IT WAS SOME week at Galway last week. So much going on.
Here’s a 10 to 1.
10. Willie Mullins’ Winners
10 – The number of winners that Willie Mullins had during the week. It started with Great White Shark and Jody Townend in the Connacht Hotel Handicap on Monday evening, and it rolled through the week.
Fast Buck on Tuesday, Diamond Hill and Buildmeupbuttercup on Wednesday, Dandy Mag and Wicklow Brave and Foveros on Thursday, Minella Beau and Mr Adjudicator on Friday, Yorkhill on Sunday.
Saturday was the only day on which the champion trainer did not have a winner, and he had the second and third that day behind Great Trango in the feature race, the Galway Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle, Ask Susan and Great White Shark.
9. Brilliant Borice
9 – Borice’s SP in the Tote Galway Plate. 9/1. He was a fair bit shorter earlier in the day.
Gordon Elliott’s horse was very good. Luke Dempsey got him into a nice racing rhythm from early, back in the field and up on the outside. He moved closer to the pace and closer to the inside with a circuit to race, joined the front rank on the run to the second last fence, and he stayed on strongly on the near side up the home straight to win well.
This was only Borice’s fifth run for Gordon Elliott since his arrival from France. Well down the field in the Paddy Power Chase in December on his first run for his current trainer, and well down the field in the Thyestes Chase on his second, two bloodless wins in novice hurdles in Britain in June and July were good springboards, and he put up the best performance of his career on Wednesday.
The handicapper has raised him by 10lb for that win, to a mark of 146, and it would be surprising if connections were not thinking of the Aintree Grand National now off that type of mark.
8. Reign of the O’Brien’s
8 – The number of winners that Donnacha O’Brien rode during the week. Two of them for Joseph O’Brien and six of them for Aidan O’Brien, including Lancaster House in the one-mile maiden on Saturday who, making his racecourse debut, was one of the most impressive winners of the week.
7. Tudor City’s Turnaround
7 – Tudor City’s position in the field as they rounded the home turn in the Guinness Galway Hurdle. Seventh. No better.
Robbie Power had crept all the way, slowly and along the inside. He only left the inside rail in order to go between Hearts Are Trumps and Golden Spear on the run to the second last flight.
He went to go outside Band Of Outlaws at the final flight, but that horse moved to his left, so he went back inside. Then Tony Martin’s horse had the strength and the tenacity to go between Band Of Outlaws and Due Reward on the run up the hill, to get up and win by a half a length.
It was some performance by John Breslin’s horse, to win a Galway Hurdle on his 39th run, his 20th over hurdles, and racing off the highest handicap rating of his career and it was testament, yet again, to Tony Martin’s skill as a racehorse trainer.
6. Townend on song
6 – The number of winners that Paul Townend rode during the week. All six for his boss Willie Mullins, including the left-leaning Yorkhill on Sunday, on whom he needed all his guile, who was winning going right-handed for the first time since he won his beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse in 2016 as a 1-8 shot. Also, the number of winners that Aidan O’Brien trained during the week, three of them in the space of 65 minutes on Saturday.
5. Size Matters
5 – Darragh O’Keeffe’s claim off Ilikedwayurthinkin in the handicap hurdle on Wednesday, and off All The Answers in the handicap chase on Sunday. 5lb, and he’s big value for it.
4. Mullins’ Colours
4 – The number of winners who raced in Annette Mee’s colours – two trained by Emmet Mullins and two trained by Willie Mullins – colours that are always worth a second glance at Galway.
3. Elliott’s Plate
3 – The number of Galway Plate winners that Gordon Elliott has now trained in the last four years, and the number of Galway Hurdle winners that Tony Martin has trained in the last six.
2. Multiple Winners
2 – The number of times that Linger won during the week. The number of times that Ilikedwayurthinkin won during the week. The number of times that Make A Challenge won during the week.
1. One Cool Poet
One Cool Poet. There is only one. Matthew Smith’s horse won three times: by a neck on Tuesday off a mark of 66, by a length and a half on Thursday off a mark of 72, by five lengths on Saturday off a mark of 78.
Only Busted Tycoon before him, in 2013, had won three times at the same Galway Festival. Some feat.
(There’s a 0 too – Zero Ten. Winner of the Latin Quarter Beginners’ Chase on Tuesday on his chasing debut for Emmet Mullins, and one who should be worth following wherever he goes now.)
Boom boom boom boom everybody say Mayo!
@Eamonn McColgan II: Mayo make history like Galway 2 weeks ago. There is all to play for remember there was a replay last year.
Must be serious pressure on the Dubs today. Imagine loosing to a team of amateurs.
@mickmc: jeez mayo are by no means amateurs
@Alison Maguire: No it’s no surprised the two best funded county got to the final.
@mickmc: why how much did each of those county’s spend on players ??
