Talk Sport 25nov2024

Paul Gannon here with your Monday Sports Roundup, starting with the LGSA. The 24th Annual General Meeting of Sconefields LGSA took place at the Ní Féinn an Glochann Clubhouse on November 19th last. In her opening oration, outgoing Chairperson Jessica Hansen paid tribute to all the selfless volunteers who diligently and conscientiously ploughed their respective furrows for the good of LGSA in West Cormare throughout 2024. On a personal level, she extended a special word of gratitude to outgoing Secretary Anna Carey. Jessica thanked Anna for her generosity of spirit, technological prowess and emotional support over the course of the past four years. The Chairperson cited fundraising, player retention and the exploits of the adult flagship team on the county, provincial and national stage as being three particularly positive and successful processes under her watch, and added that her most earnest wish going forward is for the club to build incrementally on same. She continued her address by reiterating and reaffirming the paramount importance of respect, courtesy and empathy in relation to communication. We have an amazing club, the Chairperson concluded, and this puts the onus on us to ensure at all times that our ethos and attitude is beyond reproach in all our communications and interactions and if we do, we will continue to thrive and prosper in all respects for many years to come. The finance report followed with a highlight therein being the very successful inaugural card drive for the Paddy Gannon Memorial Cup. Chair Paul Gannon acknowledged the pivotal role that the West Cunnamarra business community played in enabling this historic fundraiser to realise the highest ever income threshold in the history of Grainne Wales LGSA. The election of officers followed. Chairperson Paul Gannon, Vice Chair Brigid-Anne Mannion, Secretary Marion McDermott, Vice Secretary Ali Glennon, Treasurer Shona Acton, Vice Treasurer Mary King, PRO Noreen Coyne, Child Welfare Officer Maureen McLaughlin, Coaching Officers Jason Welsh and Berkley Conroy, DLP PJ Lee, Language and Culture Officer Ali Glennon and Delegates to County Board Shona Acton, Paul Gannon and Marion McDermott. The magnificent contributions of outgoing Chairperson Jessica Hanson and outgoing Secretary Anna Carey to the administrative affairs of the club in recent years was acknowledged and applauded by all in attendance. The management reports followed. It was a really positive, if somewhat hectic year at adult level, with the historic Connacht Junior Sevens title success being the undoubted highlight. Grainne Wales also retained their Division 2 Intermediate League status with a relegation final victory over Carlistran, and then went agonisingly close to securing Intermediate Championship status, courtesy of a 2-12 to 3-8 County Junior Eight Championship final defeat to St Fersey's in Tuam Stadium. Other memorable finals in a jam-packed year were Cliffie Cannish Comórtas Pellna Gaeltachta in I.M.E. Holbrannachs, Cliffie Cannish Siósir Pádraig Ó Sé in Goine Round Towers, Cone Cup West Division 1 against Salthill Natna Cairna A, and the County Division 2 League Shield final against Barna, all of which went the way of our opponents. The opposite was the case, however, in relation to Grainne Wales B, who overcame a valiant Napiersi outfit in the Cone Cup Division 4 final, and a final scoreline of 2-13 to 3-7. Grainne Wales Under-16s, under the stewardship of Adrian Mitchell and Jessica Hansen, annexed the Division 3 Shield title. But in many respects it was the stellar performances of Grainne Wales Under-12s at Division 1 which really caught the eye, and this scenario, coupled with record numbers at Under-14 level and high retention levels at Under-18 level, augurs really well for the future well-being of the club. Under any other business, Mairead Coyne was congratulated on achieving her Level 1 coaching qualification. A vote of sympathy was passed for Offaly natives and LGFA legend Brendan Martin, and best wishes were extended to LGFA referee Colm Conway on his forthcoming graduation to the inter-county stage. The final word of a vibrant and positive meeting was reserved for our governing body, and in this respect, Grainne Wales LGFA would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and affirm the developmental and administrative initiatives and achievements of Galway LGFA Executive Committee in 2024. Athletics next, and this report sent in from Stephen Coyne, one of the main organisers of the annual Leigh Nan Five Mile event in aid of the Red Cross. The men's race winner was Evan O'Rourke from Ornmore, in second place Keane Coyne, Leigh Nan, and in third place Noel Mannion from Westport. In the women's event, the winner was Michelle Brennan from Limerick, with Sinead Egan from Plumbar in runner-up, and Michelle Needham from Westport was third there. Then in the national schools event, the boys' race was won by Alex Flaherty from Renfeil, and first past the post in the girls' primary school event was Maia Blethry from Leigh Nan, and Leach-on-Law, the Warrior of the Day award went to Olive Murphrey from Leigh Nan, so Stephen, thanks very much for sending that in. Badminton next, and the GCBA doubles championships were on all day yesterday in Galway Lawn, where there were numerous players from the local Claddagh and Letterfrack clubs in action. Starting with Junior B, Claddagh's Isabel Pukalife, she was partnered with Howlin from GLTC, and they were beaten in a semi-final there in straight sets by a Galway Lawn partnership. In the men's round of 16 at Junior B level, Claddagh's Emmet Madden and Liam King lost out their 22-20 in the third set against their GLTC opponents. At Junior A level in the women's, it was Isabel Pukalife and Angie Williams representing Claddagh, and they lost out in straight sets to an Orne Moore partnership in the round of 16, as did Letterfrack's Barbara de Butler and Brijo Connor. Letterfrack partnership then went into the consolation event, the plate event, and they reached the final of that, only to lose out 30-29 to an Orne Moore pairing. In men's Junior A, Claddagh's Laurence Keneally and Martin King lost in straight sets to a Galway Lawn partnership in the round of 16. Martin Conroy, however, from Letterfrack, who was partnered with Thomas Connelly from Orne Moore, they came through both round of 16 and quarter-final with