’t take vintage performances from Leinster and Munster to get out of their groups this time.

The inevitability that came with Munster’s home victory over Treviso was best illustrated by the Paddy Power online in-running betting, which saw the Limerick side still cast at 1/100, even when ten points down. Leinster, meanwhile, saved themselves with their win over Brive. However predictable an early season demise might have been, it would not have been welcome for the reigning champions to limp out of their defence of the Heineken Cup at this early stage.

Another two Magners League defeats for the two premier provinces does not bode well ahead of the visits of Australia and world champions South Africa in a fortnight’s time. These tests will prove the great barometer of this Irish team. Without question, the current Irish squad is the culmination of a generation’s work in cultivating a Six Nations winning side. The question now is whether the boys in green can show competitiveness on a trans-hemispherical stage.

If, as seems to be expected, the Wallabies and the vastly over-rated Springboks both gain victories at Croke Park, it will dilute the achievements and steps forward made over the last year. Rather than being a great team which, with wins over two-thirds of the Tri-Nations, could style themselves Champions of the Northern Hemisphere, defeats to the touring sides would instead mark Ireland as simply being the best of a bad lot.

Even if many in the media or public will not admit it, have no doubt that the great competitors in the Irish team will see the situation as it really is, and will crave so badly to avoid that gnawing devolution of spring’s achievements.

~~~

I wonder what Stephen Ireland thinks about Ireland being shafted by FIFA’s decision to see the World Cup qualification playoffs. Does he even know? In fairness to FIFA, while it does seem a bit suspect that the seeding of the playoffs was only introduced after Michel Platini’s home country looked in danger of elimination, seeding was present in the 2006 play-offs.

It is used in every other round of the competition and in every other continent. It’s hardly as if it was done deliberately to annoy us. In addition to that, Ireland deserved a tough draw after drawing the long straw – or whatever it is that’s the opposite of the short straw – in 2002 when they got to play Iran. The France tie is infinitely interesting.

The fact that our opponents France have been dull, uninspiring and completely disinterested under Raymond Domenech gives us hope. But be realistic: a look at a potential first XI for the French is scary. If the Gallic side decide they want to play – and in all likelihood, they surely, surely will, with a place at the World Cup at stake – Ireland will certainly be in bother. The biggest pity from an Irish perspective is that the home leg comes first, but let’s hope Ireland can still be in contention come the trip to Paris, if only because half of Ireland (or certainly most of UCD) will be making the trip over.

~~~

Fair play to UCD AFC. As Sports Editor last year I wrote a lot about the great job Pete Mahon had done as manager of the student side. In promoting Martin Russell to the top seat from within, the board have gotten things spot on, finding a man to ensure the club are in good health with a view to the long term.

Last year UCD were relegated from the Premier Division, with several teams who had operated vastly outside their financial means finishing above them. Those same teams are now struggling to keep afloat, and were immensely lucky to keep their licenses to stay in the League this season. Meanwhile, UCD kept wages and expenses down and took their relegation with true honour. Now, twelve months on, UCD are atop the Division One table and looking odds-on for a straight return to the top flight, ahead ironically of the greatest exponent of financial mismanagement in Irish soccer, Shelbourne.

UCD’s promotion, which hopefully should be sewn up at home in two weeks’ time, will be a proud day for Russell, the departed Mahon, and in particular the club’s executives.

Rory McIlroy might not have won the Alfred Dunhill Links championship, but his performance once more is a reminder of just how good this young man can become. It is so easy to forget that he is as young as many of those that are only beginning in UCD this year, with the boy only having turned twenty this year.

McIlroy’s short game still has improvement ahead, and he needs to develop the consistency to shoot four good rounds a weekend. I have little doubt though, and nor does Tiger Woods, that he will be going all the way to the top of the sport. His treatment of Shane Lowry, buying the amateur a crate of champagne and celebrating with him on the 18th green when he won the 3 Irish Open this summer, showed all the hallmarks of a gentleman, and the fondness with which all involved in the sport hold him is testament to that.