@Nucky: your alive,any chance you can come back and put neenee/alan back in his box
@j lad: think I just did
@Nucky: well enough “expense” or handy numbers to ensure they can train professionally without the hindrance of a job.
@mickmc: Learn to spell imbecile
@mickmc: aww boohoo things are only a hindrance if you let them be
@mickmc: I respect the Dubs and their fans but not tits like you who troll online! May the best team win today!
O’Gara lucky to be on pitch! Knackery thing to do
@Adrian Costigan: gouging. Low act
@Cathal: knowing the GAA will prob get an 8 week ban, be back for first round of o’byrne cup in January!
Ref is giving everything to Dublin
@Gerry Murphy: what game are you watchin
Dublin foul themselves and get a free in lol
@Simon: This Game is Archive Available Here ————> http://nfl.onair.host/
If ever there was a game that the best team lost this was it
Not a hope
A draw today and Mayo to win the replay at home in Castlebar
@TravellingTheWorld: Good News All Soccer Fan,
Today Game Watch Live stream Fllow This…….. http://soccer.onair.host/
Come on Mayo, stuff the jackeens
@Declan Moran: yjuykiuytok7u6ou
@Declan Moran: Great News All Soccer Fan,
Today Game Watch Live stream Fllow This…….. http://soccer.onair.host/
@Anika Swift: this isn’t soccer
@Declan Moran: Thanks Anika. I need this after that fcuking sh!te today
Classy bit of eye gouging caught on camera by O’Gara.
@Bríd Uí Mhaoluala: nice elbow by keegan into back of coopers head
Referee is shocking in my opinion. Neutral supporter here
Mayo by 2
How many men have to hang out of Aidan O’Shea for him to get a free?
People really are underestimating this Dublin team and don’t realize how good they are. This is a team that you’ll only see once every generation, kinda like the Kerry team of the 70′s/80′s. They will beat Mayo today, and I believe they’ll do it quite handily. The firepower that Dublin have on the bench is the crucial aspect of this game. Once the benches come into play around the 45min mark you’ll see the Dubs pull away. I take Dublin by 5-7 points.
@Stephen Duggan: Not really…………….at half time!
@Stephen Duggan: Best Team ever my arse.
@Ewan Scott: I agree, poor first half. But no All Ireland is ever won at half time.
@Ewan Scott: Where did I say ‘best team ever?’
@Ewan Scott: champions
@Ewan Scott: Now you agree up The Dubs
@Michael McCormack: sorry to say o don’t Michael
@Paul Furey: were at full time
Go néirí an tádh leis an bhfoireann is fearr. COYBIB
@architects: Is feidir leat labhairt i nGaeilge ach tá tú fós ar “shoneen” -
@Old Gabby Johnson: ___Is buaiteoir é mar atá gach I mBaile Átha Cliath ar lá atá againn inniu ann! COYBIB
@George Hogan: Let the good times roll! COYBIB
Before the first ad break at half time RTE did their usual montage of highlights. One was a Dublin player eye gouging a Mayo player. No mention of it anywhere, unless I missed commentary on it.
@Thomas O’ Donnell: don’t worry Thomas. The Sunday game crew will lobby to get him a long suspension later on. Mark my words
Referee seems to have forgotten his cards for mayo
Mayo 1-16 Dublin 1-14
Ref doing his best to make a bo**ix of it as usual.
What was Vaughan thinking about. What an absolute eejit
COYBIB!!!
@Billy Connelly: The whole country is rooting for the Jacks to lose…
@TravellingTheWorld: Typical spiteful culchies;)
@Billy Connelly: the journal send notifications for the Chelsea match but not the all ireland final.???? What’s more important.
@Joe Travers: neither is more important than the other they are just two sporting contests. I’m getting Journal notifications for both so I’d check your phone.
@Joe Travers: Hi Joe. You can get notifications if you scroll up to the top of the page and click into ‘live blog’ and turn on ‘important events’. Enjoy the game.
Mayo for ham
Cluxton kick outs amazing…..when he’s kicking 10 yrds to free man! Other than that he’s bottled them
If Mayo had another forward other than Andy Moran they would be further ahead, Cillian O Connor very over rated
He’s having a very poor game so far
Come On Ye Boys In Blue
You’re some West of Ireland man Paul Scanlon …. tosser!
@SYM-Metal: says a roscommon dik head
Dublin Joe at it again.No way Donal Vaughan should have sent off.Joe couldn’t have Dublin a man down.Could he and he has given them the space on pitch they need.Well done.
@Mary Ryan: go back to washin the dishes 2 reds cards deserved, if Vaughan had of stayed out of it dubs were down to 14 and mayo were in the driving seat idiot of a player
@Mary Ryan: intentional striking or attempting to strike an opponent is a straight red! You will vary rarely see a clearer example
As a donegal man well played by both sides. Best final ive seen in a long time..
Vaughan has just handed the all Ireland to Dublin, Muppet
Fair play to the Dubs. Deserved 3 in a row.
