The Ruddy Report – 27/09/01

Tribesmen triumph over Royals
Galway are 2001 All-Ireland champions after a stunning second-half display that stripped Meath of their favourites tag. They romped home to win by a nine-point margin, 0-17 to 0-8.
It was Meath who settled the quicker, going in front through a Ray Magee free in the second minute but Galway largely took control of the half, in terms of possession at least, once Michael Donnellan kicked over an equaliser three minutes later.
A snap shot along the ground from Fallon cleared the bar after five minutes, before McDermott lobbed a Meath point from a tight angle at the other end.
After ten minutes, the score was level at 0-3 to 0-3, with both sides tackling ferociously and closing down the space. Fallon’s point on eight minutes was the highlight.
Galway had taken an iron grip on the game, but failed to turn their possession into scores, with Donnellan, Savage, Fallon and Padraig Joyce kicking a succession of wides.
Paul Clancy, however, seemed to steady the Connacht side a little, on 24 minutes, with a lovely point from distance to even things out at 0-4 to 0-4, after Crawford had pointed in the 17th minute.
Galway continued to dominate and their high-tempo, industrious approach was rewarded with a score on the burst from Bergin, his second of the afternoon.
Joyce then tapped over a free but Meath, more economical all through the half, kicked over two more scores before the break, to leave the sides level at 0-6 to 0-6.
However, for accuracy, the second half belonged to Galway and Joyce. And accurate is truly the right word.
Despite a shaky opening half, and a glaring miss on goal upon the resumption, the Killererin man ultimately proved the difference between the sides. Somehow, he found his scoring touch again and, fed by a dominant defence and midfield, he shot an amazing 0-9 (0-5 from play).
Meath, shell-shocked and ragged, had no response, although the issue was still in doubt when John McDermott won a penalty on 58 minutes, with the Royals trailing by a mere five points.
The chance to close the gap, however, was scorned when Giles fluffed his shot and, with Nigel Nestor having been sent off for a second yellow on 50 minutes and Ollie Murphy off injured since shortly after half time, it was beginning to look like Galway’s day.
And so it proved. As the half wore on, Galway did to Meath what the Royals had done to Kerry. In fact, it was a mystery it took the Tribesmen so long to pull clear and finish the game off.
Joyce had missed a sitter immediately after the resumption, before Sullivan was forced to save from point-blank range ten minutes later.
Meath were in free-fall. They scored just twice in the half, Evan Kelly’s point on 38 minutes followed 20 minutes later by substitute, John Cullinane’s effort.
After Giles’ missed penalty, Galway cut loose once again and extended their lead with scores from Joyce (2), Paul Clancy and Declan Meehan. Meehan’s score showed just how comfortable Galway were. He opted to tap over a point when a goal was beckoning.
It was a deserving win for Galway and day to remember for Padraig Joyce. Meath however, will do well to forget it.

The Ruddy Report – 17/09/01

The Interview
While I was working in New York I had the privilege of meeting a lot of football players who were over to play weekend games in the New York Championship. One of those who was kind enough to take time out for an interview with me was Ballindine’s David McDonagh.

David McDonagh Interview

JR. What has been the highlight of your career so far David?
DMcD. John, the highlight of my career by far has to be winning the National League Title with Mayo last year.

JR. What state is your present club (Davitts) in at the moment?
DMcD. We are in a very poor state at the moment but we’re sure we’ll bounce back.

JR. Did you play underage football for Mayo at any stage?
DMcD. No and I’m proud of the fact.

JR. What age were you when you began to take your football seriously?
DMcD. I was 21 John.

JR. Who are the influential players in the Mayo squad at the moment?
DMcD. Noel Connelly, Noel Connelly and Noel Connelly!

JR. Do you think Mayo will win the All Ireland in the next few years?
DMcD. I think Mayo will bring Sam home in the next 5 years.

JR. Mayo’s Under 21 stars have showed promising signs this year by reaching the All Ireland Final. Who do you tip as our next up and coming star or who should we look out for?
DMcD. Conor Mortimer

JR. How did you rate John Maughan as a manager?
DMcD. John Maughan was a very good coach and was a great influence in my career.

