2014 European Championships

The Lost Sheep

Ireland squad: Matty Hadden (Antrim Eels), Casey Dunne (Athboy Longhorns), Michael Russell (Barnhall Butchers), Sean Hesketh (Batley), Wayne Kelly (Belfast Met Scholars), Hayden Peacock (Carcassone), Jobe Murphy (Dewsbury), Luke Ambler, Callum Casey (both Halifax), Elliot Cosgrove (Keighley), Robbie Mulhern (Leeds), Stuart Littler, Michael Platt, Bob Beswick, Gregg McNally (all Leigh), Josh Toole (North Sydney), Graham O’Keeffe, Callum Mulkeen (both Oxford), Apirana Pewhairangi (Parramatta), Sean Casey (Rochdale), Shannon McDonnell (St Helens), Lemeki Vaipulu, Brendan Guilfoyle (both Treaty City Titans), James Toole (Tweed Heads Seagulls), Will Hope (unattached), Danny Bridge (Warrington), Brad Hargreaves (Wigan St Patricks), Pat Smith, Colton Roche (both York).

8 of last years world cup squad involved.
Ireland play France in Tallaght Stadium tomorrow week, Scotland in Tallaght the following Saturday and Wales in Wrexham on Saturday November 2nd
Thoughts on how they'll do?

Dozen Wicked Words

Would have thought France would have too much for Ireland but it all depends on the players they have to pick from. Wales and Scotland would be at a similar level I would think, but happy to be corrected on all of the above!

Absoluvely

4 - 0 to Ireland!

11 minutes played.

Absoluvely

It's try time again!

Ireland 8 - 0 France

Both conversions missed.

31 minutes gone.

Absoluvely

Would you believe it? Try #3 for Ireland!

Ireland 12 - 0 France.

The spread was Ireland +24.5 before the match. Super home performance.

48 minutes played.

Absoluvely

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Would have thought France would have too much for Ireland but it all depends on the players they have to pick from. Wales and Scotland would be at a similar level I would think, but happy to be corrected on all of the above!

Yup.

Ireland 16 - 0 France.

Another missed conversion.

Absoluvely

Final score: Ireland 22 - 12 France

Ireland were around 20/1 to win this match and could go on to win the tournament now.

Dozen Wicked Words

Fantastic result, who was in the French team?

Absoluvely

I don't know, but it should be uploaded here sooner or later.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_European_Cup_Results#Ireland_vs_France

The Lost Sheep

Ireland well beaten by Scotland last weekend, 25-4
If France win by 18 points and Ireland beat Wales by a huge margin in Wrexham on Sunday afternoon we could pip the French to the title. At least Ireland will know exactly what they have to do as France play Scotland tonight

Irish Squad is:
Matty Hadden (Antrim Eels), Casey Dunne (Athboy Longhorns), Mikey Russell (Barnhall Butchers), Sean Hesketh (Batley Bulldogs), Wayne Kelly (Belfast Met Scholars), Haydn Peacock (Carcassonne), Liam Finn (Castleford Tigers), Jobe Murphy (Dewsbury Rams), Luke Ambler, Callum Casey, Ben Johnston (Both Halifax RLFC), Robbie Mulhern (Leeds Rhinos), Bob Beswick, Stuart Littler (Leigh Centurions), Josh Toole (North Sydney Bears), Graham O’Keeffe (Oxford RLFC), Shannon McDonnell (St. Helens RLFC), James Toole (Tweed Head Seagulls), Will Hope (Unattached), Brad Hargreaves (Wigan St. Patricks)

Dozen Wicked Words

Very unlikely scenario though unless Scotland get absolutely battered, which appears unlikely, the title is theirs? They have a plus 35 difference on France and plus 45 on Ireland. Or have I misread?

The Lost Sheep

Dozen Wicked Words wrote: »

Very unlikely scenario though unless Scotland get absolutely battered, which appears unlikely, the title is theirs? They have a plus 35 difference on France and plus 45 on Ireland. Or have I misread?

