Emmet Moloney writes for the 'The Irish Farmers Journal' and is a former sports columnist with 'The Kerryman'.

From Kevin O’Brien’s slaying of the English to hurley-waving offenders in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, it was another busy week in the world of sport...

Watching young Kevin O’Brien pulling on everything thrown his way in Bangalore last week was riveting television. I stole up to a local pub to see the last 10 minutes, having followed it all on the computer till then. There were about seven regulars in there whose usual diet of afternoon television consists of racing from Ayr, Folkstone and Southwell. Not that day. They were nearly dancing around the screen. All of them were now experts, except for one man who kept asking why O’Brien didn’t catch it and then hit it out of his hands.

By the winning ball, Johnston, Mooney and O’Brien were being lauded in the same breath as Ray Houghton, Michael Collins and Brian Boru. (Note to IRFU: If we are out of the cricket World Cup by the time Ireland play England in the Aviva Stadium, get our cricket boys on the field before the kick-off. That will set the tone!)

The success of the cricket side is an example of what can be achieved with the application of spirit, discipline and hard work. Watching them come up short against India on Sunday morning was very instructive.

These lads do not lie down. They are a real team; well drilled and well led. All managers and players of all codes take note: with the right attitude, anything is possible.

HURLING HAND-OFF
Watching Cork and Galway slug it out in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday I couldn’t help but notice the number of frees. There’s a bit of cynicism creeping into the game from those doing the fouling and those at the receiving end. Play-acting is not just the remit of soccer, it’s the remit of human nature. It’s out there. We need to deal with it.

But what we must deal with first is the use of the hurley by the player in possession. This is a recent enough phenomenon. As a player catches a ball and drives out past an opponent he waves his stick as if he is making room to swing it. In reality he is using the hurley to ward off that opponent, à la the rugby hand-off, in a striking motion.

It’s dangerous, it’s a little sneaky and it’s becoming very common. Players this good know exactly what they are doing and the move can be well disguised, with one or two exponents of this dark art always managing to look as if they are merely freeing their hurley from the clutches of their opponent. Refs are fooled. The game goes on. Backs are the biggest culprits; forwards the usual victims. Already this year at seven hurling matches I have seen plenty of it on show. We need to cut it out.

THE WEST COULD STRIKE FIRST
Clarinbridge of Galway and St Brigid’s of Roscommon come to Croke Park next week as the first senior All-Irelands of the year are decided. This is a very enticing afternoon of GAA. The hurling is on first (something I’ll never understand) but no matter, Clarinbridge’s name appears to be on the trophy. They have been down and out about five times in this championship but have come back every time and found a way to win.

Destiny is a difficult thing to stop so O’Loughlin Gaels will have their work cut out. Early goals tend to sway these finals; I’ve a hunch the Connacht men will get them.

In the football decider Roscommon’s best take on serial winners Crossmaglen. A classic underdog versus perennial Goliath. The football match is usually a low-scoring, tight affair. Let’s hope the Rossies come out the right side of it; we need success spread around the country.

CHELTENHAM IS UPON US!
It’s been a strange few months for the National Hunt fraternity with countless meetings called off. Usually the week before Cheltenham we’d have our minds made up and our fancies at the tip of our tongues. But the disrupted season, thanks to our extreme weather patterns, has seen some of the stars out of action for months at a time as courses froze or flooded. Hard enough as it is to pick a winner at the Festival, this year looks more of a lottery.

How many winners will Ireland have? Colm Murray on Radio One on the Sunday beforehand is always a good pointer. Colm’s natural enthusiasm would have us winning about 20 of the races at the start, but by the end of the conversation he usually settles on close to the right number.

Very few horses have had their preferred ground this winter so some will be putting bad runs behind them to win. Keep it in mind. Some free tips? I have a suspicion that Dunguib, once I don’t back him, will run a great race in the Champion Hurdle. Golden Silver is another to keep an eye on – probably in the Ryanair Chase. Willie Mullins will have winners – getting on the right one is the trick. While Ruby rides the pick of them, keep an eye on Paul Townend on the second string. There’ll be betting value there and somewhere along the line he will click. Let’s hope we do too.

RUGBY TO SET THE BALL ROLLING
Before all of that we have the Irish rugby team to look forward to against Wales on Saturday. I’m confident. What pleases me most is the game Ireland are trying to play. It’s expansive without being sevens-type rugby and it’s the way forward for the World Cup. Kidney and Co have earned our trust. They know what they’re doing, even if referees don’t think that they do. I’ve a feeling we’ll beat Wales with style and kick-start a glorious week for Irish sport. Winners galore in Cheltenham, another upset from the cricketers in India and drama aplenty in Croke Park on Paddy’s Day before the old enemy England roll into the Aviva to put the tin hat on it!

This is what keeps us going.

To catch Emmet's latest column, get 'The Irish Farmers' Journal' every Thursday...