Latest news with #DamienFleming
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Lions Letter: The 'G will convert non-believers into devoted fans on Saturday
The trams on the way out from Flinders Street Station were busy on Thursday evening as fans from Hawthorn and Carlton made their regular pilgrimage to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for their weekly dose of the AFL. We know it as Aussie Rules and to supporters of this city's nine professional AFL teams in this sports-mad city, their destination is simply 'The 'G'. As a kid growing up in 1970s and 80s England, where the football season morphed into cricket every May, the biennial glimpse of an Ashes tour Down Under focused on the MCG and the Boxing Day Test was a beacon of summer warmth amid the Christmas festivities, though for English sides going into the lion's den they rarely emerged unscathed. This was the ground where the late, great Shane Warne, that most mercurial and talented of Australian spin bowlers bowled the first Ashes hat-trick in 91 years when he skittled out the English tail-end on Boxing Day 1994 as the visitors crumbled to 92 all out to lose the match by a whopping 295 runs. The English journalists among the visiting media being shown around the 100,024-seat stadium on a rain and windswept Tuesday lunchtime were reminded of that fact during a fascinating tour in the company of former Australian cricketer Damien Fleming. Fleming, who was in that Aussie bowling attack that day 31 years ago, also pointed to the only seat in the MCG's vast stands that was coloured red, to mark the longest-hit six at the stadium, way up on the second tier. It invited an innocent question from an Irish rugby journalist of 'what's a six?'. All of which goes to prove that cricket remains a mystery to many, and that tales from "The 'G" are still to be learned from those not steeped in the games to have been played here. Mack Hansen plays hurling during the British & Irish Lions squad captain's run at the MCG in Melbourne, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Rugby union takes another tentative step into the MCG on Saturday night, when the British & Irish Lons break new ground against Australia in the second Test of this 2025 series. A crowd of 95,000-plus is expected at this iconic venue and centrepiece of the 1956 Olympics and Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson is eagerly anticipating running onto the hallowed oval. 'It's super special. For Australian sport, there's no bigger stadium,' Wilson said. 'You grow up here watching Boxing Day tests, the AFL Grand Finals all here. It's always sold out, packed. It doesn't get much better than that, so I guess the feeling of probably running out here in front of 90 plus thousand people is truly special.' It is also a stadium where the great Jim Stynes, the AFL's finest import from Ireland, has been cast in a bronze statue on the plaza surrounding it in tribute to his feats with the Melbourne 'Demons' Football Club. All this was new to John Fogarty on Friday as the Lions wrapped up their captain's run training session at the MCG. The Ireland and Lions scrum coach is a recent convert to the MCG's iconic status. 'I didn't know what the MCG was, I have never watched cricket, never seen the game, we didn't play it when we were kids so I hadn't got a clue,' Fogarty admitted. 'Andy (Farrell) has been telling us: 'Wait until you see this'. When he got back from doing a recce he was 'oh my God, this stadium, that stadium' but nothing landed until we walked out. 'My brother Denis is over and he came to the (AFL) game last night and was telling me it was going to be some stadium to play in, it is an amazing place. 'I remember the first time I walked out to Croke Park when I was a kid and I was 'oh God, look at this' so when we walked out you could see a lot of us looking around and going 'Jesus, this is bigger than anything we have been in before'. 'Certainly for me it is bigger than anything I have been in before, it is an unbelievable privilege to be here, I know have said it a couple of times, but I mean it. I feel unbelievably lucky, and the players are the same, to be able to do this stuff. It is not normal.' Whether the Lions win or lose on Saturday morning, you can be sure the MCG will have converted a few more non-believers into devoted fans of this magnificent sporting cathedral.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
British and Irish Lions set for debut at iconic 100,000-seat ‘greatest stadium on earth' first used nearly 200 years ago
THE BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS are set for a historic encounter in one of the world's most esteemed venues. The Lions will face Australia in their second test - after winning the first on Saturday in Brisbane - at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground. 5 5 5 5 5 And the big match is expected to be watched by a staggering capacity of 100,000. The legendary stadium, which opened way back in 1853, has hosted a series of sporting events in the past. That includes Aussie Rules, football, rugby league and of course cricket. And now it will host a British and Irish Lions Test match for the first time on Saturday. The crowd is expected to surpass the 84,000 that attended the Lions' deciders against Australia in Sydney back in 2001 and 2013. The Wallabies' stars are counting down the hours until they get to step on the "Mecca of sport". Rob Valetini told the BBC: "It's going to be really awesome for me. And Harry Potter added: "It is a Mecca of sport in my eyes." This comes after cricket legend Damien Fleming dubbed the ground as the "greatest sporting stadium in the world". Despite the fact Melbourne isn't known for rugby union, the locals love sport and the G so much that officials are confident both teams will enjoy a stunning atmosphere. The exact number of Lions fans attending the game is hard to pinpoint due to expats living Down Under. But it is estimated that more than 30,000 will make the long trip.