Sky Sports commentators speak of McIlroy with the same tone a loving grandfather would speak about his talented child. The Northern Irishman is just another from the conveyor belt of talented Irish golfers – astounding given the relative lack of size of the country.

The North in particular is an anomaly; with the exception of Serbian tennis players or Cuban boxers, there can be very few countries with such an extraordinary number of world-class talents per capita in a major sport.

****

Football’s international break gives us an opportunity to pause and reflect on the start of the Premier League season. At the risk of schadenfreude, it’s easy to take great pleasure from Liverpool’s slow start. With four defeats already in all competitions, Liverpool’s form so far this term compares less than favourably to last season’s record over the entire season.

Benitez, for all his aloofness, must surely realise his arrogance in trying to force Xabi Alonso out of the club in 2008 is the reason for many of their woes right now. It will be interesting to see how Alonso’s €20m replacement, Alberto Aquilani, fares – though Aquilani plays a very different role than the Spaniard, and is continually hampered by injury.

One of the more common criticisms thrown at Benitez is the issue regarding the ‘zonal marking’ system, and up to this point the defenders of this concept have pointed out that there are flaws in traditional man-marking too. This doesn’t stand up in the case of Liverpool, though, who seem to concede exponentially more goals from set plays than the teams in the top three. Benitez will soon have to accept the facts and consider a change to this tactics.

Despite an inconsistent start to their season, Arsenal have – at times – looked like the best team in England. The problem remains, though, that Arsenal remain like the freestylers on YouTube who balance balls on their heads or hit the crossbar from their own penalty box: they have all the panache and guile in the world, but none of the intelligence or ability to play without the ball.

If Wenger could manoeuvre a situation like in ice hockey, where offence and defence can interchange freely, Arsenal might indeed look like winning a trophy – or more – again. Their victory against Blackburn illustrated this perfectly: though they scored six, Blackburn also had half a dozen clear-cut chances on goal.

****

Ireland’s marquee year of rugby seems to have come to a crashing stop with Leinster’s home defeat against London Irish. How fitting, for a team renowned for being their own worst enemy, that it would be opponents with ‘Irish’ in their name that began the dethroning process.

Poor refereeing and moments of madness from newly returned Exiles Mike Ross and Eoin Reddan will be pointed to as causes of Leinster’s defeat, but in the light of day the problems lay a little closer to home. Sure, Irish are Guinness Premiership finalists, but Michael Cheika’s tactics need to be examined more closely. The Australian is attempting to build an effective side by installing an impenetrable defence structure, which was an adequate system last season.

However, things were different in previous scenarios: Leinster were usually vast underdogs and could rely on the behemoth Rocky Elsom to lead the pack. At ‘home’ in the RDS, they’re going to need to show a lot more ambition if they intend making it beyond the Group Stage and avoid a humiliating abdication. Only Leinster could manage it really.

We now, finally, have a better idea of Manchester City’s credentials for this season, after they almost snuck a massive result at Old Trafford last week. It’s certainly impressive to repeatedly come back from a goal down against the thrice-in-a-row Champions of England and back-to-back Champions League finalists – though as the euphoria and headiness of the closing stages slowly pass, it should be remembered that City were completely and comprehensively outplayed for the entire second half. If it were not for a sublime moment of inspiration for their second, and a mistake from Rio Ferdinand worthy of You’ve Been Framed for their third, United would have been long out of sight.

The manner of the defeat will certainly give them heart, and now that City have suffered their first defeat of the campaign, it will be interesting to see how they respond in the forthcoming league fixtures. As for Michael Owen, it was always likely to be the case when you allow one striker to leave for your city rivals for £30m and replace him with a freebie, that he would come up trumps on the biggest day of all. At Old Trafford at least, that invariably seems to be the case.

In addition, it was no surprise to see Craig Bellamy getting involved at the end in an unfortunate incident striking a pitch-invading United supporter, although this can largely be dismissed as a routine case of the sh*thead hitting the fan.

