Every Friday, Caolán Conroy provides his take on three different sporting developments across the UK and Ireland, and shares his predictions for match-ups ahead. This week he looks at football, the Conor McGregor versus Floyd Mayweather fight, and shares his Ulster-born XI soccer team of the week.

 

Dublin versus Tyrone, and reliving that Mulligan goal

Dublin and Tyrone meet in the All-Ireland semi-final this Sunday. This game has a history of drama, great scores and physicality. The infamous ‘Battle of Omagh’ in 2006 cannot be forgotten, wouldn’t it be great if both teams served up a game like they did in 2005?

Sunday’s match evokes memories of Owen Mulligan scoring one of the greatest goals ever witnessed at Croke Park. That goal was so good that I regularly see lads in their 30s, like young kids in back gardens, attempting to replicate it before training sessions.
Two weeks ago, Austin Gleeson – the so-called ‘Messi’ of hurling – scored his own spectacular solo goal at Croker. Many pundits have compared Gleeson’s goal to Mulligan’s, calling it the hurling equivalent.

I’m not taking anything away from Gleeson’s goal, but Mulligan’s was superior in skill and class. When Gleeson scored his goal the Cork opposition were behind and had been reduced to 14 men; Gleeson also had support of his team mates and could easily have passed it at any time. Mulligan, in contrast, won the ball under pressure, then beat four defenders before finishing expertly past Stephen Cluxton. This goal rescued Tyrone at a time when they were really struggling.

This Sunday’s game won’t be one for the faint-hearted. It has the potential to be a cracker, but may also be a tactical and cagey battle. It all depends on how Tyrone approach the game. If they sit back and play ultra-defensively then Dublin have the ability and patience to bide their time and pick them off. They’ll need to improve from their display against Armagh, that’s for sure; they fell asleep for 25 minutes during the middle part of the game and will be punished if they do it again. They’ll need to commit bodies to the counter-attack and at speed, just like Donegal famously did against the same opposition in 2014 All-Ireland semi-final.

 

McGregor versus Mayweather – Maybe I’m wrong, but…

This weekend sees the showdown that everyone seems to be talking about: Conor McGregor versus Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas. I must be the only one amongst my mates who isn’t remotely interested in this fight. Saying that, I’m not sure if can be classified as a ‘fight’ – it’s more of a circus.

I get that showmanship and bravado are part of the boxing scene, they help to sell tickets and attract pay-per-view customers. Yet the way both men have behaved in the build-up has been ludicrous, embarrassing at times.

Maybe we’re the fools for buying into it.

Some commentators suggest that the subdued nature of the final press conference reflected how the hype has taken its toll on both McGregor and Mayweather.

Anyway, why has it received so much media attention? Two widely respected BBC boxing journalists Mike Costello and Steve Bunce have released daily podcasts in the lead-up. I never thought they’d have been interested in a farce like this – it goes to show that when Sky Sports gets involved you really can’t escape it.

Maybe I’m wrong and everyone’s excitement is warranted. Maybe it’ll be a competitive, open fight that’ll live long in the memory. Somehow, I suspect it won’t be; and fear it could even damage boxing in the long run.

 

‘Ulster-born XI’ – Soccer team of the week

 

Weekend Predictions

All-Ireland Football Semi Final Replay: Kerry v Mayo – I’m delighted to write that I correctly picked a draw in last week’s column. I should have backed my confidence and put some money on it. I reckon Kerry will edge it by 3 points this weekend.

All-Ireland Football Semi-Final: Dublin v Tyrone –Dublin will be just too strong, and win by one point.

Women’s Rugby World Cup Final: England v New Zealand – England to win by five points.

Challenge Cup Final Rugby League: Hull FC v Wigan Warriors – Wigan to win by 8 points.

Belgium Grand Prix – Lewis Hamilton.

Mayweather v McGregor – I know I said I wasn’t interested, but if pushed I think Mayweather will win on points.