January
In a rather dismal January, it was hard to pinpoint a standout moment for Irish sport. Rather than a high or a low, this was more of a shock, as Longford knocked holders and All-Ireland champions Dublin out of the O’Byrne Cup. Of course, it was January and Dublin did go on to fairly redeem themselves when the year was in full swing, but they still fielded a strong side, and were defeated for the first, and only time in 2016.
Meanwhile, Maggie Farrelly made GAA history as she became the first female referee to take charge of a men’s senior game – a McKenna Cup clash between Fermanagh and St Mary’s.
February
February saw us say goodbye to a true Irish sporting legend; former Ireland captain and Munster great Paul O’Connell retired from rugby. The 36-year-old suffered a significant hamstring injury during Ireland’s World Cup campaign, and the 108-capped second row was forced to end his career as a result.
March
An Irish sporting low in March was undoubtedly Conor McGregor’s defeat to Nate Diaz. The 31-year-old from California submitted McGregor in the second round of their headline bout at UFC 196. It was McGregor’s first defeat in his UFC career, and at that a seismic upset with Diaz as a massive outsider.
April
Tipperary-based trainer Mouse Morris won the Aintree Grand National in April with 33/1 shot Rule the World. This came just days after another of his horses, Rogue Angel, won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. It came as a definite Irish sporting high, made more poignant again by the death of Morris’s son Christopher in 2015.
“Two in the one week, unbelievable. The lad must be doing overtime for me up above,” he said afterwards in an emotional interview.
May
Who could look past Connacht as a highlight of Irish sport in May? 28 May 2016 was probably the province’s greatest day ever as they saw off Leinster to win the Pro12 final and their first-ever trophy.
June
One of the highlights of the sporting year, not just the month of June, was that Robbie Brady goal against Italy to keep Ireland in Euro 2016. The goal itself epitomised the courage, bravery and class that Ireland showed in abundance on that unforgettable night in Lille. Three passes, 10 seconds of football and that beautiful late headed finish and we were through to the last 16 against the odds.
July
July saw Carl Frampton beat Leo Santa Cruz to win the WBA featherweight title lost by his manager Barry McGuigan to Steve Cruz 30 years earlier. In winning, he became only the second Irish boxer ever to simultaneously hold two different weight world titles (after Steve Collins). It was also the first time Santa Cruz was defeated in his 10 years on the professional stage.
August
Team Ireland were well represented at this year’s Olympics, and of course the medals must be noted as highlights. Not only did the O’Donovan brothers win an unlikely silver medal, and Ireland’s first-ever Olympic rowing medal, they also managed to charm the nation with their fantastic personalities.
Annalise Murphy’s win is the other Irish sporting highlight of August that can’t be left out. After her 2012 heartbreak in London, Murphy consistently impressed in the women’s laser radial sailing, and stepped up to take home a silver medal.
September
September brought much more than one highlight in Irish sport. Four jump to mind straight away: the unmissable climax of the All-Ireland football season which stretched over into the first October evening before Dublin finally vanquished Mayo to retain Sam; Tipperary toppling Kilkenny to win their first All-Ireland hurling title since 2010; the Cork Ladies sealing six in-a-row and their 11th title in 12 years; and Kilkenny ending their camogie drought with their first title since 1994.
Aside from GAA, Team Ireland were absolutely heroic at the Paralympics, bringing home 11 medals in total and exceeding expectations beyond belief. Jason Smyth retained his title as fastest Paralympian on the planet, and joined Michael McKillop, Eoghan Clifford, and cycling duo Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal in taking home gold medals. Dunlevy and McCrystal also brought home one of four silvers, as did Colin Lynch, Orla Barry and Niamh McCarthy. And three bronze medals from Clifford, Ellen Keane and Noelle Lenihan topped off an incredibly successful Paralympics for Ireland.
October
One of Ireland’s most heartbreaking sporting moments of 2016 has to be Anthony Foley’s death. It’s one of those ‘where were you when you heard?’ moments. The Munster head coach and former captain and Irish international passed away suddenly overnight, aged 42, while in Paris for a Champions Cup fixture against Racing 92.
November
On the contrary, November was a month of highs which saw one of Ireland’s most joyous and historic rugby moments. Joe Schmidt’s side traveled to Chicago for a Test match against New Zealand, one which ultimately ended their 111-year run of bad luck against the southern hemisphere superpower. They put on a momentous and dominant performance to beat the back-to-back world champions 40-29 and give the people of Ireland the result they had been longing for for so long.
