Brian are you blowing her a kiss, kissing her ar*e or saying she just is not up to it ?

As been said before, they weren’t just picked out of a random line up of people to go to the Olympics. They trained hard, got there on their own merit. So maybe when YOU do all that, get to the biggest sporting event in the world, all eyes on you, maybe then you have a right to moan and bitch, but until then, be proud of our athletes for being there. They got a lot further than you.

Jim, you are mistaking the mostly part time athletes who in general are not at the Olympics for fame or fortune, but rather taken part in the event, with the hope that they will perform their best and possibly win one of a very limited pool of medals; with the FAI (who don’t really need the team to turn up to get their money) and who’s performance is based on how well the English FA trains the young Irish players, and with the IRFU (who do seem to have a bit of pride as part of their culture), but who don’t have enough individuals up to the level of the tri-nations.

The only linking factor is the investment in sport in and out of schools, which isn’t there and needs kids and parents to take part in GAA, athletics, Swim Ireland, IABA and hope to become hooked to get up to the level of Derval. Take politics out of sports investment (look at the localised lottery funding) and get a coherent strategy for participation, encouragement and performance and you will have more medals in Rio and further,

but until then – have a bit of pride in the individuals who are there.

Can we stop this meaningless Roy Keane type attitude that is spreading throughout the country. It’s like Nike marketing ‘impossible is nothing’.
We need realism here and anybody who understands sport, specifically running will understand what happened to Derval this evening. She has won a world title and nobody can question her determination or ability. It didn’t happen this evening. Simple as that. As it doesn’t happen either for 90% of athletes competing in the Olympics. Nobody can question Derval, nobody.

Andy when you can hurdle as fast as she can and can run as fast as she can you will have earned the right to be so dismissive.
Well done Derval

Hear hear, Noel.

Failure is failure but what is failure?
Failure to what?

Failure to make the final of the event you are competing in. Again I know that winning a Gold is really tough and only 1 person can do so but some Athletics events have 16+ in the final and even the sprints have 8. We should set the bar higher than saying well done and you made us proud.

Once again for those in the cheap seats I am not saying she let us down or is a disgrace or whatever I am just stating that failing to reach the final is failure.