straight set victories over Galway Lawn partnerships, only to lose out to a Galway Lawn partnership in the penultimate round. Moving on to intermediate A level, Letterfrack's Paul Gannon and Simon Stokerski, they lost in straight sets to a Galway Lawn partnership at the quarter-final stage, as did Letterfrack's Paul Conroy, who was partnered with Abhinav Saranov from Galway Lawn. At Senior B level, Paul and Simon lost in three sets, 21-15 in the third there, to a Galway Lawn partnership. As did Letterfrack's Paul Conroy, who was with a different partner this time from the Galway Lawn Club, also lost in straight sets there. And finally, at intermediate B level, Claddagh's Daniel Price-Williams was partnered with Luke Farrell from the Galway Lawn Club. They defeated their Orne Moore opponents in three sets in the round of 16, but lost their ensuing quarter-final to a cartoon partnership there, 21-18 in the third. In intermediate B also, Letterfrack pairing off Pete Hamilton and John McDonagh. They lost to fellow Letterfrack player, the aforementioned Martin Conroy, who was partnered with Vinkeish Sivan, a Galway Lawn player, and Martin and Vinkeish went on to win their quarter-final in straight sets against the Galway Lawn partnership, only to lose out at the semi-final stage there, 21-15, to a cartoon Orne Moore combination. So well done in particular to Martin Conroy, the Letterfrack player, who reached semi-final at both junior A and intermediate level, but on this occasion, no Claddagh or Letterfrack badminton player made it to any of the finals. Next up in championships will be the mixed doubles in January, followed by the singles in February, and there'll be plenty of league action in between. Soccer next. Under-16 championship, Kinvary United 2, West Coast United 1, and the only other results from the weekend, I'm sure there must have been matches called off over the weekend, was an under-12 girls' division 2 match, West Coast United 3, Mary Orne Moore B1. That's 5 from 5 for the West Coast under-12 girls. They're now 8 points clear at the top of the table in their division, well done to them. Soccer fixtures for the weekend coming next Saturday, November 13th. Under-13 division 7, West Coast United are away to Craigmore, Clare Galway at 11.30am. Under-13 division 3 boys, West Coast are home to Colga Bay at 12 noon, that's next Saturday also. And also on next Saturday, in adult league division 2, West Coast are away to Curthin United B. The West Coast under-16s who play at division 1 level, they're at home to Colga on Saturday at 2pm, so the best of luck to all those West Coast teams next weekend. I just have one rugby result to hand, and that's schools junior B boys league, Clifton Community Schools 7, Clare Galway College 47. I'm assuming the other schools match during the week was called off due to weather. Rugby fixtures for the weekend ahead starting next Saturday, the 30th of November. In the under-13 non-competitive league, it's Galway Bagans, Cunnamare Octoraert at 1.30pm in Galway. And then the big one, the eagerly anticipated one, top of the table clash from the Connacht Junior 1A league. All roads lead to Dunmore next Sunday at 2.30pm as Cunnamare travel to take on Dunmore. A win for Cunnamare there I think could put them top. But it's kind of a must win really in what is a very, very competitive and very tight league. And I finish tonight with GAA starting with third level, and a brilliant win for ATU Cunnamare there in senior league football division 4 quarter final during the week. ATU Cunnamare 14 points, University of Limerick 1-7. And the Letterfrack lads have a date with destiny tomorrow up in the capital when they take on DCU at 5pm in the semi-final of that competition. And the best of luck there to John McGuinness and all the lads in that. And finally tonight at secondary schools, this match I think was to be played today, I don't have the results to hand, that was in the Junior E Championship, Clifton Community School against Cairn College. That game was to be played today in October. If anyone has that result they might send it in before the end of the program and we can put it out there. That's my lads for this evening, and thanks to Pat on Technical, and we'll talk to you in a week's time. Jobspot on Cunnamare Community Radio. Cope Galway Domestic Abuse Service are hiring a fluent Irish speaker to join the community outreach team. This is an exciting opportunity to expand our services reach within North Cunnamare and the islands. The role will involve being proactive in raising awareness and promoting zero tolerance of domestic abuse while responding to and supporting victims and survivors of abuse. For further information go to copegalway.ie forward slash careers. Jobspot on Cunnamare Community Radio. It's a double whammy at Brodericks Electrical for the month of November. Not alone can you get Black Friday deals every day for the whole month, but you can also get cash back offers on two of our biggest brands AEG and Electrolux. You can claim back up to 125 euro per appliance across the AEG and Electrolux range of appliances for the month of November at Brodericks Electrical, Castlebar and Westport, or at broderickselectrical.ie. No child should be without a home, yet this Christmas more than 110 families and 230 children will be homeless across Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. It doesn't have to be this way. Last year Galway Simon Community supported 201 families with 415 children to prevent them from becoming homeless. If you believe every family should have a place to call home this Christmas, donate now at galwaysimon.ie or phone 091-381828. Thank you. Talk Sport and Connemara Community Radio support Galway County Council in their anti-litter campaign. We all have a responsibility to ensure that our roadways, towns and villages are litter free. So whether driving or meeting up with friends, don't forget to always put your litter in a bin. Please play your part, it's easy to make a difference. G'day and welcome to Connemara Community Radio on Talk Sport, my name is Evian Potter and I'll be with you until 8 o'clock. In the headlines this week, in Rugby Ireland face Australia next Saturday, they had a massive win over Fiji who were very poor and was there. In Grand Prix, Max Verstappen won four in a row titles. In Soccer, Liverpool 8 points ahead of Manchester City. And in GAA, Nafinia