So, we see how good the dubs are when they’re tested, NOT so great
@Declan Moran: champions 3 in a row
Some dirty tactics by Dublin and poor refereeing decisions all going Dublin’ s way..
Mayo were the better team..
@Patrick j Brady: hahahahahaha. And what about Mayos dragging and taking players out. Even the last free he swung his boot towards Rock as he was taking it.
@Patrick j Brady: Most of the off the ball dirty play came from Mayo
It’s the ref that badly needs a boot!! Too many incidents not picked up on
Mayo must take their points. Way too many wides.
Only 2 scores for Dublin in the 1st 20 mins. Dean Rock has started the game poorly and McCaffrey will be a big loss.
Also has to be said that Cilllan O Connor has been very poor for Mayo – just as well Moran and Doherty are doing great so far
Agree John
Donal Vaughan.
Dublin – much more experienced at this level, awesome firepower available to replace anyone misfiring on the day and side full of confidence, united and determined. Pressure is on Mayo to take it off the Dubs.
I’m trying to watch on rte player it’s bad anyone any ideas what’s wrong or any stream to watch
@Donal O Cofaigh: mobdro? Not great quality by any means but it works. Both on rte and sky.
@Malvolio32: found one on you tube gaa hd live , excellent quality, thanks for reply
@Donal O Cofaigh: watching RTE on Mobdro and have a much better stream than the RTE player app
Gutted for mayo : (
Go on Mayo
Vaughan , full qualified velvet ears !!!!
How many steps did Rock run for that point ? Mayo hard done by
Another home win for Dublin
@TravellingTheWorld: yes and delighted. No better feeling than the capital winning in the capital.
Mayo hahahaha ,
Weren’t u hoping mayo would win 2 weeks ago! Hypocrite
Poor Mayo, if Vaughan had kept his head things could very different. Hard luck… once again. COYBIB!!!!!!!!
mayo ony themselves to blame.in the last 10 minutes too many mayo players went missin.Dublin didn’t even play well
@Michael cunnane: or weren’t let play well??
HT. Dublin are very poor so far.Jack Mac huge loss .Eoin o Gara has to go if Dublin are to win but this will be close and could be a another draw.
Unlucky mayo. Was an enjoyable game of football to watch. Heart in the mouth stuff at the end. Thought a draw was a fair result to be honest and a replay but hope to see use back at the final stage next year for another battle. Up the dubs
MAYO CHEATED BY THUGS
@Pat Butler: always with the excuses. Annual bottlers.
That last COC free kick which came off the post…..no Mayo player at the ready to pounce on rebound!
The Vaughan incident, very costly…when cool heads and calmness required in the heat of that moment…a red mist descends on Donie.
Thrilling game. End to end stuff! Hard luck Mayo. Congrats to Dubs.
All in all 2017 a great year’s GAA matches.
Dublin didn’t deserve to win today Mayo did. O am sickened by how poor the ref was at that game…..
@Robert McMahon: Agreed
@Robert McMahon: of course Dublin deserved to win. They battled on and scored more points when playing poorly. That’s the definition of a winning team.
Gooooaaaaallllllll Mayo
Keep it up Nayo
@Paul: that’s what the dubs call a donkey!
Loss of McCaffrey was massive for Dublin. Dublins best players always seem to get injured against mayo. Every time they play. It’s amazing.
Mayo should be further ahead.
Connolly to score the winner :)
O Connor has to get into the game if mayo want to win.
C’mon Sinéad! Have Dublin shown up? Often late for GAA.
Mayo struggling to break dubs blanket defence.
That curse stands. If I was those two remaining players from 55 I’d be in wit pro.
Really not impressed by this at all. The skill level is very low. Both these teams would get monstered by 100 points if they took on the Ireland rugby team in a rugby match.
Bunch of amateurs.
@beni gabor: poor attempt at Trolling
@beni gabor: g8 b8 m8
Great game of football. Fair play to Dublin, dispite not playing well im the first half, They managed to keep their composer, and take their scores. A close finish but the best team won on the day.
What would have happened if we won desperate dan? Would u have gone into hiding? Joke of a gaa “fan”
Donal Vaughan cost Mayo that match. Devastating for everyone concerned to have to put up with such stupidity.
Is it me or are they playing for a replay? Not playing more like..
@Mike Foley: maybe not.. dublin just scored
@Mike Foley: well no one can say the ref didn’t do his bit.
I thought the dubs were on the GAA payroll if they went on for a replay
So close ,gutted but they gave yas a run for your money
What a clown you are Vaughan , had the advantage & pissed away coz you’re a hot head fool
Can’t blame a so called curse for that. A stupid red card cost them in the end. Absolutely brainless.
Dirty smackheads
Cmon Mayo cursed jaysus beat the dubs
Whens the blame the ref and dirty dublin gonna start well done dublin great game, Respect to mayo great team