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Greatest stadium on earth' - Lions set for debut at The 'G
Second Test: Australia v British and Irish LionsDate: Saturday, 26 July Kick-off: 11:00 BST Venue: Melbourne Cricket GroundCoverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website and app, with post-match analysis on BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live and online Days out from the second Test between Australia and the British and Irish Lions, and Damien Fleming is holding court pitch side at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 100,000 seats empty for both the rugby posts and Aussie Rules sticks up behind him, the former fast bowler is reminiscing about the legendary Shane Warne's hat-trick on the hallowed middle in the 1994 Ashes series against England."I just think this is the greatest sporting stadium in the world," reflects Fleming, a proud Victorian who played in two Ashes Tests at his home ground."There is an aura about this stadium. It has a wow factor, and I love it."But despite its name, the MCG is not just a cricket venue. It is the home of Australian Rules football - a religion in these parts - often hosting two or three games a week during the AFL has staged State of Origin rugby league and football as well as events in the Olympic and Commonwealth on Saturday, for the first time, it will be the venue for a British and Irish Lions Test match. The official capacity is 100,024 and this weekend's crowd is expected to surpass the 84,000 that attended the Lions deciders against the Wallabies in Sydney in 2001 and 2013."As a kid you are dreaming of playing AFL here as a kid, you are dreaming of playing cricket for Australia," adds Fleming."For the Wallabies to have the opportunity to play in front of 90,000 people [is amazing], but also for the Lions. How many times do they get to play in front of 90,000 people?" The 1999 World Cup winner leads us from the pitch down into the bowels of the stadium and the away changing room, where the Lions will prepare to try and wrap up the series and where many an England cricketer has sat and pondered their fate, hoping to get their name on the honours board that hangs high on the back wall."I played for 14 years as a Victorian player and eight times here for Australia, but when there is a cricket game and you go down to the pitch I still get nervous even 'though I am not playing," Fleming adds."Good luck to the Wallabies and Lions players, because I hope it is a highlight of their sporting careers." 'A Mecca of sport' The MCG is the heart of Melbourne. A short stroll along the Yarra River from the Flinders Street station to Melbourne Park, and you are hit by a stack of world-famous arenas. Towering over them all is The ' enormous in size, in keeping with the traditional boldness of Australian sport, the venue has touches of quaintness, such as the Lord's-esque Long Room and the sofas with a view of the cricket from behind the arm, where places are reserved for more venerated seeps from every part, from statues of legends that surround the perimeter - with great figures from cricket and Aussie Rules immortalised - to the museum that contrasts the old with the 1888 the Lions played 19 matches of Victorian football on their 35-match tour, including a game against Carlton at the MCG. A cap from that tour is in a cabinet alongside Sam Warburton's second Test shirt from 2013, when the Wallabies beat the Lions down the road in the Docklands."It's going to be really awesome for me," says Australia forward Rob Valetini, a Melbourne boy who is charged with leading the Wallaby backlash after the Lions' win in Brisbane."It is a Mecca of sport in my eyes," adds wing Harry Potter, who moved from England to Melbourne as a 10-year-old. 'The heart of the city' Valetini used to go to The 'G to watch his side St Kilda in the AFL; a rite of passage for everyone from the state of Victoria is Aussie Rules heartland, where rugby union barely gets a look in. At the school where the Lions are based in the Melbourne suburbs, rugby posts had to be bussed in so the tourists could man, woman or child 'barracks' for a team, whether it is Carlton, Hawthorn, St Kilda, the unpopular but successful Collingwood, or Fleming's team Essendon, where his daughter plays for the women's side."AFL is such a part of Victorian and Melbourne culture," Fleming explains."But if I'm guessing, 10- to 15,000 [Aussie Rules fans] will want to be part of Saturday, because it is a unique event."Victorians who have never been to a rugby game before [will come], and their first one will be the Wallabies against the Lions, 90,000 people."This