Meanwhile, Gerry Thornley’s latest piece from the Ireland camp
predicts a strong team being named by Andy Farrell later today for the opener against Romania on Saturday. “To some degree, it’s a case of needs must in giving both Johnny Sexton and Rónan Kelleher game time after they missed Ireland’s three warm-up games, while Farrell and co have had their hand forced by the non-availability of Dan Sheehan, Jack Conan and David Kilcoyne.”, Tipperary’s all-time leading goalscorer who announced his retirement from intercounty hurling yesterday.
In a week where Irish sportspeople are involved in so many big events on the international stage, Ciarán Murphy’s column. “How could the GAA ever hope to compete with such international riches?” Murphy asks. “The key in such situations, when it seems like you’re fighting a losing battle, is to pick an entirely different battle altogether.”
Finally, in a harrowing column on a spate of shootings at high school football games across America, Dave Hanniganof how the gun culture in the US has infiltrated what should be the most innocent of joys. “Equal parts endearing ritual and cherished custom,” Hannigan writes, “it has now become synonymous with the settling of beefs and the depressingly familiar thwack of chambers being emptied.”