defeated St Martins of Wexford in the Leinster semi-final. Now coming up, we have Bernard on the line and we'll go through the Soccer and hope to speak to Fancy Foley and PJ Heffernan. We start off with Soccer and we have Bernard Leigh, welcome Bernard. Good evening Viv. And Liverpool are looking good, are they? Yes, it's been a good few weeks for them and certainly the demise of Manchester City is a big talking point, five defeats in a row across all competitions and a fairly standout result there at the weekend for my team. The four little defeats of Manchester City at the Etihad there was an amazing achievement. Spurs have had a very good record against Manchester City but nobody would have expected that. Things not all very good at Manchester City for various reasons but for Spurs it certainly consolidates them a bit after some recently bad results. You know they lost at home to Ipswich who hadn't won all season and you know there have been a few bad results there. So this makes up for it but really and truly they should be a lot higher up than sixth but you know the fans will take it and you know they beat Man City in the League Cup earlier on as well and that puts them in a position to maybe win a trophy this year. They have Manchester United in the next round of that in a quarterfinal and you know things are changing at Manchester United as well. So overall Spurs you know they're still obviously doing reasonably well in Europe and you know the FA Cup after Christmas so for a team that needs to win a trophy and try to mix it with the big boys you know the result there on Saturday was a good one for them. So very rare does Manchester City lose at home. Certainly even rarer to lose 4-0 and you know they had a proud home record there but as we said it's their fifth in a row and I'm not quite sure what's going wrong. They have a few injuries but you know every team has but they seem to have lost even from the first day of the season they were losing early goals to other teams and they had fought back and we know Haaland has got a lot of goals as well so he's still in scoring form but this was an interesting game 4-0 can be a bit misleading in a way because City could have been one or two up, they could have been one up or you know earlier on in the match Haaland certainly missed a few chances he could have had two or three most people would say in normal circumstances. So he's capable of missing as well as scoring and we all know that you know it's a bit like in boxing they say get your retaliation and first is the old saying and get the first goal and look at it it changes the face of the game but Spurs played very well and it's not for they're not responsible for Manchester City's failings and misses and they took their four goals quite well spread out and you know they were nicely up at half-time 2-0 and counter-attacked with a bit of intelligent football in the second half but yeah it's a worrying time if you're a Manchester City fan but as I said it just opens the gap up there to Liverpool who you know are a bit fortunate maybe to win but they did play well but they were 2-1 down I suppose at the various stages in the game there but you know into the second half but fought back well so yeah that was a good it's a good time for Liverpool as I said to be in the position they're in. No doubt, right we'll quickly run through last week's results, Bournemouth 1 and Brighton 2. Well look as I said those two teams are playing quite well and Bournemouth you know they're down 11th or so on the table and Brighton going well so yeah I mean it's just one of those ones it's very hard to predict you know as we've seen even with the top against Boston and Liverpool against Southampton it could easily have gone the other way nothing is very predictable nobody would have predicted that Southampton would be 2-1 up and down so look it was a good win there 2-1 and as I said it just consolidates them so the likes of Brighton and Bournemouth they're not doing too badly as regards where they are this time of the season so yeah you can expect any result really in the Premiership home or away but yeah a good away victory. Arsenal 3, Nottingham Forest 0. So Arsenal consolidating look they're still a bit adrift of Liverpool but that's because of recent bad results so look they have to be happy enough to get the three points there they have a few players coming back from injuries and they were well on top in that good value for their win, Forest maybe not at their best in recent matches but you know they're still up there in the decent position in 7th place and most fans would take that but yeah Arsenal if they can put a run together they're only a point off second place because with City losing recent matches you know 23 points second place 22 Brighton and Arsenal and Chelsea there on 22 so look there's a lot to fight for and you know they'll all have to play Liverpool and City playing next weekend I think very important for City to, if Liverpool lost a few matches now or dropped a few points it would certainly tighten it all up and the chasing pack even as far down as Spurs and Brighton could start to make up the ground so we'll see how it goes in the run up to Christmas. Yeah but Liverpool are playing very well though aren't they? Well they are, now I wouldn't say they're shooting the lights out because again normally they wouldn't be tooling down to Southampton in the situation they were in, maybe got a bit fortunate with the winner with the penalty but if that happens I'm not saying they didn't play reasonably well they probably deserved it overall but I think the City game will be interesting that's a real test despite City in the position they're in, City they'll know they'll have to get a result a win or a draw because if they lose it they could nearly kiss the title goodbye already which is very strange to say but it possibly would let the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea overtake them so a big weekend for City to get a result and at least to stop Liverpool winning and opening it up, it's 8 points at the minute and you don't want it going to 11 points so certainly a test for City but they may well be up for it, might have one or two others coming back from injury but just the way they're playing and conceding goals as well from early on City you know but look at as I said Liverpool their consistence they've lost one