~

With another Tri Nations series drawing to a close, the fans that were committed enough to have perched themselves in front of Sky Sports at ungodly hours on Saturday mornings – to watch what largely results in the southern hemisphere’s trio of giants battering themselves stupid – will be happier with this year’s tournament than they were with last year’s protracted, inconsistent efforts.

While I’m aware that there’s very little arguing with South Africa’s place at the top of world rugby at the moment, off the back of a dominating Tri Nations performance, a Lions series victory and the World Cup less than two years ago – for some reason, I’m still somewhat unconvinced of the Springboks’ true quality.

Maybe it’s that their World Cup was won by beating only Argentina and England in the semi-final and final respectively, or that they barely beat yet another awfully managed Lions squad, that has me so mistrusting of their pedigree. Their domination of the set piece is, for me, an anomaly.

Because of the supposed impregnability of the ‘Bok lineout, opposition sides seem to panic and try fancier tactics rather than just playing their normal game, and hand the advantage to the ‘Boks in the process. The same can be said in the scrum.

John Smit is a poor, poor prop at international level, while Tendai Mtawarira managed to become a world superstar and forge a reputation as a formidable scrummager in the first Lions test by destroying Phil Vickery, before throwing it all away and returning to type in the second game against Adam Jones.

Of course, with the Springboks due in Croke Park in late November, we have a good opportunity to see the world champions first hand, and examine how the northern hemisphere’s de facto champions fare against them. In addition, we’ll get a prolonged viewing on Jean de Villiers – the  so-called ‘Intercept King’ – when he lines out for Munster this year. Perhaps in a few months I’ll be forced to eat my words about the ‘Boks.

Showing perhaps that it takes strange qualities to impress this columnist, Australia played some of the best rugby of this year’s Tri Nations. In Matt Giteau, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Berrick Barnes, the Wallabies boasted some of the series’ standout backs, while the injuries carried into the tournament by Rocky Elsom, sustained during his time with Leinster, meant that the Australian behemoth missed the opening fixtures and failed to hit full throttle throughout the rest of it.

Lastly, the decision to finally add Argentina to the Tri Nations from 2012 onward should be welcomed. Ostensibly one of the world’s premier four teams (off the back of France 2007), they should be able to compete for the tournament, but in reality, it’s an opportunity for the Pumas to make the next step forward as a rugby playing nation.

~

What can be said about the Kerry footballers that hasn’t already been said about Kilkenny? The lingering doubt for the Kingdom in the build-up to the All-Ireland Final was that they hadn’t beaten any special team this year, with a very average Meath side disposed of in the semi-final comparing infavourably to the performance Cork put in to eliminate Tyrone. We probably should have known better. What more adequate way is there for a team to prepare for a clash with serial Croke Park bottlers Cork than with Dublin, a team who who fail to understand the concept of home advantage?

This Cork team will come again, however, as they contain an almost unique blend of power and youth that has been built over a succession of good (but not great) minor teams, each producing a couple of players that would go on to star on the Senior teams. Surely some time soon Cork will take the scalp of their equally irritating neighbours at Croke Park, with this side in particular looking to have the longevity to do it.

THE BEGINNING OF a new Observer year heralds the first ever Fearghal On Sport, a forum for me to vent my frustrations, knowledge and witticisms, in a feature likely to be ignored by many just reading the sport to find their name in a match report.

Nonetheless, I’m taking the responsibility seriously; I’d debated the alternative title of ‘Kerin Affairs’, but that might’ve been a tad obscure. And piggybacking on the paragon of sport that was Michael D Clark is difficult enough as it is. Suggestions for slightly more original and clever titles are therefore most welcome!

Given my promotion to the side of page 17, and the expectations that come with such lofty placement, many will be disappointed at what is to come. Given the string of accumulator bets I’ve placed and lost this summer, often in the most obscure circumstances (Newport County’s draw with Lewes last month was sickening), my confidence in my own status as a bastion of sporting knowledge is at its lowest ebb, but we may plough ahead regardless.

Depending on who you’re talking to, Giovanni Trapattoni is either a Messiah, here to guide us to redemption on the high veldt next summer, or a parasite sucking life from our once-swashbuckling national side.

