gaa blog 1-6-2014

Galway had a massive scare as they could only beat Laois by 2 points in the Leinster hurling quarter final. Laois had control of the game in the first half but Galway did show that they were the better team in the second by winning by 0.16 to 0.4 but this did show that Galway still had the class but better worry as in the next round they would have a better class of opponent  

In the other Leinster quarter final Wexford completely outclassed Antrim and scored 5 goals past the Antrim Goalkeeper and to make matters worse for Antrim they had a man sent off this showed that Antrim were in a class below even though they had beaten Laois but need to be playing in the Leinster ties more often

In the Munster semi final the scores were 1-8 a piece at half time and anyone could win the match at this time and it was that but of Momentum at the end of the match that won the match for Limerick as the score was 2-16 a piece but Limerick got 2 points and Tip could not reply to them

In the Gaelic football Antrim showed their class in the Quarter final against Fermanagh as they scored 3 goals and showed why they were the better side. Fermanagh did not show their class in this tie as they looked like a very poor side even though they have one of the best managers in Ireland

In the Munster Football Tipperary won their first championship match since defeating Waterford in 2003 and beat possibly the only tram who could beat one of the big 2 in limerick but it was a very close match that either team could have won and was settled by one goal.

 

MENS TENNIS 1-6-14

MENS

ANOTHER SPANIARD THROUGH

In round 3 One of the big shocks in the men’s side was the fact that Richard Gasguet went out in straight sets by Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in straight sets 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 this does show when it comes to clay court matches that there is something magical when it comes to the Spanish

THE LEGEND IS OUT

In round 4 Roger Federrer is out of the French open after loosing a 5 setter to Ernests Gulblis as he lost the first set in a tie break it looked like Federrer hand control. But Gulblis came back with a tie break of his own followed by 6-2 set and looked like he could not be beaten. Federrer came back with a break in the next set to win 6-4.  There was no need for a long drawn out affair as Gulblis took control of this match getting the break that he needed to win 6-3. Federrer is the first big gun out of the men’s side of the French.

CAN DOCKAVIC WIN THE CAREER GRAND SLAM

French hopes are leaving after Jo Wilfred Tsonga lost to Novac Djockavic in straight sets 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 and Djockavic shows why he is one of the best tennis players in the world and the possibility that he can still win the career grand slam. I thought that Tsonga would have had put up more of a fight as the fans would have been on his back.

BERDICH MAKES SURE OF QUARTER FINAL SPOT

Tomas Berdich secured a spot in the Quarter Finals after beating John Isner 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in straight sets he will definitely be one to watch out for in the later rounds but I do not believe that he can win the French

MURRAY SURVIVES INTO 4TH ROUND

Andy Murray will be very happy to have this match over with as he defeated no 28 seed  Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany. Kohlschreiber won the fist set and took control of the match by winning 6-3 but Murray came back to win the next 2 sets 6-3 each and in the fourth Kohlschreiber came back to win 6-4 but the 5^th set was an absolute thriller as it went to 12-10 for Murray. I am sure that Murray will be disappointed that it went to this state and the fact that the match went to a second day

 

womens draw 1-6-14

WOMENS

BOUCHARD SECURARES QYARTER FINAL

In round 4 This French open at least in the women’s side of the draw was about shocks and the shock here was not the fact that Eugenie Bouchard defeated Angelique Kerber and giving the performance of her life to do so. It was the fact that she took a double break in each set winning by 6-1, 6-2 she might be an outsider for the title and I would want to look a lot closer at her

MUGURUZ SECURES SHOCK SPOT

In the battle of the unseeded players it was a comfortable win for Garbine Muguruza of Spain secured a spot in the quarter finals after she defeated Pauline Parentier 6-4, 6-2

SUAREZ NUVARO GETS INTO CRUZE CONTROL

Spaniard Carla Suarez Nuvaro cruised into the quarter finals in the French open as she defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 6-3, 6-3 and looks like she was ready for anybody or anything. The important breaks showed that this would be the Spaniards best performance and looking at this Womens anything can happen and probably will

third round french open 30-5-14

We are at the point that seeds play each other as we can say who are going to be the stronger players in the French open

WOMENS

First is Agneska Radvanska vs Ajla Tomljanovic Radvanska is very high in the seeded order so is expected to win in this match and I think that she can do it in 2 but will probably do it in 3 sets

I feel that Maria Sharapova is a lot better player than Paula Ormaecha and should get past her in 2 sets but I would not ne surpiised if there was a tie break in those 2 sets