game they've drawn one game and that's pretty good that's why they're on 31 points so they are the team to beat at the minute. Right, next one I hear is Aston Villa to Crystal Palace, I think you predicted that. Right well again I might have got lucky with that one but again Palace you know they put it up to Villa, Villa have gone to a little bit of a sticky patch and they've done this last year as well all of a sudden they were up there last year could have been top two or three and then have this rare run of defeats not just draws but defeats that you wouldn't expect and it's just all of a sudden if you lose two or three games in a row just nine times possibly losing to your rivals and they seem to have done it again and even though Unai Emery is a very good manager in that this is not a thing that you know you want if you want to be dining at the top table because you know there are 19 points there but you know another four or five points in those recent games and they're in second position and you know I wouldn't say they've lost any games that they possibly couldn't have won so there's that and there's a little inconsistency if you go to like the Aston Villa and Newcastle obviously Tottenham as well they on their day they're very good but they go through these runs so look at Villa got back to 2-2 it was a good result at the end maybe probably disappointed to lose two points at home shall we say but for Palace an important point down in the position they're in second from bottom there but yeah I think Villa need to just certainly make sure that you win your home games it's really the standards for all teams really to have a fortress at home win your home games and see how you get on on the road but yeah so possibly a better result for Palace than Villa. Everton nil, Brentford nil. Everton they seem to have showed up at the back in the defence there they're able to keep the goals out not not too good at scoring but from where they were it's a better position they're climbing out of the bottom half there of the table and you know they're on 11 points so again a bit goal shy but Sean Deutsch knows how to to strengthen them at the back and to keep them at the balls without conceding too many goals we know they lost two matches there earlier on from the 2-0 lead so that was three goals in both those matches that seems to have been rectified with Sean Deutsch and Everton and while it's a home venue and they dropped two points it's still not a bad result overall so they're climbing they're going in the right direction Everton. No doubt now Wolves went on a scoring spree 4-1 against Fulham. Yeah and Fulham I think took the lead in that but Wolves they've played a lot of games this year they've played very good football and have been unlucky in some you know regards and the manager was coming under a bit of pressure but this will certainly ease the pressure. Now they're only fourth from bottom there but they did win going away shall we say and scored some very good goals as well so I think the manager is safe for now and you know we've seen you know the pressure comes off this time of year after the international break and the Leicester manager you know he's gone as well so he's a casualty but that's just the kind of way it goes so yeah Wolves are a good footballing team have been for a number of years and you wouldn't be too surprised when they get results like this away from home. They are quite good traveling on the road and yeah good victory. Right next one I have here is Leicester 1 Chelsea 2. Chelsea are well up now they're a third I think in the table. Yeah I know Leicester obviously it cost the manager his job there and you know Chelsea they're very consistent they have a few goals and they're certainly a different team to last year and you know and they have Jackson there scoring the odd goal obviously they have Cole Palmer who came from Man City one of the top players in the English league and just a little bit more strength about them with the new manager Maresca there who you know was a former manager I think at Leicester as well so there was interesting little subplots in this game but it was hard off in the end but they got the point and you know they're up there as I said just behind City most fans would have taken that 22 points up there with Arsenal Brighton obviously and if results go their way next week who knows they could be in second position Liverpool are going to be top certainly for the next few weeks possibly even at Christmas time unless there's a big collapse in their form but for Chelsea nicely going along there and I'm sure the fans would be happy with the way things are gone so far and I think there's more to come from them so yeah a good result for them. A good result and then we just mentioned Tottenham 4 Manchester City in the end that wasn't a big surprise to me anyway. Well it was no I mean but only that Spurs possibly would have going into the game knowing they have the Indian sign a little bit on City they've done the double over them there a couple of years ago you know they've beaten them in the League Cup shall we say now what the teams might have been a bit weak in there but certainly I think Pasterkoglou the Spurs manager wouldn't fear any team and he'll see they can go to Old Trafford or to the Ahead or to Anfield or any you know any of these grounds and get a result and certainly the way Spurs play they certainly can. They played a little bit more conservative when they got the lead they didn't go all out attack I think but there was still that danger they play football that even when the lead to be protected so there's a bit of balancing there for Spurs to do that they get it right on Saturday evening but you know on another day Haaland could have won or two and you know would have been different again depending on when you score that but overall one of the better performances from Spurs maybe somebody was their best performance ever in Premiership history so that's going back to 92-93 and that's what some pundits were saying and it's possibly true they did have a scored six I think at Old Trafford against United a number of years ago but it was a slightly fading United whereas this was a way to City who are the champions and yeah so overall good results the Spurs fans will be happy but they don't know what to expect next week it could be back to I think it's Fulham that they might be