In many ways neither is exactly correct, as the playoff is likely to be the rock upon which the Irish team perishes. There are several good teams bound to finish second in their groups, and though the likes of Croatia haven’t covered themselves in glory in this campaign, it’s hard to imagine Ireland having an answer to their class. The same goes for Serbia, likely to finish behind France in their group, and though Portugal seem odds-on to be eliminated at the group stages, they are yet another of the quality teams that would be heavily favoured to eliminate Ireland.

For whatever reason, there seems to be ignorance amongst the Irish as to the perils of the playoffs. In recent memory, Ireland have been defeated by Belgium and Turkey (the latter game memorable a brawl that would make Millwall v West Ham look tame) and have only advanced past mediocre Iran at the play-off stage. Victory is by no means assured, though thankfully Northern Ireland’s defeat to Slovakia means we won’t suffer the ignominy of being knocked out by our rugged, sexily-accented, over-achieving cousins.

For what it’s worth, I’m not criticising Trapattoni or the Irish players. Not unlike the North, Ireland have a reasonably limited squad and have done well to achieve what they have so far. Criticism of Trapattoni’s tactics and pragmatism confuses and annoys me. Firstly, isn’t victory regardless of the manner in Nicosia in 2009 several times better than the 5-2 mauling at their hands in 2006?

Secondly, Trap has never played flowing, tici-taci football wherever he has managed, so for those who heralded his arrival to jump on his back once they see his work is hypocritical, and exposes the ill-informedness of Dunphy… er, I mean, the critics-at-large.

One of the pleasures this summer has been watching Padraig Harrington complete his battle with his swing demons, and start competing for tournaments once more. At the time of writing, he’s sunk eight consecutive rounds below 70 and though it hasn’t been enough to retain either of his majors – or indeed any event – it has been enough to keep him in FedEx Cup contention.

There are few evenings comparable to a Sunday watching Harrington sink the back nine in full flight, though if he could avoid quintuple bogeys at such stages, it would make those evenings less wasted.

With UCD’s Shane Lowry having a fairytale summer, and Rory McIlroy’s rise to the forefront of the Race to Dubai, it’s been a great summer for Irish golf. Per capita, Ireland must be the best in the world at golf, with Northern Ireland in particular producing an amazingly disproportionate amount of talented players. Long may it continue.

Successful teams are often universally disliked, especially if they are a ruthlessly efficient team that rarely looks like losing. If they dominate a sport for years, they become all the more hateable. Yet there’s something about the Kilkenny hurlers that I find hard to hate: maybe closer observers or opposition players see systematic fouling or intimidation of referees, but I don’t. Instead I see a team that are never rattled, and for whom the greatest threat is not from opposition teams, but from emerging squad members taking their places.

Like all the greats – from Aidan O’Brien in horse racing, across the board – there seems to be a feeling with Kilkenny that they’d rather have the other teams be as strong as possible. Kilkenny natives have often said they take no pleasure in putting five goals past Offaly or Wexford, and it’s this yearning for a higher standard that makes them the team they are – though a sending off and a dodgy penalty do help.

To finish, I want to clarify one issue. I’m not sure if I was one of the members of the press that Brian Cody was thinking of when he said there was a witch-hunt against Tommy Walsh, but if I am, I apologise. Anything to resist being torn apart like poor Marty Morrissey.

Rowing
UCD won the overall prize but the day was slightly soured as Queen’s University won the Wylie Cup for men at an exciting University Championship of Ireland in Co Down. Trinity College Dublin, another powerhouse of the colleges rowing scene had their own success, winning the Bank of Ireland Cup for senior women. The Wylie Cup came down to the novice eight final which was won by the Belfast outfit by the narrowest of margins.

Queen’s had won the intermediate eight and UCD the senior eight, so Queen’s carried off the prize by virtue of taking two of the three eights contests. Trinity’s women came out on top after taking both the senior and intermediate eights.

Golf
The UCD team were defeated in the final of the team event at the Irish Colleges Golf Association League finale at the hands of the University of Ulster side who are undefeated all season. UCD had done well to reach the final against the Jordanstown men who had been favourites to take the title in light of their form up to this, and the burden of being expected to win did not effect the Northerners.

