Every Friday, Caolán Conroy provides his take on sporting developments across the UK and Ireland, and shares his predictions for match-ups ahead. This week he reflects on how the Irish provinces performed in the European Champions Cup, looks ahead to the start of the GAA Football and Hurling National Leagues, and salutes Mark Allen.

 

Mixed results for Irish provinces

Ulster bowed out of the Champions Cup on Sunday after falling to a disappointing defeat away to Wasps. Management and players will be kicking themselves , surely, that they let a golden opportunity to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2014 slip away.

After a brilliant win against La Rochelle the previous weekend, Ulster knew that they would qualify for the last 8 of Europe’s flagship rugby competition if they equalled La Rochelle’s result against Harlequins. However, Ulster went out in disappointing fashion after a miserable performance against Wasps in Coventry.

The pressure’s now set to build on Les Kiss, Ulster’s director of rugby. Ulster have been a long way short of their best this year, injuries and other off-field issues have played a part. Qualification for the quarter-final though would have been a huge success, especially having been drawn in such a tough group. However, after putting themselves in a position of strength in the group fans were left frustrated by the team’s failure to show up on Sunday.

Leinster and Munster succeeded were Ulster couldn’t as both finished top of their respective groups and also earned crucial home advantage for their quarter-final ties. Both will go into these matches as slight favourites after the draw threw up some fascinating contests: Munster host Toulon, Leinster will face defending champions Saracens. It’s a pity we have to wait until April to see how it unfolds. Before then, at least we have the Six Nations to look forward to.

 

National League kick off

This weekend sees the start of the National Football and Hurling Leagues. The leagues kick off a couple of weeks early this year after a decision was made to move championships forward. Now that the pre-season cups have been played (well, in most provinces) the start of the league gives fans an opportunity to see their best 15 in action and show initial signs of how far their county might go in 2018.

So, I thought I’d share my National League Predictions with you.

Football   Hurling  
Division 1 Division 1 A
Champions Kerry Champions Kilkenny
Relegated Mayo, Kildare Relegated Clare
Division 2 Division 1B
Promoted Cork, Roscommon Promoted Galway
Relegated Louth, Down Relegation Play off Laois
Division 3 Division 2A
Promoted Armagh, Fermanagh Promotion Play off Westmeath
Relegated Sligo, Wexford Relegation Play off London
Division 4 Division 2B
Promoted Antrim, Limerick Promotion Play off Armagh
Relegation Play off Donegal
Division 3A
Promotion Play off Roscommon
Relegation Play off Monaghan
Division 3B
Promotion Play off Lancashire

 

Famous night for Mark Allen

Mark Allen had his biggest night in Snooker on Sunday night when he won the World Masters. The Antrim man pocketed a nice cheque for £200,000 in the process. The ‘Pistol’ beat Kyren Wilson 10-7 at the legendary Alexandra Palace venue. Allen was overjoyed by the win and believes that this could give him the confidence and go on to win the World Championship at Sheffield in April.

Allen has played some great snooker this year but hadn’t shown much consistency before last week’s triumph. He has only reached a semi-final on two occasions this season but has performed better than results have shown. Allen has shown that when he is right mentality he can compete against anyone. Hopefully this can be the catalyst for future success.