by Mark Owens
It‘s been another hectic and exciting year in Irish sports, lots of success stories along with quite a few disappointments that most would rather forget. The success of Dublin side Shamrock Rovers and their Europa League quest; Rory McIlroy, with mixed success; the Dubs and the shock waves they sent throughout the GAA world in going all the way and winning the Sam Maguire Trophy, my list could go on but we’ll start here:
Golf
Rory McIlroy: 2011 proved to be a banner year for the twenty-two year old from County Down. Rory shocked the golfing world in winning the US Open at Congressional. McIlroy would card a final score of 16 under, a new US Open record for scoring earning him a record $1.44 million in prize money.
Darren Clarke: Carrying on the tradition of fine golfers from Ireland, Clarke amazed everyone in winning the British Open and the famed Claret Jug.
Football
Shamrock Rovers: Rovers made Irish Football history in qualifying for the prestigious group stages of the UEFA Europa League. The Dubliners labored through the qualifying stages of the competition and would ultimately defeat Partizan Belgrade to qualify for the ‘money’ stages. Their success has breathed a new sense of confidence into other sides that will be competing in Europe next season, such as Derry City and Sligo Rovers.
The success of Shamrock rovers this year was not just limited to European competition. For the 2nd year in succession the Dubliners lifted the Airtricity Premier Division Trophy, having been tried all the way to the end by both Sligo Rovers and Derry City.
Derry City: Two years ago the team from the Banks of the Foyle were facing relegation, bankruptcy and the risk of falling into football wilderness, but having won the League of Ireland First Division last year, the Candystripe’s are back where they belong, playing amongst the elite clubs in Ireland in the Premier Division. A hard fought season saw Derry challenge all the way for the title as well as winning the EA Sports Final, defeating Cork City in the final. With such a successful season in the books, Derry City can look forward to once again playing in Europe and hopefully putting some cash bank in the bank.
Republic of Ireland: Hopefully as you are reading this, the national team will have qualified for the 2012 Euro Championships to be held next summer.
Rugby
Ireland: What a year it was for Irish rugby in 2011. Despite a stuttering start to their 2011 Six Nations Campaign, the Irish came away being labeled as one of the favorites to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand (September/October). Leading up to the finals the Irish looked anything but favorites as they lost several warm up games, and those that they won they did so in very unconvincing ways. But when it came down to it, our boys didn’t disappoint.
Cricket
Ireland: Now we’re in unchartered territory, a cricket article in Owens Sports. There is a good reason though. This year saw the Irish cricket team pull off a historic victory, one for the ages. A victory that would lead to several sports publications to run with the headline ‘biggest shock in cricket history. So what type of victory am I talking about? Well the Irish beat England at their own game, the Irish shocked the English in one the biggest upsets in world cricket history.
In the annals of Irish sporting victories, it is the most unlikely ever. Beating England at cricket is the equivalent of Ireland beating the Yankees at baseball. To quote Enda Kenny, the Prime Minister of Ireland: “Ireland’s victory marks one of the finest days in Irish sport. Their supreme effort will lift the spirits of every single Irish person, no matter where they are in the world.” 
GAA
Football: The footballers of Dublin shocked everyone this year when they won the county’s first All-Ireland Football Championship since 1995. Before the season started the talk was of Kerry or perhaps Cork going all the way, not too many even had Dublin listed in the top three or four teams. But this year’s Dublin team proved everyone wrong. They proved that they were back with a vengeance.
On route to this year’s final, the Dubs beat Laois, Kildare and Wexford on their way to the Leinster Championship. In the Championship Quarter Finals they beat favorite’s Tyrone. In the semi’s, Dublin came up against a resolute Donegal side, yet prevailed by a score of 0-8 to 0-6 to set up a mouth-watering clash with Kerry. In what was a great game overall, Dublin came from behind to edge out Kerry by 1-12 to 1-11 in a tense and exciting encounter at Croke Park. Goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton converted a winning free in stoppage time to give Dublin the title.
Hurling: Kilkenny added yet another title to their every growing list of honors when they defeated defending champion Tipperary. The victory for Kilkenny was their 33rd title in all, which is a record that may never be beat.
Trivia
First last month’s question: this month’s article discussed the history of the GAA in North America, the All-Ireland Football Final has only be held outside of Ireland on one occasion. Where was it held, when and who played in that year’s final? The New York Polo Grounds on September 14th 1947, contested by Cavan and Kerry, with Cavan running out 2-11 to 2-7 winners in front of just over 34,000 spectators.
This month’s question: Golf in Ireland has had enormous success this past few years with a new breed of golfers, but which Irish golfer owns the distinction of being the 1st Irishman to win of golf’s professional majors?
*Mark Owens is originally from Derry City, Ireland and has resided in the Cleveland area since 2001 where he is employed by State Farm Insurance Companies, having previously spent time studying at John Carroll University. Send questions, comments or suggestions for future articles to Mark at:
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