The final victory by 25 strokes summed up UUJ’s dominance of college golf this year, and the progress of their talented side will be interesting to note over the coming years.

Darts
UCD Student Simon Corcoran has continued his good form with a victory in the German Amateur Open in Stuttgart, without dropping a frame throughout the entire tournament. Corcoran is seen as Ireland’s top darts prospect, and should he continue upon his current trajectory is expected to feature in the forthcoming World Darts Championship at the Circus Tavern this Christmas.

Rugby
UCD Under 20s second side followed in the footsteps of their A team, by suffering defeat in the final of the JP Fanagan Pennant at the hands of Bective Rangers. The final was played at Donnybrook, and stout Bective defence allowed the home side to eventually take an 11- 8 victory. This was followed quickly by UCD’s disappointing exit at the hands of De la Salle Palmerstown in the quarter final of the Purcell Cup to deny them a chance for revenge against Bective. The A side meanwhile, are in the semi-final of the prestigious McCorry Cup having dispatched their Colours rivals Trinity in the quarter final to set up a tie with defeated All Ireland finalists Blackrock in the semis.

The victory, courtesy of a 14-5 score line, was earned after an excellent second half perhaps, while Trinity, in the absence of talismanic out half David Joyce who has starred for their AIL side consistently this season, had little answer to the Belfield sides power up front.

THE UCD Under 20s suffered semi-final heartbreak as they were eliminated from the prestigious Fazer Mullan All Ireland Semi Final against last year champions UL Bohs. Not only was the fi nal score line of 25-8 surprisingly large, but the result itself was a major shock for UCD who had been expecting to dispose of the champions at the Bowl.

Along with the return of UCD’s international stars from Six Nations duty, there were several reasons UCD had been so heavily favoured to take the glory in this tie.

Despite their defeat to Lansdowne in the JP Fanagan Premier decider a fortnight previously, UCD were still considered to be in good form, coming off the back of a resounding victory over AIL powerhouses UCC, who themselves were considered the strongest side from outside Leinster left in the competition. While UCD were putting up a 12-5 score line on the highly fancied Cork side, UL Bohs were left to bemoan a walkover after their Ulster opponents had been unable to fulfi l the fi xture.

While this had seemed like it could give UCD extra sharpness, having completed 80 minutes of high intensity rugby the previous week, perhaps it was Bohs’ freshness that shone through while UCD looked a shadow of the side that had made such a blistering start to the season several months ago.

It was also a rare occasion where UCD fi nally had their full, fi rst choice 15 on the fi eld, no longer shorn of the internationals and those called up to the fi rst team, and this adds to the confusion over how exactly College contrived to be so heavily defeated.

“UCD will look at this as an opportunity lost against a team they could have gotten the better of on another day”

Bohs, though very much second favourites, had gone into the game as the tournament’s, holders after a 5-0 victory over Lansdowne in the fi nal at Portlaoise last year courtesy of a David Maloney try. However, the home side made the better start at a particularly large and wide Bowl. Taking advantage of their knowledge of their home patch, UCD utilised the extra space and began tossing the ball out wide early on and their blistering start led to the opening score of the game.

With 15 minutes played, international Killian Lett, on loan from the fi rst team, kicked deep into the Bohs’ ‘22, and with territory accrued, the College centres combined to get the ball wide for UCD to ground in the corner, and though the conversion was missed, it looked at this point like the predicted victory was afoot for UCD.

However, a veteran of last year’s triumph, Eddie Rossiter led a Bohs’ fi ght back as they began to take the game to UCD up front and slowly starved the home side of the fast ball they had enjoyed so much in the opening minutes.

As the pressure grew, the visitors set up a maul off a well-worked lineout and slowly trudged towards the Clonskeagh end of the pitch. Cathal Sheridan peeled off the blind- side of the maul, and seizing the overlap, unleashed the ever dangerous Harry de Stacpool to score right in the corner. As the half drew to a close, Lett knocked over another penalty to give UCD an 8-5 lead at half time, but it was the typically Munster-like control by Bohs in gaining control of the game that would have worried the UCD management team.

