From victory in the Ryder Cup to disappointment on the rugby field, 2023 has been a tumultuous year for Irish sports. 

Speaking on The Anton Savage Show today, Off the Ball’s Ger Gilroy discusses the highs and lows of sports this year. 

One sporting event filled with highs and lows was Ireland’s play in the Rugby World Cup, where the team once again failed to reach the quarterfinals. 

Ger noted Irish fans were riding a high after a Grand Slam win in March 2023. 

“That victory over South Africa in the middle of the World Cup also was a sense of ‘maybe this time, it's going to be different’,” he said. 

“Unfortunately, that was not the case.” 

Winning elite sports

Ger said the reason for Ireland’s loss this time is the “$64-million-dollar question”. 

“Famously after the last World Cup it was because the posh boys are posh, not enough dog in them, but I don’t know about that,” he said. 

“I think sometimes when you get to very elite sports, you get within the kick of a ball. 

Johnny Sexton in the Rugby World Cup, 07/10/2023. Image: Ramsay Cardy/Sportsfile

“If the bounce of the ball had gone our way, if there was a hand underneath or a five-metre dropout, we knock on from that.

"When there's nothing between the teams, a bit of luck just goes to one team."

Ger said we should remain optimistic for the next World Cup – but take some lessons from South Africa. 

Two international managers gone 

2023 was also the year both the men's and women’s soccer teams lost their managers, Stephen Kenny and Vera Pauw. 

Ger said the FAI’s decision not to renew Ms Pauw’s contract relied mainly on their success in the Women’s World Cup. 

“I think if Vera had got the team out of the group, it would have been impossible for the FAI not to give her a new contract,” he said. 

“But we didn't get out of the group in the World Cup and there'd been incidents before the World Cup - it's kind of quite embarrassing if there are allegations about your manager.” 

Republic of Ireland players celebrate after the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and Finland at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin, 01-09-2022. Image: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Despite the unsuccessful year for the men’s soccer team, Ger said Mr Kenny has provided a lot for Irish sports.

“The Aviva was a much busier place,” he said. “It was a much more vibrant place and the football-going public supported Stephen Kenny. 

“They supported the team that he was trying to put out. 

“We've seen several other players - and I'm not just talking about the Evan Fergusons of the world - players have definitely benefited from exposure at an early stage. 

“That’s because of Stephen Kenny... we’ll see what his legacy is in two years.” 

Ryder Cup success

Ireland, however, did see some success in the golf world as Europe won the Ryder Cup in Italy, with Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy scoring highest in the world. 

Shane Lowry from the Republic of Ireland succeeded in ranking 11th in the World Cup, while the losing Americans are licking their wounds. 

“I’ve no doubt that American golf fans are going to get particularly patriotic the next time I think because there was such fervour from the Europeans,” he said. 

“There are going to be a lot of tapes doing the rounds in the WhatsApp groups of the American golfers of McElroy and Lowry and everybody hyping up the crowd. 

“It’s probably best that you annihilate the opposition on home turf.” 

The 2025 Ryder Cup will take place in New York and will be hosted in Ireland in 2027.