It was a mighty fine weekend for Munster and Leinster in the Champions Cup, but one Ulster will want to forget pronto. Gerry Thornley rounds up the action and reports on Jordie Barrett’s try-scoring debut for Leinster in their handsome win away to Bristol. And John O’Sullivan was in Thomond Park to see Munster help themselves to a bonus-point victory over Stade Français, who hardly helped their cause with two red cards.
Michael Sadlier, though, almost lost count of the number of tries reigning champions Toulouse put past Ulster in their 61-21 triumph – nine in all – but Linley MacKenzie had happier news to report, Connacht opening their Challenge Cup campaign with a 43-12 victory over Zebre.
In Gaelic games, Malachy Clerkin looks back on a weekend that saw Dr Crokes win their ninth Munster title and Errigal Ciarán their third in Ulster. Peter Óg McCartan made himself “immortal” for the Tyrone side by scoring an injury-time winner against Down’s Kilcoo in the final. “I wouldn’t be renowned for my scoring,” he said afterwards. “He will be now,” writes Malachy.
And Denis Walsh was in Mallow to see Kerry’s Dr Crokes collect their first Munster football title since 2018 with a comfortable enough win over Tipperary’s Loughmore-Castleiney, “the gulf in class plain to see”.
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Denis also looks at the GAA’s growing struggles in attracting volunteers. While volunteerism is still its “bedrock”, the numbers offering up their free time aren’t what they were, so much so the role of Volunteer Development Officer has been created as a full-time position in Croke Park. “At no other time in the history of the GAA was this position necessary.”
In soccer, after watching Spurs capitulate to Chelsea on Sunday, Ken Early wonders if Ange Postecoglou will be remembered as “a talented coach who condemned himself to failure by his obstinate refusal to learn”. The game was “the Postecoglou era in microcosm”, “absolutely fantastic to watch for everyone except Spurs fans”.
And in racing, Brian O’Connor reports on an impressive comeback by Energumene, the Willie Mullins-trained star returning after a 593-day absence to win the Bar One Hilly Way Chase for the third time in Cork on Sunday. Next in his sights: a Cheltenham hat-trick in March, having won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2022 and 2023.
TV Watch: Tonight’s Premier League meeting between West Ham and Wolves (Sky Sports, 8pm) has been dubbed ‘El Sackico’, the notion being that depending on who loses, either Julen Lopetegui or Gary O’Neil will be down the job centre come Tuesday morning. A draw could even see the pair of them join the queue. Also at 8.0, TG4 has highlights from the GAA club weekend.
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