Where would we be without sport in the summer especially when the weather is as hot as it has been this summer? If your sport is golf, The US masters is the start of the summer; If its flat horse racing it’s the Curragh that you need to be at; If its hurling it’s probably going to be a Sunday in May down in Thurles; If cycling is your sport you will probably be following the one day classics such as Paris Roubaix on the second Sunday in April.

Whatever sport it is it has a certain effect on our moods. Take the British open as an example; always played on the best links courses throughout Britain. You never have to ask what tournament is on the telly in mid July as the long rough, the burnt fairways; the high winds the heavy showers tell you it’s the British open. The BBC covers it from start to finish with a preview programme going out on the Wednesday before. This year was no exception with all the top players there: Woods, McIlroy, Mickelson, Westwood, Scott to name but a few. This year’s championship was played at Muirfield golf club only a short distance from Edinburgh. Muirfield is well known as a traditional club where visitors will find it difficult to get on for a game. Generally speaking visitors are welcome on a Thursday where the green fee is in excess of £250 Sterling and players may be asked to play a foursome format rather than their own ball. Last week while practising for the open, Tiger arrived at the club just after 7am to play a round. He was told that the course was not open for play until nearer 8am so he had to wait in line.  Last week’s weather was perfect for scoring but the course has changed a little since Nick Faldo won the open there in 1987 shooting 18 pars to win his first major title. The course has been lengthened and the rough is now penal. So all the talk last Thursday morning was would Tiger return to form after an injury or would Rory get his form back and capture another major or would Phil Mickelson be the first man ever to record a back to back Scottish Open and British open wins? or would Adam Scott put the demons of Lytham St. Anne’s behind him and add the open to his masters victory. A lot of questions were asked but only the links at Muirfield had the answers. While Rory Milroy missed the cut Lee Westwood emerged as the leader entering the last day and was paired with Hunter Mahan. The final round started promising as Lee held some clutch putts to have a three shot lead at one stage but lurking in Muirfield as ever was the long grass and the penal pot bunkers. Up ahead of Lee was Ian Poulter; the colourful and sometimes controversial Englishman had put together a run of an eagle and 4 birdies to finish on a score of one over for the tournament and take the clubhouse lead. Things were getting interesting. Adam Scott, playing alongside Tiger, has 3 birdies on the bounce to take a share of the lead with Westwood and Stenson while Tigers charge never really amounted to anything as his putter was not hot and irons shots were not close enough to make enough birdies. Tiger still has the tag of never coming from behind on the last day of a major to win. I am sure this is something he will be trying to put right as he goes in search of Jack Nicklaus’s record. It’s now six years since Tiger won a major.  Meanwhile under the radar the ever smiling Phil Mickelson was plodding along at par for his round then he went through the gears to run off 4 birdies in the last six holes and in that reaching the 17th green with two 3 woods. He must have known that he was the champion elect as he rolled in that birdie at 17 but he was not finished yet. He hit a three wood at 18 then followed up with an iron shot to 12 feet and as cool as ever rolled it in knowing he would not be denied his first open championship. As ever he was graceful in receiving the claret jug openly admitting that he wondered if he had the shots to get around an open venue, to deal with the wind etc. A lot of praise was given to his faithful caddy Bones who has been with him since his career started. I think that alone speaks volumes about Phil Mickelson. He certainly was a popular winner of this magical major that is the open championship.  An interesting fact the last 3 winners of the open were all over 40. So who says this is a young man’s game?
 
The Gaelic Grounds in Limerick is also playing a major part in the summer of 2013 with the Limerick hurling giving every Limerick person something to be happy with. The media had written them off against Tipperary in the semi final. Limerick could be had at odds of 4/1 before the sliothar was thrown in, an insult many would think to an emerging side under the guidance of John Allen. The bookies had written the script but the 15 players that started the game had different ideas for the afternoon. Limerick hit the ground running and quickly established a lead and went in at half time one goal and seven points to seven points in front. Things were looking good for Limerick. Enter John O’Dwyer, a second half sub for Tipperary scoring one goal and three points for Tipperary. Now things looked slightly different for the Treaty men. John Allen made changes bringing in Conor Allis for David Breen; Shane Dowling replaced Seamus Hickey; Niall Moran replaced Sean Tobin; Cathal King replaced Paul Browne and Kevin Downes for James Ryan. Limerick rallied in the last tens minutes to run out three point winners. That day, there was a mini pitch invasion but as the Limerick fans left the Gaelic Grounds that day little did they know what lay in store for them a few weeks later. Fast forward to July 14^th, same location; different opposition in Cork. The hype leading up to days like that are funny. You hear things like, have you a ticket? where is it for? have you any spares? how are you getting to match? where are you going for a drink before the match? where are you going after the match? etc. And this is all before you take your seat at the match! Then while sitting down you hear the comments: have we a chance? will the team start as named? who is refereeing? etc. Once the match starts all that talk stops. Let the 30 players on the field answer those questions I say.

There was a nervous start from both sides, exchanging point for point. It was all very tight, Cork playing with the breeze in the first half and looking dangerous in front of goal. I think Cork will wonder why they had not scored at least one goal in the first half an hour. Then, the referee blows for a free to limerick no one could have foretold that Pat Horgan would be shown a red card. Some will say it was harsh others, while others will say it’s a rule so therefore he had to be sent off. Never the less off he went and the Limerick supporters sensed a victory was now on the cards.  The sides went in level at ten points each. Again during the break the supporters had their views on things with how will Limerick take advantage of the extra man? Ah Jimmy the wind is getting stronger; who is that warming up for Limerick? Hey John, get me a maxi twist; I’m of to the gents etc. This is all part of being in the crowd at the Munster final. Limerick tagged on a few points and lead by only two points after sixty minutes. It seemed Cork were not going down without a fight but the Treaty boys scored seven unanswered points to clinch victory and at the full time whistle 30,000 limerick supporters descended onto the field to celebrate the first Munster championship to come to Limerick in 17 years. It was all the sweeter that it was won in Limerick. I have never seen scenes like it and hope it’s not too long before we see maybe even bigger celebrations.

These are all things which help to frame an Irish sporting summer and hopefully we are only half way through this potentially long summer.

Lee Harrington.