is a view shared by Tanya Gallina, the general manager of the Melbourne Cricket Melbourne is not a rugby union city, and Victoria not a rugby union state. But the locals love their sport, they love their big events, and they love The G."Melbourne is known for its love of sport and the MCG is the heart of the city - it is really important to this state and the country," says Gallina, who is Melbourne born and bred."People know there have been so many amazing moments here, from the 1956 Olympics, to AFL Grand finals to soccer matches to different events. It is iconic, and a meeting place where people come together."We know there are lots of British and Irish fans over here, but we know the Melbournians and Victorians will come and watch a spectacle."It is about being part of something and being part of a moment in time and it is such a unique moment for us to have the Wallabies and the Lions playing here."The exact number of Lions fans flocking to Melbourne is hard to pinpoint, given the amount of ex-pats living here and in Australia in a rough estimate has more than 30,000 making the trip. Some have been here for weeks. Others are coming in for a matter of days, with flights costing up to £3,000 each. But all of them will know Saturday is a once-in-a-lifetime Ellis Park in Johannesburg to Eden Park in Auckland to Principality Stadium in Cardiff, the Lions have played in some famous rugby stadiums this they may never have played a Test match in such an iconic sporting venue. The stage is set. Now, hopefully, it will be a game to match the occasion.
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
One Kerry medallist returns from the Munster Strokeplay in Cork
A member of last year's Munster Inter-County Nett winning side, Eileen is continuing a comeback to the game after a long absence as she finished two strokes off the winning score last Sunday. Rounds of +7 and +6 gave her a +13 total as Riverdale of Nenagh's Margaret Forde was the winner on +11 with Megan Ahern from the host club second on +12. In the Mens' events, meanwhile, there were three Top 10 Kerry finishes in two events. The Senior Mens saw Damien Fleming finish fifth overall after the 54 holes on 19 under par as despite being in a good position of fourth on 16 under after the first 36, he never caught fire in the playoff. John Walsh from the hosts was the winner on 24 under as Castleisland's Aidan O'Connor had an impressive performance in reaching the play-off and finishing eighth overall on 13 under par. The other Top 10 finish was in Saturday's Intermediate Mens event where Tralee's Mark Lucey finished 10th overall. Lucey was fourth overall after the first 36 holes on six under par, three off the lead, but his challenge fell away in the final 18 as he slipped back to one under overall. The event was won by Morty Ahern from the host club on 15 under par. Tuesday, July 8 last, meanwhile, saw the conclusion of the Bob Casey Memorial Inter-Club Strokeplay Championships as for the first time in six years a team from Deerpark was victorious. Their 'Green' team of James Fleming, Gearóid Cronin, Connie O'Sullivan Jnr, Brian McCarthy, Niall O'Loughlin, Seán O'Mahoney, James Foley, Nathan Cronin, Mark O'Shea and Paddy Murphy recovered from losing the opening night in Tralee to win the three remaining nights in Castleisland, Deerpark and Listowel to win from Tralee C as the win prevented a fourth successive Tralee success in the competition. The competition also meant the confirmation of the Kerry Intermediate and Junior Mens sides for the Munster Inter-County Championships in Ardnacrusha on the weekend of August 31 and September 1 with the two sides made up of the following: Intermediate Mens 1. Con O'Sullivan Jnr (Deerpark) 2. Mark Lucey (Tralee) 3. Michael Creagh (Tralee) 4. Eamonn Sheehy (Tralee) 5. Dan Broderick Jnr (Tralee) 6. James Fleming (Deerpark) Sub. Danny O'Leary (Tralee) Junior Mens 1. Mark O'Shea (Deerpark) 2. Brian McCarthy (Deerpark) 3. Sean O'Mahoney (Deerpark) 4. Nathan Cronin (Deerpark) 5. Reece Sugrue (Tralee) 6. Alan O'Connor (Tralee) Sub. Adam Ricken (Castleisland) This weekend, of course, is another big occasion for Damien Fleming as he represents Ireland once more on the Men's Team for the European Team Championships in Lucan in Dublin. It comes after his appearance in the World Cup Final win over North Portugal last year as he will be playing in this event 20 years on from when his Deerpark club-mate Derry McCarthy captained Ireland to victory in this same event in Holland in 2005. The County Board wishes Damien all the best this weekend along with the two Irish teams (Mens and Ladies) taking part.