playing in the next match and you can't afford to be going from the highs of beating City to losing and dropping points against other teams especially in the position they're in they need to climb the table now and get into those top four positions so good weekend for Spurs but next week will be just as important yeah it was definitely good and they kept Haaland scoreless as well which was big yeah a couple of good saves the goalkeeper Picario had some good saves and again as I said games hinge on goals and you know when you score and if you score and look at a goalkeeper is an important part of the team as well the defensively Spurs got bodies back behind the ball got a few blocks in as well and you are quite dangerous going forward you know Koloszewski there midfield is a very good player Thoms still playing well and you know they chipped in defensively and Maddison obviously got getting two goals there he hasn't been very pre-scored for them but he did well there and set the tone and overall yeah I think once they went ahead and that City were chasing the game it became a little easier for Spurs on the on the counter-attack and yeah too many that was was a good result so we'll see as I said what the the next few weeks will hold for Spurs important one with the various games to have upcoming okay we move on to Sunder Manchester United won Ipswich were also won yeah so was it the first man in the first game for the new manager there for Ruben Amorim who's come from Portugal for United and they got off to a great start a goal in the first two minutes but you know Ipswich they're a dogged enough team and they they thought that possibly could have won the game overall got some decent attacks going and the United keeper had a good game as well he kept out some good efforts from Ipswich but overall Ipswich would be happy you know Amorim wasn't I think he was expecting a little bit better especially after the good start with you know the early goal and I suppose the crowd behind him and all that but it's sort of on the bad result I think he's just getting a realisation of what the problems are there at United they're not very good in midfield or defensively they looked a bit open on times and I think that there's a lot of things to sort out but he's not going to do it in one game or two games and at least they have a defeat on it doesn't have a defeat on the on the record for the first game but maybe under Ten Hag it might have been a defeat who knows but he'll get a chance he's a solid manager he's done good things in Portugal and possibly the couple of buys in the January window to consolidate and get the sort of players he wants in that's true of all managers so yeah they're obviously you know in a not a great position in the league 12th position and you know the teams above them Brighton Brentford you know Forrest Newcastle Fulham that's not where United want to be so plenty of work to do for the new manager in the games ahead. Southampton 2 Liverpool 3 yeah they have to win there I thought that went by more of my interpretation yeah no as I said before they you know Southampton made a game of it they got the they gave away a terrible goal from very poor defensive play they got back with maybe a fortunate enough penalty it was such a goal whether it was in the box Callagher the Irish goalkeeper saved made a good save but the rebound was put away yeah and you know it gave Southampton a bit of confidence they got a goal there early in the second half to go 2-1 up a breakaway goal and then another goalkeeping mistake at the back let in Salah for the equaliser and then they got the late enough penalty to secure the win Salah doesn't miss many from the penalty spot so if you can see the penalty to Liverpool more than off more often than not you're going to yeah yeah and look at they were probably good value but without maybe setting the world on fire but you know you don't have to it's a long season ahead 31 points it's a good enough return as I said only one defeat and one draw on on their books so far and that's that's a good a good return so you know slot the the manager there coming from Holland has done well and you know they're going decently as well in in Europe and um there there's a few um there's a few things there that he'll be looking I think they're still in the League Cup um but um overall they're um they have uh some big games up and coming I think you know I think it's uh the Real Madrid I think during the week here and the City at the end of the week as well so uh yeah interesting times for Liverpool fans that's where they want to be dining at the top table and we'll see how those two games go uh maybe by by next Monday right now we move on to Saturday matches and the first one I've done here is Brentford versus Leicester so as I said Leicester uh they're going to be under new manager uh there because uh um uh the the uh the manager got the sack there at the weekend so um uh I'm going to go on the basis of that Brentford obviously uh coming you know they're reasonably in in the table there but um I'm going to go with uh a 2-0 home win for that I think Brentford at home in that game Leicester probably just licking their wounds a bit um and uh as I said with the interim manager in so I'm going to go 2-0 to Brentford home win Brentford home win there Crystal Palace versus Newcastle yeah and as I said Palace getting a decent result away to to Villa home advantage should help them Newcastle a bit hit in this as well so I'm going to go 1-1 on that I think Newcastle's still firing a lot of blanks there they need to move up the table but I think Palace might be getting into a bit of form home advantage uh 1-1 Nottingham Forest versus Ipswich yeah so Forest uh not having the best of runs even though they're in seventh position and Ipswich looking to be bide on by getting the draw against the United um and uh I'm going to go with again possibly a couple of goals in this 2-2 um and I think that might be a decent enough result for both teams if it turns out that way Dundon Derby West Ham versus Arsenal yeah West Ham and I think the manager has been giving a warning there that he's only a game or two to to turn it around get some decent results for the for uh West Ham uh Arsenal look and I think they're back to winning ways maybe getting a bit of uh solidarity there from the the players coming back from injury and with the demise of