The Sports Year in Review

JANUARY

31 January: Andy Murray reached the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne but his wait for a Grand Slam title would continue as he was unable to stop Roger Federer.

FEBRUARY

7 February: Quarterback Drew Brees brought the New Orleans Saints to an unlikely victory at Super Bowl XLIX in Miami.
13 February: After defeating Italy 29-11 in the Six Nations championship at Croke Park a week earlier, Declan Kidney’s men travelled to Paris to face France. Hooker Jerry Flannery inexplicably kicked winger Alexis Palisson and was ultimately banned for four weeks. Ireland ultimately lost out 33-10.
27 February: John Hayes leads out the Irish team at Twickenham as he became the first player to win 100 caps for Ireland. The Irish beat England 20-16.

MARCH

20 March: Gunning for a Triple Crown, having defeated Wales a week earlier, Ireland are denied by Scotland at Croke Park. A late Dan Parks penalty sees the visitors edge it 23-20.
17 March: Katie Walsh started the second day of Cheltenham – St Patrick’s Day – with a victory on Poker de Sivola, beating her close friend Nina Carberry in a thrilling finish. Katie was congratulated by brother Ruby, who ultimately went on to clock up the most wins at the festival.
23 March: The Limerick County Board reject a motion of no confidence in hurling manager Justin McCarthy.

APRIL

10 April: Tony McCoy cemented his reputation as one of the truly great jockeys by winning the Grand National at Aintree on Don’t Push It.
11 April: An emotional Phil Mickelson used his Masters victory speech to pay tribute to his wife Amy who continues to battle cancer. The American hit a flawless final round of 67 to see off the challenge of Lee Westwood by three shots as Tiger Woods struggled on his return to the spotlight.

MAY

1 May: Leinster are beaten 26-16 by Toulouse in the Heineken Cup semi-final while a day later Munster also go down to French opposition, losing 18-7.
4 May: Neil Robertson became Australia’s first world champion in the modern era, eventually overcoming Graeme Dott 18-13 at 12.54am equalling the latest-ever finish for a world final.
30 May: Aisake Ó hAilpín wins the man-of-the-match award as Cork stun Tipperary on a scoreline of 3-15 to 0-14 in the Munster SHC on Leeside.

JUNE

13 June: Kerry beat Cork in the replayed Munster SFC final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
21 June: Graeme McDowell wins the US Open by one shot at Pebble Beach.
24 June: John Isner and Nicolas Mahut play out the longest tennis match ever recorded at Wimbledon. After 11 hours, 5 minutes of play over three days, the match finished 6–4, 3–6, 6–7(7–9), 7–6(7–3), 70–68 (183 games) as Isner progressed.

JULY

11 July: In the biggest controversy of the GAA summer, Meath’s Joe Sheridan throws the ball into the Louth net in the last minute of the Leinster SFC final. The goal was allowed to stand and Meath won by 1-12 1-10. The Royals refuse to grant the Wee County a replay.
11 July: Andres Iniesta scored the only goal as Spain deservedly win the World Cup in a bad-tempered final at Soccer City. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/11/world-cup-final-holland-spain1
31 July: Derval O’Rourke sealed a silver medal in the Women’s 100m Hurdles at the European Athletics Championships in Barcelona.

AUGUST

5 August: Shamrock Rover travel to Modena to face Italian giants Juventus in the second leg of their Europa League clash. The Hoops, already two down from the first game, lost 1-0 in Italy.
29 August: Down’s Kalum King tips Robbie Kelly’s last-minute free onto the crossbar as the Mournemen qualify for the All-Ireland football final, beating Kildare 1-16 to 1-14.

SEPTEMBER

5 September: Tipperary captain Eoin Kelly lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup following their sensational 4-17 to 1-18 win over Kilkenny in the All-Ireland SHC final. Henry Shefflin is taken off early injured after a heroic battle to be fit as the Cats are denied a five-in-a-row. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B37E4jBA2k
18 September: Irish female boxer Katie Taylor wins her third World Championship title in Barbados.
19 September: Cork end a 20-year wait for All-Ireland SFC glory as they edge out Down (0-16 to 0-15) at Croke Park.

OCTOBER

3 October: Graeme McDowell kept his amazing run going as he sank the putt that handed Europe victory at the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales.

30 October: Australian captain Adam Goodes lifts the Cormac McAnallen trophy following their series victory over Ireland in the International Rules.

NOVEMBER

16 November: Sean Óg Ó hAilpín is told by Cork hurling coach Denis Walsh that he is no longer part of his plans.
20 October: The All Blacks prove too good for Declan Kidney’s side – running out 38-18 winners. Ireland show signs of improvement however after a slow start to the Autumn Tests Series.

DECEMBER

4 December: FIFA delegates vote to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cup final tournaments in Russia and Qatar respectively.