News.com.au
21-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
A former Australian star has thrown his support behind Sam Konstas for World Test Championship final
Former Australian star Damien Fleming wants to see selectors boldly back Sam Konstas in next month's World Test Championship final at Lords. Konstas is in a battle with No.3 Marnus Labuschagne and the returning Cam Green to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order in the one off Test with South Africa. Fleming believes Green will resume his post at No.4 and slide Steve Smith up to No.3 – leaving the vacant spot between Labuschagne and Konstas. The former quick, who made 108 international appearances, says Konstas offers something different to Labuschagne against the new ball. 'My gut feeling is that they'll stick with Marnus but I would actually go with Konstas,' Fleming, who will cover the final for SEN, said. London here we come. Can’t wait to grab the Microphone for @1116sen @SEN_Cricket For the World Test Final @HomeOfCricket between Australia and South Africa staring June 11th ðŸ�� 🎙ï¸� — Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) May 13, 2025 'I want Konstas to open in the Ashes, so to get a Test final, which is pretty extreme pressure against (Kagiso) Rabada, (Lungi) Ngidi, (Marco) Jansen and co. 'But in his four innings so far he's had (Jasprit) Bumrah bowling so it's not as if he hasn't faced the best at Test level already. 'What I like about Konstas is his scoring rate, we saw early in the Indian series when Nathan McSweeney was opening with Usman and Marnus at No.3, at times they battled really hard but if they lost one or two the scoreboard was nowhere.' Konstas delivered a spectacular debut on Boxing Day in front of a packed MCG, slamming India to all parts in a quick-fire 60. Fleming says Konstas' debut innings and 'even his little cameos' allow the experienced Khawaja to patiently get going. 'We saw in Melbourne in that stunning first innings when Konstas gets out we're virtually 100 and the game is set up,' Fleming said. 'Even his little cameos in Sydney … those quick 20s just accelerated the game and Usman can play within himself. 'I would like for them to go with Konstas, he's the future, we want to get games into him and his scoring rate sets up Test matches. 'Dave Warner was doing that for us for many years, (Virender) Sehwag did it for India, (Chris) Gayle for the West Indies – I mean everyone is doing it in 'Bazball'. 'The more he plays, hopefully he finds that tempo between T20 innovation and just orthodox cricket which he looks like he is orthodox but he does have genuine power, I think he will end up a big, strong boy. 'Yes, it's a World Test Championship final but I think I would be going with Konstas and Usman.' Fleming disagrees with the idea put forward by Chairman of Selectors George Bailey that opening is a role 'more people could do than we give credit to'. He says setting that standard runs the risk of players at Sheffield Shield level avoiding the new ball for a better shot at national selection. 'Under George Bailey, (Andrew) McDonald and (Pat) Cummins, they have been horses for courses to some degree,' he said. 'But as someone sort of said … with the selections of McSweeney – who I think will make it as a Test middle-order player and I love what he brings in the field as well. 'But why be a specialist opener in Shield cricket if they're going to pick guys who bat No.4 to open in Test match cricket? Why would you take that risk? 'The ball might be a bit more blunted and we know, it might have been Moises Henriques who said it … batting has got 30 per cent hard because of the pitches in Shield cricket. 'Opening up is really tough, so I think we need to decrease expectations, years ago you had to average 50 to play Test cricket but maybe we'll take 35 and build partnerships. 'In an ideal world I would like to see us reward Sheffield Shield openers into the Test team.'
