To Do is to Dare

Confidence is rising by the day around our exploits in the Champions League and I am now beginning to acquire the self-belief that we could actually win this thing.

This self-belief is based on the fact that we have got this far already, and also by the fact that it a certainty that we won't come up against the likes of Wigan or Stoke in the remaining rounds. Because while Spurs will generally get turned over by hard-working niggly teams like these, we seem to have a growing ability to take on the aristocrats from Europe, and give them a bit of a seeing-to. Playing against quality teams and coaches seem to motivate 'Arry tactically and and the players appear to be eventually getting what they wanted all along - a place on the big stage.

Ok, there's no point in getting carried away with dealing with both the Milan teams (arguably both over the top) but I reckon we could give the great Barce a run for their money if we get them over two legs. Wenger and Arsenal's whinging about the sending-off of Van Persie shields the fact that they were battered comprehensively and let's face it what can you expect when you go out to the Nou Camp and try to defend a slender lead. You certainly won't see the Yids doing that and I'd love to see Lennon and Bale running at the Barce full-backs (do they have any?) in the manner they've done all season.

So bring on the draw and let's see what comes out. To use the quote attributed to Jack Nicklaus:

"Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one's levels of aspiration ... and expectation".

Could be a difficult season

Waterford 0 Athlone 0

Athlone's tactic of putting eleven men behind the ball from start to finish worked a little too easily last Friday night.

Work to be done.

And we're off again

The dreams, hopes, wonder and anticipation of a new season.

Just like Meath v Dublin

Interesting observation poined out to me on the above photograph which took 2nd place in the news section in the World Press photo awards for 2010.

The rioter in Bangkok who is shooting the catapult is wearing a t-shirt from the Dunboyne Castle Arms Hotel in Co Meath. Not suprising that's he's a bit annoyed as Dunboyne is in Noel Dempsey territory.

Where my 4th preference went

Ok, now I’m worried.

There we were, in desperate need of a new government (to which I concurred) and everyone is telling don’t vote for Labour because of their taxation threats and to plump for the safe option in Fine Gael. So, swayed to an extent by their arguments, I followed through and gave the previously unknown Mary Mitchell O’Connor my fourth preference. I can still hear all the better-informed political animals in the constituency telling me “Oh, actually she’s very good”.

So what does the bold Mary do on her first day in Dail but drive her Mini Micra (or whatever it was), down the pedestrian steps of Dail Eireann in a scene reminiscent of the Italian Job - in front of the watching press cortege. Now she may look a bit like Rosemary Smith, but this is definitely taking the piss.

I relax, comfortable that the country is in safe hands. I do hope Inda leaves her on the back benches – they should be a bit of a challenge to her climbing skills – and at least she’ll be fully occupied for a first few Dail sessions. And this of course on a day when the EU announce that the rating system of applying lower motor premiums to women is wrong.

What a country.

Pip, pip, pip....

I want you to go back, back in time.....

On the way to Skellig Michael - August 1983.