Inside Track: Curiosity Corner

KNOW YOUR INITIALS

This week: WR

1: They are attached to racing stables

2: You’ll hear it when England score a home goal

3: Break one and you’ll achieve global recognition

4: You won’t see one of these at the Olympics, maybe only at parish sports

5: Aston Villa were on one of these until beaten by Arsenal

6: A golfer turned commentator.....

7: ...and a footballer turned manager

8: Some believe that when there’s music in the air, and a sportsperson puts on one of these, their career is over

9: There’s a room at the Louth GAA complex in Darver named after him

10: Through no fault of his own, the driver of the Louth bus took one of these last summer.

HE SAID

“What a disgrace if the country that invented the game couldn’t find someone good enough to manage our national team.”

Bobby Charlton, back at the beginning of this decade. Afterwards, three ‘runners’ were appointed. Sven-Goran Eriksson didn’t do so badly, but Fabio Capello wasn’t much good.

The jury’s has yet to come in with a verdict on Thomas Tuchel; but the German could find himself alongside Alf Ramsey if he could come in with a win in a World Cup win this summer. If it happens, Bobby can rest well.

WHO AM I?

I don’t own a villa in Spain, nor do I drive an Aston Martin. Nor do I look anything like the comedian, Dick, who famous punchline was: “You’re awful, but I like you.”

But what I have is an ambition to get my team to the top of the league, giving my club the title for the first time since the early 1980s.

GAA BROTHERS-IN-ARMS

It’s not unusual for brothers to play on the same All-Ireland-winning team. Only last summer, David and Paul Clifford lined out for Kerry, and before that, there were O’Sheas and Spillanes together on winning Kingdom teams.

Two McNulty brothers, Justin and Enda, were in the full-back line when Armagh won the football final for the first time in 2002, and three members of the Lowry family, Seán, Mick and Brendan, were included when Offaly stopped Kerry in their bid for the five-in-a-row.

Sunday’s programme for Louth’s league match in Tullamore told us that Brendan, golfer Shane Lowry’s father, had been inducted into the Offaly Hall of Fame.

Although their day didn’t end in victory, the Quigleys from Wexford created history when four of them lined out against Cork in the 1970 All-Ireland final. More than that, Martin, Pat and John formed the half-forward line, with |Dan figuring at No 6.

Tommy Carr captained the Dublin football team in the 1992 defeat by Donegal, but his brother, Declan, had better luck when he led Tipperary to victory in hurling final.

And twin brothers? The O’Connors, Ben and Jerry from Cork, have both won All-Stars on a number of occasions, figuring on the same team in 2005.

THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG HERE

It’s long been established that Willie Mullins is one of the greatest-ever National Hunt trainers.

He has won all the major races in this country and the next, and showed how versatile he is by turning out the winner of a race at the Breeders’ Cup in America last year.

However, the achievement that probably means more to his is, winning the Aintree Grand National two years running with Tiger Roll.

ANSWERS

Know Your Initials: 1. Work Riders, 2. Wembley Roar, 3. World Record, 4. Wheelbarrow Race, 6. Winning Run, 7. Wayne Riley, 8. Wayne Rooney, 9. Willie Reilly, 10. Wrong Turn. Who Am I? Umai Emery. There’s Something Wrong Here: It was Gordon Elliott who trained Tiger Roll.