JR. Dave, you are a schoolteacher, how do you find trying to fit in your work with your commitments to the Mayo team?
DMcD. I find it very easy as I finish work every day at 4pm.

JR. Do you get a lot of criticism and abuse as a County player?
DMcD. Every County player gets abuse and criticism but you must learn to cope with it.

JR. In the past Mayo have received a lot of criticism from RTE sports pundit, Pat Spillane, Do you think Pat was fair in his criticism of Mayo?
DMcD. I think Pat is a very good pundit and his criticism was justified.

JR. Do you enjoy coming out to play football in New York?
DMcD. Yes I really enjoy it.

JR. How do you rate football out here at the moment?
DMcD. The football over here at the moment is very good, the only thing that needs improving is the standard of refereeing.

JR. Do you think Galway will win the All Ireland Final?
DMcD. It would be nice to see Sam coming across the Shannon.

JR. Who’ll win the Premiership?
DMcD. Liverpool !!!!!!!! – sorry wrong answer Dave!

I’d like to thank Dave for his time in taking this interview and I’d like to apologise to Currane.net and also to Dave for not having this on earlier – due to an unknown technical fault some of this interview was lost.
Please contact me at my Currane.net e-mail address if you want to see the uncut version of this interview and we will negotiate a nice deal of money thank–you.

 

The Ruddy Report – 12/09/01

More hairstyles for the sports fan!
Following up on our previous report of John Ruddy’s new look for the sports fan, it would seem that John has indeed set a trend. As you can see, many young men are attempting to copy John’s style with devastating results.
Please, please do not try this at home.


All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final
Tipperary have won their 25th Senior Hurling All-Ireland title with a 2-18 to 2-15 win over Galway at Croke Park on Sunday.
Nicky English’s team took the lead in the fourth minute through captain, Tommy Dunne, and never relinquished it, and while Galway tired at the end, the Munster men pressed ahead to seal their victory.
Paul Ormond did his job at corner-back well. Eugene Cloonan, so lethal against Kilkenny in Galway’s semi-final victory, was kept eerily quiet in the final quarter, his 2-9 against the Cats already relegated to distant memory. Declan Ryan caused more problems at the edge of the square and should have snatched a goal for himself midway through the second half when he caught a pass unmarked on the 14-yard line. His shot whizzed wide of Michael Crimmins’ post.
Eoin Kelly once again proved the most prolific of the Munster men’s forwards in the opening half, having scored five of Tipp’s 1-9 total in the opening 35 minutes (four frees). Mark O’Leary scored Tipperary’s goal in the 22nd minute after Declan Ryan caught a high ball on the edge of the square and fed it to the Kilruane man who was unmarked.
Galway began the half slowly scoring just three points by the 23rd minute, but two minutes later, Eugene Cloonan brought the Tribesmen back into the game when he pounced on a rebound of Alan Kerins’ saved effort to bring the score to 1-6 to 1-3 for Tipp. The Munster men extended their lead to six points by the half hour mark, but a late rally by Galway with points from Kevin Broderick (2), Fergal Healy and Eugene Cloonan made it 1-7 to 1-9 at the half-time whistle.
Mark O’Leary added a second goal for Tipperary four minutes after the break. Running through the heart of the Galway defence, nudging the ball ahead of him, he dribbled under the legs of Crimmins before passing him and kicking the ball into the net.
Eugene Cloonan added a free a few minutes later, but Tipp were already on the higher ground. Dunne, Ryan and Lar Corbett (2) pointed to put the Premier County 2-13 to 1-10 in front with 20 minutes remaining.
Galway came to within a point of Tipperary in the 61st minute when corner forward, Fergal Healey, outpaced Donncha Fahey on the wing to reach the end line and slot the sliotar past Brendan Cummins. Fahey had only come on as a substitute for the injured Tom Costelloe five minutes earlier.
But Tipp were relentless. Within four minutes they were three points ahead again and by the 70th they had a four-point cushion, 2-17 to 2-13.
Ollie Fahey, a 68th minute substitute for Rabbitte gave Galway a slight hope of equalising when his 73rd minute point put just a goal between the sides but Eoin Kelly ensured there was no time for a dramatic equaliser with a 21-yard free a minute from the final whistle.