November was so good, we couldn’t decide on one standout moment, and Conor McGregor surely deserves a mention. The 28-year-old UFC superstar also made history stateside as he defeated Eddie Alvarez to win the lightweight belt at Madison Square Garden. By doing this, McGregor became the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles simultaneously – lightweight and featherweight.
December
Katie Taylor eased to her second win as a professional as she put on a solid display in Manchester. The Bray native had a fairly comfortable 60-53 unanimous points victory over Brazillian Viviane Obenauf, making it two wins from two in her professional career. Just two weeks earlier in London, she stunned Karina Kopinska to put her name on the map as a professional boxer. After a whirlwind year, Taylor finished it fittingly, with a belly full of fire heading into 2017.
– This article has been updated to reflect that the All-Ireland football final replay between Dublin and Mayo took place on 1 October.
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Its very hard to judge players who played in the 30s when there is no footage of them. Mackay and lory meagher everyone knows about as being legends of the game. Mackay being one of the all time greats.
But other than these 2 there is probably too many players from that era.
I would definitely bring in dj, nicky rackard and Brian lohan. For nick o’donnell, ray cummins and jim langton.
@Gareth Ward: what are you on about? You take out the only player in the team who played for the whole of the 70s and replace him with a player from “that era”. You are as bitter as Griffin, who seems to think a Wexford team who won 6 all Ireland’s in the century deserve more players that Cork, who won 24.
@John Buckley: ray cummins wouldn’t look out of place in today’s game.
@John Buckley: Hahaha how am i bitter? I gave my opinion on it. Nicky rackard played in the 40s and 50s anyway. From what ive heard he was a phenomenal goalscorer, records prove that. Not knocking ray cummins at all, having seen him play i know how good he was. But i would just edge rackard ahead of him for his undoubted credentials.
@Gareth Ward: how can you make a judgement between the two when you have never seen Rackard play. His playing career overlapped 11 of the team.
@John Buckley: Its a team of the millennium, ive literally only seen brian whelehan and cummins from the actual team. So i can only do what anyone else is doing and give wn opinion based on previous opinions and stats etc.
Now rather than criticise my opinion, why dont you tell us what if any changes you would make to the team?
@Gareth Ward: who cares about your opinion; you have only seen 2 of the 15 play so you don’t have the knowledge to change that team. The people who picked the team have seen both Cummins and Rackard play so are a lot more qualified to give their selection. Who am I to change their team.
@John Buckley: You are ridiculous. Im giving my opinion same as everyone else and you come along just to pick holes without actually giving your own take on it. My opinion is as valid as anyone else who wants to comment on the subject, as its an interesting topic. If you dont have an opinion why even bother commenting?
@Gareth Ward: you are not the same as everyone else because no one else gave an opinion. Everyone else had the humility to know the people who selected the team were more qualified to pick the team. Seeing only 2 of the 15 players play means any team you pick can be ignored.
@John Buckley: So what you’re saying is only someone who is 145 years old can comment because they would be the only person who would be old enough to have seen every player. That would make for a very interesting debate wouldnt it?
I am not old enough to go back beyond the mid 80′s but having seen many of the recent re-runs of old matches on TG4 and Eir the best hurlers are from the 2000′s onwards, especially that great Kilkenny team who would have at least 4 definites on it, Delaney, Walsh, Shefflin, Reid.
@padraig whelton: team of the next millennium nominees so maybe!
@Joe Kennedy:
@Joe Kennedy: LOL
@Joe Kennedy: Everyone knows the team of the next millennium will be dominated by the hurling powerhouses of Samoa, Leitrim and Uzbekistan.
John Connolly what a player, had the pleasure of seeing him play. Only guy I seen play on the team that was picked was Brian Whelahan he was fine hurler. Nice spread of counties on the team that was picked.
Players gained reputations in different generations. Just watched the ’73 final on TG4 and it was a tough day for hurling but only 3 or 4 players looked like they could hold their own today.
Imagine going back to the 30s or 40s and how different the game would have been.
These teams are selected on reputation only.
Loughnane denigrated DJ for his own ends, he damaged his reputation and done in his chances.
It’s all the more surprising that Rackard was omitted because by reputation he was up there with Ring and Mackey and the Doyles.
You’d have to conclude that there was a ‘home town’ agenda at play.
If that team was picked again, what changes would be made? Well obviously the full foward would be Johnny Maher.