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8th-January-2008, 19:58
Time has come to let Davids face Goliaths of Irish rugby
By Tony Ward
Tuesday January 08 2008
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GIVEN it is the start of a New Year, we will strive to be positive and accept the IRFU's ongoing attempt at an All Ireland knock-out Cup in the developmental spirit in which it is intended.
Good, therefore, to see senior and junior AIB All-Ireland Cup fixtures the length and breadth of the land at the weekend.
Coincidental, perhaps, but on the same day as the much underhyped All-Ireland domestic cup competitions took centre stage here, the FA Cup across the water topped the sporting bill.
The third round is synonymous with giant-killing as non-league and lower division clubs take on the mighty. Invariably there are upsets as we all bask in the romance of David fronting up to Goliath.
Even when results go as expected, the excitement of seeing the Premiership giants and their multi-millionaire superstars on the road to God knows where is palpable.
I mention these thoughts now because the parallel should be there. And in this case I might add the fault is not all with the Union given a marked reluctance on the part of some junior and provincial town clubs to get into bed with the big clubs for fear of a pasting.
Risk
I accept that risk is there, given the nature of rugby when compared to football (soccer). Getting 10 outfield players behind the ball and looking to hit on the counter makes the slaying of Goliath more likely with a round ball rather than the oval one.
Generally in rugby, physical and territorial superiority tends to reflect itself on the scoreboard, but you just never know. And therein lies the appeal - the journey into the unknown when the nothing-to-lose/everything-to-gain principle applies to the underdog.
On Saturday following the Blackrock v Cork Con encounter at Stradbrook, the draw for both sets of quarter-finals was made.
While 'Rock were playing 'Con, just down the road at Kilbogget, Seapoint -another of the Borough's finest - were entertaining Kinsale. Am I alone in thinking 'what if'? What if, instead of Dublin meeting Cork in two separate competitions, we had all four in the one?
Tell me that Seapoint v 'Con and Kinsale v 'Rock would not have an appeal way above the ordinary and, more to the point, the type of impetus club rugby so badly needs right now.
There is room for an All-Ireland Cup embracing provincial towns, junior and senior clubs. I've no doubt the will is there if the Union is willing to give it a go and, dare one suggest, provide a lead.
Granted, neither played on Saturday but note Bruff and Clonakilty are amongst the 10 clubs still in contention for Garryowen's senior crown. Not so long ago, these two were breaking bread on a regular basis with many of those in active pursuit of Seapoint's junior title.
Why not, therefore, an All Ireland Junior Cup pre-Christmas, with the last 16 (as on Saturday) joining up with the 48 senior clubs on the first weekend of the New Year in tandem with the FA Cup.
That would make for 64 clubs in total and, by the simple process of mathematical elimination, a straight forward competition to administer. The Junior Cup could then recommence at the quarter-final stage and see itself out accordingly. At a time when club rugby is on its knees what would be lost in giving it a go.
I think back to the excitement on Shannonside when Dick Smyth, Declan Cusack and Thomond first made their mark in the Limerick Charity Cup in the 70s and 80s and the injection it gave, not only this great community club, but to the game in Munster and beyond.
The third division trapdoor is the best thing ever to happen to the All-Ireland League aside from the decision (despite much conservative opposition at the time) to run with the competition itself. Why not a simi
By Tony Ward
Tuesday January 08 2008
<DIV =>
GIVEN it is the start of a New Year, we will strive to be positive and accept the IRFU's ongoing attempt at an All Ireland knock-out Cup in the developmental spirit in which it is intended.
Good, therefore, to see senior and junior AIB All-Ireland Cup fixtures the length and breadth of the land at the weekend.
Coincidental, perhaps, but on the same day as the much underhyped All-Ireland domestic cup competitions took centre stage here, the FA Cup across the water topped the sporting bill.
The third round is synonymous with giant-killing as non-league and lower division clubs take on the mighty. Invariably there are upsets as we all bask in the romance of David fronting up to Goliath.
Even when results go as expected, the excitement of seeing the Premiership giants and their multi-millionaire superstars on the road to God knows where is palpable.
I mention these thoughts now because the parallel should be there. And in this case I might add the fault is not all with the Union given a marked reluctance on the part of some junior and provincial town clubs to get into bed with the big clubs for fear of a pasting.
Risk
I accept that risk is there, given the nature of rugby when compared to football (soccer). Getting 10 outfield players behind the ball and looking to hit on the counter makes the slaying of Goliath more likely with a round ball rather than the oval one.
Generally in rugby, physical and territorial superiority tends to reflect itself on the scoreboard, but you just never know. And therein lies the appeal - the journey into the unknown when the nothing-to-lose/everything-to-gain principle applies to the underdog.
On Saturday following the Blackrock v Cork Con encounter at Stradbrook, the draw for both sets of quarter-finals was made.
While 'Rock were playing 'Con, just down the road at Kilbogget, Seapoint -another of the Borough's finest - were entertaining Kinsale. Am I alone in thinking 'what if'? What if, instead of Dublin meeting Cork in two separate competitions, we had all four in the one?
Tell me that Seapoint v 'Con and Kinsale v 'Rock would not have an appeal way above the ordinary and, more to the point, the type of impetus club rugby so badly needs right now.
There is room for an All-Ireland Cup embracing provincial towns, junior and senior clubs. I've no doubt the will is there if the Union is willing to give it a go and, dare one suggest, provide a lead.
Granted, neither played on Saturday but note Bruff and Clonakilty are amongst the 10 clubs still in contention for Garryowen's senior crown. Not so long ago, these two were breaking bread on a regular basis with many of those in active pursuit of Seapoint's junior title.
Why not, therefore, an All Ireland Junior Cup pre-Christmas, with the last 16 (as on Saturday) joining up with the 48 senior clubs on the first weekend of the New Year in tandem with the FA Cup.
That would make for 64 clubs in total and, by the simple process of mathematical elimination, a straight forward competition to administer. The Junior Cup could then recommence at the quarter-final stage and see itself out accordingly. At a time when club rugby is on its knees what would be lost in giving it a go.
I think back to the excitement on Shannonside when Dick Smyth, Declan Cusack and Thomond first made their mark in the Limerick Charity Cup in the 70s and 80s and the injection it gave, not only this great community club, but to the game in Munster and beyond.
The third division trapdoor is the best thing ever to happen to the All-Ireland League aside from the decision (despite much conservative opposition at the time) to run with the competition itself. Why not a simi