SAM BENNETT CAME heartbreakingly close โ again โ to ending Irelandโs 30-year wait for a stage win at the Giro dโItalia.
The Carrick-on-Suir man was pipped on the line in a sprint finish to the 12th stage, coming in third behind Fernando Gaviria and Jakub Mareczko.
The win completes a hat-trick of stage for Colombiaโs Gaviria, who strengthens his grip on the points classification, but for Bennett itโs another superb performance and near miss following two third-place finishes last week.
Tom Dumoulin retains the race leaderโs maglia rosa.
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Canโt see either team making any impact in the championship this year!!
Actually donโt think so Frank, so little between Kildare and Dublin, that thereโs an inevitability Kildare will beat them eventually and thereโs that desperation within Kildare team to win a provincial title thar isnโt there in Dublin. Thatโs a lot favouring the Lilywhites in a tight game
Most likely not but championship about more than the big prize, itโs about the smaller but no less relevant prizes for the likes of Longford and Wicklow along the way.
Big difference to be playing against Kildare, Tyrone and Galway than Kilkenny, London and Waterford and while that will balance out with both being in Division 3, thatโs a year down the line. Also, the players were completely behind the manager, that is what kept him his job and since all that unpleasantness, they have been locked away, Joe Sheridan is back, Kevin Reilly is a serious operator as is Seamus Kenny, and while Meathโs midfield is weak, they are still a talented bunch with something serious to prove. Time will tell.
That division has Limerick, Fermanagh & Clare in it aswell. Limerick were all ireland quarter finalists last year & have twice come very close to winning the Munster championship recently so I wouldnt discount the level of opposition Wicklow were up against just like that. As for the players being fully behind the manager, I wouldnt be so sure of that either, Iโm sure that was what was said to the media but the reality was most likely very different.
Oi! Donโt be putting Waterford in with Kk & London. We are on the way-up.
I think this is going to be closer than meath by four, Wicklow are a decent championship team, meath have injuries to key players, have just been relegated to Division 3 & are not fully behind the manager. He barely kept his job recently due. I would say either team could win it by 1-2 points
Theyโll both be sick when Carlow beat the winner in the next round :)
Very different Limerick now to the one that rattled Kerry and you canโt compare Clare and Fermanagh with Clare and Tyrone. Not discounting Wicklow, just big jump in opposition. Longford managed it, granted, and maybe Wicklow can too. Just can see Meath having a little too much class up front and can see them netting at least twice. But time will tell and itโs an exciting game. As for Carlow, Brian, I admire your optimism!
Andrew McLoughlin? Is he Anthony and Michaelโs lesser known, non exist any brother?
Meath wonโt win a thing as long as thereโs anybody who was connected with the 2010 Leinster final team still involved.
I hope they have a nice game but we all know the Dubs will rule again in Leinster.