of Man City they know they might have a chance to overtake them so you know and start to maybe fall back to the ground on Liverpool uh so I'm going to go with an away win for Arsenal that I'm going to go 3-1 uh for them to continue their good form okay 3-1 then Wolves versus Bournemouth so again Wolves on the back of their recent win and uh I think they might have enough about them to to keep Bournemouth at bay there um good good winners at 4-1 away at the weekend and I'm going to go with a 2-1 home win for Wolves in that game right you'll do that to Wolves yeah okay something then uh Chelsea versus Aston Villa 1-30 interesting one because both teams hoping to consolidate themselves uh really need to climb up a little bit more but if Chelsea can get the win in this uh certainly it you know could even put them into second position um and I'm going to go I'm going to go with the home win for Chelsea in that I think they they have enough about them to uh consolidate so I'm going to go 2-1 should be a good game good footballing game and um if results go their way they could even be in second place but uh 2-1 to Chelsea and the big one I suppose Liverpool versus Manchester City yeah certainly a big one there to round off the week and I'd say that um look at it it's a real six pointer I'm going to go with possibly a draw on this I don't think City can afford to lose and I think that's enough for them to put in a decent performance um so I'm going to go 1-1 but um City will be trying to get the three points to to reel in Liverpool a little bit but if Liverpool can win this uh you know they're they are they're already serious title contenders but certainly put down the marker yeah no it would be a very good position they'll certainly be topped by Christmas if they win this one I'm pretty sure um because you know having that eight points lead already and that would extend it to 11 now the other teams might be creeping up it mightn't be an 11 point lead it might be over Man City but not over maybe Arsenal and Chelsea and it might just put those other teams ahead of City as title contenders but look at City aren't going to be bad all the time uh Guardiola has never had a prolonged bad spell at any club um maybe in the initial stages when he's getting a team when it comes to a club first but this is unusual for him and I expect him to put it right so um I said 1-1 look at it if there was to be a big three for City it would certainly tighten things up a lot and make it a more interesting one league for we say for the teams chasing but um 1-1 wouldn't be too bad for City right yeah it looks like a draw game all right Manchester United versus Everton so obviously Everton look at they've been consistent so the interview will see if their their uh recent forms especially not conceding goals is going to hold and again um um you know for the new manager Amirim there with his first game at Old Trafford he'll be looking for a win I'm going to go I think Everton might have enough about them it'll be a good test for United uh can they score I think both teams I think whoever scores two might win it but I'm going to go with 1-1 um and I think Everton might have just told them out and then get a good away point but there'll be a good crowd there a lot will be expecting uh good things from the new manager in the first game at home but um yeah I just think Everton might have a little bit about them at the minute but 1-1 yeah there'll be a fair bit of pressure on the manager won't it as it will and all the from now on like once you take over it's pressure every day every every week in week out all competitions and there's no hiding place when you're Manchester United manager so he knows what he's letting himself in for and I think he'll have to be given a bit of time to to get his emphasis on the team what he wants them to do to play and to get players in that suits his system as well that won't happen overnight but look at all you can do in the meantime is get the best results you can uh certainly keeping defeats off the card is an important one and especially at home at Old Trafford so we'll see how it goes right Spurs versus Fulham yeah so this will be a real test for Fulham uh away against Spurs uh we've seen getting a win there and at top of them and we've seen some decent results Spurs have to kick on now they've got the big win over City and there's no point reverting back to old style and old results the performance has to be about winning these matches at home and hopefully the manager knows closer to what his best selection is after the win against City so if we can start that team again uh Fulham will be in for a tough day I'm going to go a little bit hard overhead but I'm going to go with 4-1 to Tottenham and that I think there's a few goals in them and they're also the leading goal scorers in the league I think at the moment so that's not a bad little thing to have in in in their uh in their credits uh so more goals coming another four goals uh I'm predicting and 4-1 home win for Spurs. For Spurs a good win for Spurs there okay Bernard we'll leave it and thanks very much for taking our call and a coon of day we speak to you next week okay thank you very much and good evening to you bye-bye Wildlands Winter Wonderland is back and it's bigger than ever take the drama out of Christmas with one hour play sustainable gifts printed family photos hot drinks and treats all included meet Santa Mrs Claus and his merry team of elves tickets now on sale at wildlands.ie you this Christmas give the gift of Kylemore Abbey visit our beautiful Connemara estate and experience the festive atmosphere of Ireland's best loved historic treasure make Christmas shopping and dining an experience to remember with our wholesome winter menu and delightful handcrafted gifts fill your larder with homemade Kylemore Christmas fare and choose from a beautiful range of giftware and award-winning chocolates handmade in Sister Grenavie's chocolate kitchen gift joy this Christmas when you shop in store or online at Kylemoreabbey.com Kylemore Abbey a story so timeless it's still being written Clifton Supply Centre Galway Road Clifton provide building supplies plumbing and heating supplies fuel merchants DIY and general hardware contact the Clifton Supply Centre on 095 214 76 I have online now Francie Foley welcome Francie how you brother Vivian how you doing I'm not too bad now