I know its unlikely and probably should have said that in my op. You haven't misread. Only saving grace is we know exactly what weve to do

The Lost Sheep

France won by 16 but at half time were winning by 32 points...

Scotland on 4 points with +29 points difference are in first, Ireland on 2 points with -11 points difference so Ireland need to win by 40?? Unlikely

Absoluvely

WALES
1. Tom Hughes (Coventry Bears) 490
3. Dalton Grant (Barrow Raiders) 498
21. Lewis Reece (Toowoomba Clydesdales) 462
11. Christiaan Roets (North Wales Crusaders) 458
19. Rhys Williams (Central Queensland Capras) 446
6. Ollie Olds (Ipswich Jets, Australia) 480
10. Peter Lupton (Workington Town, capt) 476
30. Byron Smith (Batley Bulldogs) 430
18. Matty Fozard (St Helens) 499
12. Matty Barron (Gateshead Thunder) 450
31. Ricky Hough (Gateshead Thunder) 493
7. Ashley Bateman (South Wales Scorpions) 453
13. Daniel Fleming (Castleford Tigers) 481
22. Joe Burke (Barrow Raiders) 469
5. Connor Farrer (South Wales Scorpions) 496
24. Morgan Evans (South Wales Scorpions) 497
17. Paul Emanuelli (South Wales Scorpions) 501

IRELAND
1. Shannon McDonnell (St. Helens)
2. Brad Hargreaves (Wigan St. Patricks)
3. Haydn Peacock (Carcassonne)
4. Stuart Littler (Leigh Centurions)
5. Casey Dunne (Athboy Longhorns)
6. Ben Johnston (Halifax RLFC)
7. Liam Finn (Castleford Tigers)
8. Robbie Mulhern (Leeds Rhinos)
9. Bob Beswick (Leigh Centurions)
10. Luke Ambler (Halifax)
11. Will Hope (Sheffield Eagles)
12. Josh Toole (North Sydney Bears)
13. Callum Casey (Halifax)
14. Jobe Murphy (Dewsbury Rams)
15. Sean Hesketh (Batley Bulldogs)
16. James Toole (Tweed Head Seagulls)
17. Matty Hadden (Antrim Eels)

Absoluvely

Ireland took the lead on four minutes. A fine run from Ben Johnston set up the try and despite a good tackle from Lewis Reece initially stopping the charge, Will Hope forced his way over from the next play. Liam Finn converted. 0-6.

The visitors’ second came eight minutes later when Bradley Hargreaves went over in the corner after a good passing move. Finn missed the kick. 0-10.

Finn put Ambler through a gap to score Ireland’s third on 18 minutes than Finn duly goaled to put Ireland 16-0 up.

Absoluvely

Updates here: https://twitter.com/WalesRugbyL

Some free money available if anyone is interested... B365 are still taking bets on this event; they haven't realised it's started: http://www.bet365.com/home/FlashGen4/WebConsoleApp.asp?cb=1058020346305489540

Absoluvely

Another strong Irish set resulted in Brad Hargreaves going over for their fourth try of the day on 32 minutes. Finn converted well and the Irish were 22-0 up.

And Finn went over for a deserved try two minutes before the break converting himself to put the Irish 28-0 up at the break.

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

France won by 16 but at half time were winning by 32 points...

Scotland on 4 points with +29 points difference are in first, Ireland on 2 points with -11 points difference so Ireland need to win by 40?? Unlikely

Two more converted tries!

Dozen Wicked Words

Said all along that Ireland could easily end up winning this competition.





..... . Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to delete several previous posts.

Absoluvely

Casey Dunne given far too much space to walk a try in. Finn converts and Ireland are just five points away from the Four Nations. 46-10.

Dozen Wicked Words

Unlucky Ireland, seconds away from improbable tournament win.