Inside Track: Curiosity Corner

This week: HD

1: He captained an Ulster county to win the All-Ireland senior football final

2: He’s on the bag for Rory

3: Four English jockeys, past and present, to choose from......

4:....none of them rode this horse to victory in the Aintree Grand National. It was Neale Doughty, and the trainer was Gordon Richards

5: Something Kerry might call a Munster football championship match with, say, Waterford

6: Arsenal had lots of them during the season.....

7: ....and these incorporated Stephen Kenny’s time as Dundalk FC manager

8: Scots fans might break into one of these if they have success at the World Cup

9: A St Patrick’s player who won an All-Ireland junior football medal with Louth

10: A state in which you might find a team after a significant victory

HE SAID

“I came here to win, but I wasn’t able to do so. It is just one of those things. It’s my start – it is killing me. I just can’t get off the blocks.

“I came out here to do my best. The support has been outstanding – I have never experienced anything like it.”

The great Usain Bolt after he had been beaten in the 100m final of the 2017 World Championships.

It was the final race of a career that included Olympic golds and 11 World titles in the two sprints distances.

The reception he got afterwards from the London Olympic Stadium crowd was in complete contrast to that afforded to the winner, Justin Gatlin.

Indeed, there was almost complete silence as Gatlin celebrated afterwards, the American having been twice banned for doping.

WHO AM I?

My better-known namesake made his name in rugby, playing for Leinster, Ireland and The Lions.

But I’m doing okay in Gaelic football, my team having qualified for the next stage of the All-Ireland qualifiers. I don’t have to comb my hair before heading out for a game.

WORLD CUP BITS ‘N’ PIECES

Four countries have qualified for the Finals for the first time, Curacao, Jordan, Cape Verde, and Uzbekinston.

Cape Verde, the second smallest country ever to qualify, will have Shamrock Rovers player, Roberto Lopes, in their squad.

****

No other Shamrock Rovers player has ever made it to the Finals, but one, Paddy Moore, has his name in the World Cup record books.

Back in 1934, Moore was on the Ireland team that drew 4-4 with Belgium in a qualifier at Dalymount Park, and by helping himself to all of his side’s goals became the first to score as many in a World Cup match.

****

It was goal difference in the qualifiers that caused England to miss the 1978 finals in Argentina.

There were four teams in Group 2 and after the six rounds, England and Italy were level on ten points, both having won 2-0 home wins in their head-to-heads.

It was then down to the number of goals both sides had conceded and scored in the matches with Finland and Luxembourg. Italy were on 18-4, and England on 15-4

****

English referee, Graham Poll, showed Croatia’s Josip Simunic three yellow cards in the 2006 finals.

He first booked the defender in the 61st minute against Australia, then failed to send him off after a second booking. Poll showed the player a third yellow after the final whistle.

****

Italy won in 2006 with a squad which was at the time the oldest to take the title. Average was 28.2 years. The youngest: Brazil in 1970, 24.4.

****

The fastest goal ever? It has to be Hakan Sukur’s in Turkey’s game with South Korea, coming after 10.89 seconds.

THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG HERE

Kerry are playing Roscommon in an All-Ireland semi-final. It’s a close game with Kerry showing just one point in front coming towards the end.

Roscommon mount a last attack. One of their forwards breaks free, and as he kicks the ball over the bar the hooter sounds.

However, referee Paddy Neiland refuses the score to stand – he claims the forward had over-carried the ball.

ANSWERS

Know Your Initials: 1 Henry Downey (Derry), 2 Harry Diamond, 3 The four, Hollie Doyle, Hywel Davies, Harry Derham, Harry Davies, 4 Hello Dandy, 5 Handy Draw, 6 Happy Days, 7 Halcyon Days, 8 Highland Dance, 9 Henry Donnelly, 10 High Dow. There’s Something Wrong Here: Neiland is from Roscommon, and therefore wouldn’t be appointed. Who Am I?: Brian O’Driscoll (Cork)