considering the bad weather we got and so on yeah but thank god we we we didn't get anything like that was predicted thanks to the god no we were lucky anyway we leave the weather to the weather people yeah so what was I'm still going through in my mind these new rules and I'm not too sure of what they'll turn out to be I hope they don't ruin football even though football wasn't great as it was at the moment well I thought I thought that the new rules being introduced was to do away with one particular thing and that is hand passing to a large extent now there were other aspects of the game as we all know that they weren't able to score points from 20 years out of mind 50 years out and all this was done to enhance the game but I'm afraid some of the things were crazy like three point four points for a goal and two points from a distance so far out I think both of them are not going before congress which were two very important aspects so from the GA point of view foolish and then you shouldn't have to you shouldn't introduce something and the following week have to abandon it as happened with the GA so the hand passing I was watching club games over the weekend now and I know there has to be hand passing that goes without saying but the extent that hand passing is done to me new rules or whatever rules they want introduced is not going to improve the game it hasn't improved the game and I saw one of the games yesterday three points after up to half time by in the All-Ireland club as far as I'm concerned yeah of course the grounds I suppose are a bit heavy but still you'd expect better football wouldn't you absolutely well that's the GA's own fault because the thing about it is they have to play the All-Ireland two All-Ireland before the end of July and then the rest is supposed to be left for clubs well that's that's cardology as well because a lot of the players county players are immigrating for once they're out of the championship but the thing is that's that is you know you're talking about football we know football is at a low ebb and has been and that something had to be done to to at least progress it better than it is but no it's not working and then as I say where I start off there by blaming the GA the GA playing All-Ireland club football and when we're only even at the we're not even at the final of the province yet in the month of the first of December a joke because as I said playing the All-Ireland and they have to be out of the way by July so the people at the top now and I'm a GA man and I have been all my life but the GA at the top will have to cop themselves on because they're not they're not introducing what is supposed to be improvement and we can see it everyone can see it the football is is is is lacklustre any games I've seen so far in the club in a lot of the club matches. Yeah that's true but I mean getting the All-Ireland out of the way in July I mean I wouldn't mind if they moved it to even August but July was too early for to get an All-Ireland. Sure it is and they're not going to they're not going to reverse it and they're seemingly they're adamant that's the way it is and that's the way it'll stay and this new man Burns let me add like he's enthusiastic and everything else but he's not going to change either because the majority at the top are saying this the way it is this the way it'll stay and until the players themselves and management take the take up the cudgel nothing will change and I saw there as well now yesterday or the day before another another thing that came on board Gilroy the Dublin he's in the Dublin management team he stepped aside and the reason he stepped aside was because he's not happy about the money managers are getting now I think he's not going anywhere with that either because managers will have to be on board managers will have to be paid and whether he likes it or does he likes it or not that's the way it's going to remain and I don't know what can be done but he's foolish because it won't change as he thinks it will. Right what did you think of the club football that was on over the weekend? Well I was looking at the paper today now I only saw you know I can see all of them around them but I thought there are mad champions there and and their own champions and I think at one stage there was hardly there was minutes gone before there was a score but I did admire the Canavans and they're marvellous footballers and and I mean they're true to their worth they are certainly complete footballers but that clown from Armagh that took the last kick I think he got a rush of blood to the head because even though he was favourably positioned but there was no guarantee and I thought foolishly he tried for a point and that was the way that was the losing point you know what I mean. Overall I would have to be fair and say for this time of the year and being out of competition like a championship for so long the football is pretty good the weather has been favourable except maybe on the day that Cora Finn played my Colin that was one of the bad days but overall the weather is favourable but whether the sun is shining or not football should be finished but certainly shouldn't go on until the month of December. Okay so Francie we're a bit caught for time is there anything else you want to mention? Not really only that if you have any influence at the station Cunnamara radio has any influence maybe they might pass my sentiments onto the pals that be. Oh we'll get Pat onto that now he before you sit down he'll be on to Croke Park. Yeah and I'm available at even Christmas day to talk about it if necessary. If necessary oh well you could be fairer than that you're not looking for money or anything are you? No I'm not I'm looking for change not money. I see oh well that's a good currency to have. Okay okay. Okay so that's Francie Foley there and not enamoured with the new laws coming up but we'll see. I have on there now PJ Heffernan welcome PJ. Good evening brother good evening a nice pleasant evening after all the rain and storms we had all weekend. We were lucky enough not to have rugby. Oh my god we were yeah compared to the Roundstone and Cairn and Almonty they're still about half a million people I think. Yeah well I suppose we had a lot of sport on TV a lot of rugby on TV to watch and take in and gather. Ireland I suppose to start with there had a good win against Fiji. Yeah it was a poor