With the wind behind their backs, UL refused to relinquish control in the second half. Good play by the forwards allowed go forward ball and at the end of a good series of phases, it was Peter Boland who crossed the line, with Darragh Frawley happy to convert to add the extras. With UL in the ascendency and looking to push on, UCD gave their last push with a long period spent in the Bohs’ ‘22 but resolute defence thwarted UCD. This seemed to disappoint the College, and having seen their best efforts repelled, they then seemed to accept that the opportunity to advance had gone, and it was all Bohs both in possession and on the scoreboard from there on.

Frawley knocked over another penalty, before an increasingly desperate UCD threw a pass that was asking to be intercepted, and de Stacpoole gleefully accepted the gift to fi nish from the half way line, happily diving over to put the Annacotty side 25-8 up, and guaranteed their place in another fi nal.

For UCD, they will look at this as an opportunity lost against a team that despite the resounding nature of the result, they will feel they could have gotten the better of on another day. With Lansdowne having been eliminated in the other semi-fi nal in a tight game against Blackrock College, UCD will have felt more than ever, that this could have been their year.

Victories in the Maher and Conroy Cup’s will have pleased UCD, but the big ones that got away (the JP Fanagan and the Fraser Mullan trophies) will long be rued by the talented squad.

What makes the side’s achievement in reaching the fi nal all the more noteworthy is its rarity. While Pegasus may be Cup specialists, the same cannot be said for the Belfi eld side. Not only have they not won the trophy since 1951, that victory also comprises their one and only appearance in the fi nal. This novelty factor adds to the lure of the fi nal, with a mixture of the freshness of the Students’ contrasting starkly with that of Pegasus.

The Belfi eld side will fi nd themselves going into the game as underdogs against their northern opponents. Pegasus have had an unprecedented dominance in this tournament in recent years. A haul of seven victories in 20 years gives them a historic basis and feeling of entitlement to the trophy. This begs the question, will this breed complacency and a lack of urgency amongst the Belfast ladies, comparing with the desire of UCD? Or nerves on what will be the biggest stage of them all?

Though UCD have experience of taking out Trinity in this year’s colours clash, there is frankly no preparation for the Senior Cup Final available to Logue’s girls in advance of their late April clash. Having already won the Ulster Premier Division, the impetus will certainly be with the northerners. Add to this the form of Pegasus star Claire McMahon, who has been the catalyst behind Pegasus’ march to the fi nal. It was Julie McKnight who opened the scorer for Pegasus in their semi-fi nal clash with Ballymoney, but after ‘Money equalised, as always, it was McMahon who netted the winner and allowed them advance to their date with UCD at the National Stadium.

McMahon is one of the country’s most consistent and impressive performers, and has lit up the Irish Hockey League again this season. Having last year been crowned Irish Hockey’s Player of the Year, few would bet against her potentially regaining her crown this year, particularly should she lead Pegasus to victory over UCD. Michelle Harvey and Alex Speers are also danger players in what is generally an experienced side, many of who already have at least a couple of medals in this competition.

“UCD have not won the trophy since 1951, but that victory also comprises their one and only appearance in the final”

While their opponents in the final are favoured over UCD, this is no different to their path to the National Stadium. Logue’s charges have had the more diffi cult route, having had to negotiate several of Irish hockey’s marquee names. The early rounds could scarcely have been less kind to College, yet they managed to dispatch of Loreto and Hermes in the opening rounds.

This gave them progression to the quarter-fi nals, and a scent of the fi nal, and the fi rst of what will be three Ulster opponents in a row. Belfast Harlequins gave strong competition to UCD, but a controlled second half performance, with Orlagh O’Shea and Megan Tennant-Humphreys in particular shining on the occasion gave them the edge as they moved on to play fellow college side, the Ulster Elks.

The battle of the students’ was probably the toughest game yet for UCD, with Emma Clarke gaining the upper hand in midfi eld early on. However, the sides captain Lisa Jacob proved a thorn in the Elks’ defence and a fi ne run and low shot gave UCD the lead.