Domimica Cibulkova will have this as the seeds must take control of this French open again as Sam Stoser can win this match and I feel that it will go to 3 sets but the Slovak will win it

 MENS

I feel that Roger Federrer will beat Demitry Tursonov in 4 sets as he has got the right mentality to get this win

I feel that this might be the first big shock of the French open as Giles Simon will beat Milos Ranoc in 5 sets and I feel that there might be 2 tie breakers in this match as the French crowd get on Simons back

Novac Djockavic is expected to win this match over Marin Cilic but I think that this might be his first test of a champion as to be one he has to win this game in three sets to show that he has the form to beat Rafa and win the title I feel that it might take him 4 sets to win this match  

 

barrys french predictions 29-5-14

Women’s

First is Jelena Jankavic vs Kurumi Nara as Jankavic is the seed in this match I would expect her to win in 3 sets

Ana Ivonavic vs Elina Svitlona Ivonavic I think is definitely a strong player and will get through this from the outside and I do feel that this is will not be easy in any way shape or form I think that all 3 sets will be close

Alison Riske vs Kristona Mladenovic you have been hoping for an American coming through but as these players are unseeded it is difficult to define between the two players I think that Riske will win this tie in 2 sets but both will be close.

Pera Kitova vs Marina Erakovic with the way that this tournament is going anything can happen but Petra should be able to get through this tie wit some ease but we can not be certain and anything can happen with the seeded players

Men’s

Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem I have seen that Nadal has got the enough form to make this quite easy for him and I should see Nadal break twice in all sets and show why he is the best on clay

Richard Gasguet vs Carlos Belocq.  Gasguet is quite possibly the player the pressure of the home fans could get to him and I could see Gasguet winning in 4  

Simone Bololi vs David Ferrer Ferrer on clay should be able to get past this second round tie as he can get past this in 3 or 4 sets

 

 

mens tennis 28-5-14

MENS TENNIS

FERRER SHOWS CLASS

 

Spain’s David Ferrer showed how he can win the title as he got better throughout this match against Igor Sisjling as he won 6-4 6-3 6-1 we saw Ferrers potential to be a champion and whether he can do enough to be a champion on clay and in my opinion if he is to take some form of control of a competition this is the one he should focus on.

HAPPY FRENCH AS MONFISE GOES THROUGH

 

Gail Monfise of France could be a bit of a surprise package as he did fall under the French pressure a set in this first round tie against Victor Hanescu of Rominia as he won   6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. He is very high in the French rankings so there will be a lot of pressure on him but he came through and I feel that there is potential for a quarter final positions here 

ANOTHER FRENCHMAN THROUGH

 

Another Frenchman through to the second round as Richard Gasguet secured a 6-2, 6-1 7-5 against Bernard Tomic of Australia. Gasguet looks ready for anybody as Tomic is not a particularly difficult opponent in this tournament and with the round. I feel that he could reach the quarters if the crowd get behind him which I think they will.

BIG BRIT THROUGH

 

Andy Murray showed why he could be the best of the rest as he defeated Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 but this does not to me show that there is enough to beat any of the big guns in the men’s draw. A quarter final might be as far as he goes as the big 2 will be there to beat him in the Quarter finals if he manages to get there. Murray does need to get better as dropping sets at this stage says you are on a bad road   

   

womens tennis 28-5-14 no pictures

WOMENS TENNIS

HALEP CRUISES THROUGH

Simona Halep of Romania cruised through to the second round with a seeding of number 4 I feel that she can set to a final of this tournament but we do not know enough about her in this round as it was too easy against Alisa Kleybanova of Russia as she won 6-0 6-2 there was no contrast here and you will need to see what she can do when she goes further in the competition

IVANAVIC FINDS IT EASY

Anna Ivanovic of Serbia cruised into the second round of the French open with a 6-3 6-1 win over Caroline Garcia of France. Sometimes you can lean a lot from a person but in this match there is very little to learn for Ivanovic and if she does go far I think that she will be very happy with this performance but will learn very little from it of herself a Quarter final is a good goal for her but if she can keep this up maybe a semi final is an achievable goal

LI OUT IN BIG SHOCK

 

No 2 seed Na Li of China was dumped out of this years French yesterday after loosing to Kristina Mladenovic and the home fans liked it as she came from France loosing the first set 7-5 but Na Li did take the second 6-3 to bring the game into the final set. The final set Li could not get started at all and lost 6-1 but you do not know how good this woman is all I can say is that this will not help Chinese tennis