Fiji team I thought. It was a very poor Fiji team compared to what they'd done against Wales you know you'd expect more from them but no and Ireland didn't play exciting rugby I don't know I thought it was a very sort of boring game even though the score was 52. Yes. There was never too many times that you ever said oh my god that's a great passage to play it they just seem to get over for the tries and you know having said it a win is a win so we're heading into the final game of the season now against Australia next Saturday. That'll be much harder I'd imagine. Yes yes now I know Scotland beat Australia. They did I was surprised at that. Yeah and it was actually a good game of rugby. Scotland played well now. There were a few teams that surprised me over the weekend. Italy I thought had a magnificent performance against New Zealand. Right. I know they lost but they lost 29-11 but New Zealand only scored a try in the last minute last kick out to put the glass on it you know. Italy played some great stuff now they're probably fighting for their life as to regard with their inclusion in the Six Nations like there is talk that they'll be replaced by George or some team come up with the Virgin division you know. Yeah so they'll be trying. I know people enjoy the away trips to Italy because they're in Rome it's a magnificent small stadium and it's right in the city the atmosphere is fantastic you know so I'll probably advertise in Rome because we have tickets available for the away trips. I see. But we also have two tickets available for a person that ordered two tickets for Australia this morning just asked me to see could I move them on because we the person can't go to the match. Oh I see. You have two tickets for Australia is it? Yeah yeah. Now I have a few questions to ask about Joe or Andy Farley. What was the reasoning on bringing Murray on at number 11? You know I'll bring him out from the wing. Like Murray is 36 years of age why didn't he give it to some young lads? Why'd he you know think like that that I have a Henderson another 36 year old that won't be there for the next squad. No they definitely won't. We should be blood and young lads now and that kind of I know that Sam Prentice had a good game and it's nice to see himself and the brother Keane on the same pitch. Yeah. It's been a while since we had brothers on the team. The Carnies are the last ones we probably all remember. That's right and the Wallaces I suppose. That's right. Well there was three brothers in the Wallaces. I don't know if the three of them ever played together now. Richard, Paul and. I don't know who did the three of them play but there was definitely two of them at the same time. Yeah and then you had the best brothers. Yes that's right. Simon Eastridge who will be the coach now after Andy Farley goes off the line. That's right. You know but yeah I don't know I suppose there's one or two players that put up their hands for the inclusion in the Lions tour you know but it's our props. It's where we seem to have a problem at the moment like you know. Gus McCarthy is his number five hooker for Leinster. Porter's playing every minute of every game which is probably unsustainable. He even went into a Six Nations you know so I don't know why he had to include some of the Munster lads or Ulster lads you know. I know Tom O'Toole is there in different pieces but that's right. We're struggling a bit I think on the forward the front row you know. When we were probably I know Tyke Furlingham's injury. You wonder how serious that is over in the longer term thing of things you know. Yeah yeah. Australia Scotland as you said was a good game. Yeah that was a very good game and we're stuck for time PJ. The local scene, Connemara had no game. No Connemara had no game. We have two away games now but the league is thrown wide open now because after Saturday night Ballon d'Or beat Craig's in the last kick of the game. That's right. It was a pretty 2-19 or something like that but the last kick of the game and I misplaced the results or I can't remember the results. We go to Dunmore now next Sunday and the following Sunday we go up to Ballon d'Or. It's probably the last run in on the league and then it goes into the play-off. Top four isn't it? Yeah top four yeah. One versus four, two against three. The top two get home advantage. It's probably come to the exciting time of the league now and well fortunately for us we're probably getting one or two injuries back out in the pitch again so that will help us show up our defence and improve our attack. Now our lads are playing lovely exciting rugby at the moment. They love to run the ball. They say our own pitch is the best pitch they can run on because it's soft. It's great under-force on us so they love to play out there but unfortunately we're above Dunmore now and they have a big heavy pitch up there so I don't know what it will make for if we don't get much rain this week. Will it make for good rugby or not? I don't know. Are they reasonable there I suppose? They would be. Last year they had a big contingent of South Africans in their team which I totally disagree with. Last year I believe we played them at the Homer Monastery and they had six South Africans on their team which I think is a bit overkill when you're thinking that it's junior rugby and you're trying to encourage your own local lads to play. Maybe one just to guide them or to coach them or something. Six is too many to have. Oh we're doing it all right. Okay so that's next week. Our lotto is still holding on and hopefully it'll hold on until after Christmas. Instead of doing our big mega Christmas lotto draw we feel that we've run out of time and nearly every weekend there's something on now in the whole area of Connemara so we're sort of saying let's have a big splash in the new year. A big social lotto in the new year and all these announcements will be made by social media and on the radio. So there's nothing else so PJ? No I think that is now but available at the moment. We'll speak to you next week and hopefully we'll win. Have a good week. Right God bless. Right bye-bye. So that was PJ Heffernan. So we'll speak to you again. This has been a strong English banner. Talks Court and Galway County Council reminds everyone to use a litter bin at all times and to help ensure that Galway is litter free. Please play your part. It's easy to make a difference. you