However, a lack of concentration in the wake of the goal was fatal for College, as they failed to keep their composure and allowed the Elks off the hook, with an immediate equaliser. Lyndsay McNeish’s scrappy goal however, proved unimportant, after a set-piece move from a well worked corner saw Rachel Burke score the winner and allow UCD advance.

For UCD, a victory in this competition would cap what has been a largely successful season. Though they were eliminated from the Leinster Cup at the hands of Railway, they still fi nd themselves in contention for an important top four fi nish in the inaugural Irish Hockey League, which would be impressive in light of them only gaining entrance to the League after victory in a Wild Card tournament.

Though victory is unlikely, big performances from UCD will give them a chance. Captain Jacob will need to stretch Pegasus’ defence, while skills from her international team-mate, Roisín Flinn is also key.

That the fi nal will be played in the National Stadium at Belfi eld is advantageous to UCD without doubt, but it will decide very little, given that it is a fi nal.

In Logue, UCD have a coach who has seen and done it all as an Irish hockey player, and has added new organisation to the side. Much of the success has been built on solid defence, and this will be key in stopping Pegasus. Logue made her name as a competitive and ambitious player. Whether she has successfully passed these attributes on to her players will only be evident as UCD take on Pegasus in their fi rst ever meeting in this competition.

Volleyball

In a novel set of finals in this year’s Association Cup Final, both the UCD Men and Ladies sides will face off against Aer Lingus in what should be the Women’s side’s advancement to the final, which will be hosted at Belfield andis unsurprising seeing as this could stand to be their seventh final in succession.

Having dispatched of Santry in the quarters, a 3-0 victory over Trinity in a Colours’ clash in the semi final, the Ladies will now face the well organised Aer Lingus girls in what will be a highly anticipated clash.

The Men however, have not enjoyed the same successes as their female counterparts, with this their first appearance in a final in their history. Their shock victory over the League and Cup champions, the Aer Lingus Jets, in the semi set up the tie with Aer Lingus 1, who are known for their physical strength and varied attack combinations.

Given the historical context, this will be far and away the biggest day in the history of UCD Volleyball, and with home advantage secured, it is hoped at least one trophy will be secured to end what has been a largely successful season.

Soccer

UCD AFC have continued their successful start to their tenure in League of Ireland Division 1 have a 100 per cent record of six wins from six and sit atop the league table.

A series of high scoring wins culminated with their most recent success, a 3-1 win over fellow high fliers Shelbourne to set UCD clear at the top of the league, after their 4-0 victory over strugglers Kildare County the previous week.

This leaves UCD the early clear favourites to make an instant return to the top flight of Irish football. Ciaran Kilduff has been the star of the season so far, and is the early leading goalscorer.

Boat Club

UCD Ladies Intermediate Eight had a disappointing defeat at the hands of city rivals Trinity in the recent Neptune Regatta earlier in the month.

The College Green side took an early lead and though UCD started to make a comeback, it was too late and the finishing line came soon enough to protect Trinity from the comeback.

This was a major boost to Trinity who went on to win out the category, while it is a setback for the UCD Boat Club in their preparations for the forthcoming Colours race on 16th April.

Rugby

UCD’s poor finale to the season after an encouraging beginning has continued with their defeat against St Mary’s at Templeville by just one try, with the scoreline of 24-17 more flattering to the Rathmines side than it was to UCD.

This means UCD will continue to struggle to maintain their long run in the top division of Irish rugby, with just one game to go against fellow relegation strugglers Young Munster who are one place below UCD at second bottom, ahead of Terenure who are well adrift at the bottom.

UCD’s poor form was typified by their capitulation against UL Bohemians, with only two late tries from Cian Ahearne and rising star Noel Reid adding some semblance of respect to the scoreline.

In the same way as Rob Kearney was recalled to save UCD from relegation at the end of the 2007 season, it will be interesting to see whether any superstars don the famous blue jersey when Young Munster make the trip to Belfield.