Sport is the steak. The controversies which accompany are the chips on the side. If they weren't on the menu, as Irish fans, we wouldn't be sated.
These are five of the best side dishes to Irish sport this year.
The top five controversies of the Irish sporting year
Johnny Sexton's Champions Cup final meltdown
The 2023 Champions Cup final was supposed to be a crowning moment for Leinster. It was the game where they were going to banish their recent demons, claiming the biggest prize in club rugby in front of an adoring Aviva Stadium crowd.
Of course, we all know what happened next.
The crushing loss to La Rochelle was one thing, but post-match conversation was not dominated by the action on the pitch. Instead, we all focused on Johnny Sexton, who was not even playing on the day due to injury.
The Leinster and Ireland captain became involved in altercations with both the officials and members of opposition both during and after the final. The referee was criticised for decisions he made, while certain La Rochelle staff members were also called out.
The incidents involved some of the biggest figures in Irish rugby, with Sexton, Ronan O’Gara, and Sean O’Brien all playing a part.
It was clear that 38-year old had crossed a line, but it remained to be seen how he would be punished for that.
The disciplinary process that followed was a long and drawn out one, although it did have a fairly satisfactory ending from an Irish perspective. Sexton would be suspended for three matches, which would be served during the team’s warmup games for the Rugby World Cup. He was not suspended for any games in the tournament itself.
Of course, this incident was also the first letdown in what turned out to be a rather sad ending to Johnny Sexton’s career.
Rory McIlroy vs the American caddies
Any European victory in the Ryder Cup is a memorable one, but this year’s seemed even more significant due to the friction between the two teams at various points in Rome. That was best evidenced by Rory McElroy’s now infamous run-in with Joe LaCava, the caddie of American player Patrick Cantlay.
Golfing controversies can often seem like a storm in the teacup to those on the outside looking in, with this being no exception.
It all stemmed from rumours that Cantlay had refused to wear a USA cap due to a lack of payment for taking part in the Ryder Cup. The European fans doffed an imaginary cap at him throughout the second day of play as a result.
When the golfer nailed a putt on the 18th to give his team a chance to win the match, he returned the favour. So did his caddie Joe LaCava, who allowed his celebrations to go on a bit long.
‘Hatgate’ - the unabridged version.
The caddie was completely out of order here in my view and was deliberately trying to put Rory off.
LaCava’s ‘excuse’ to Shane was, “I just wanted to celebrate” -
Utter bulls*it, Joe. pic.twitter.com/d9pzBN5mwN— TheGolfDivoTee™ (@TheGolfDivoTee) October 1, 2023
That annoyed Rory McIlroy, who was lining up a putt that could have earned his side a draw. He exchanged words with LaCava, only to then miss the putt.
The drama only really began at that point, with the Northern Irishman going on to have another altercation with Jim ‘Bones’ McKay in the carpark soon after, with Shane Lowry also getting involved. They would label the incident as one of the most disrespectful they had ever seen on a golf course.
A furious Rory McIlroy confronted a Team USA caddie in the car park, after he was spotted waving his cap in McIlroy's face when lining up his final putt on 18 😳pic.twitter.com/Ha4r5hDsGi
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 30, 2023
McIlroy would use it for fuel the next day as he helped power Europe to a big win.
The fallout between Katie McCabe and Vera Pauw at the World Cup
31 July 2023; Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw with players, from left, Izzy Atkinson, Megan Walsh, Denise O'Sullivan, Katie McCabe and performance analyst Andrew Holt after the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Group B match between Republic of Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
It may not be the most explosive clash between an Irish manager and captain at a World Cup, but the fallout between Vera Pauw and Katie McCabe certainly left a bitter taste after a historic campaign for the Ireland WNT.
Ahead of the World Cup, allegations of misconduct were made against Pauw, dating back to her previous role as manager of Houston Dash. They became a hot topic of conversation and an unwelcome distraction for the Ireland squad in the buildup to their first-ever major tournament.
The first sign of a rift between McCabe and Pauw came when the Ireland captain was asked to comment on the allegations, and seemed to suggest that the pair did not exactly see eye-to-eye:
I can't answer for each and every player. Of course Vera has a style of management that we're used to now over the last two years. It’s something we've worked together, we’ve argued with each other of course. You're never going to get on 100 per cent with your manager at times.
She pushes me and I push her. In my opinion and from my personal relationship with Vera, of course, we've clashed many a times but we’re always professional enough to make sure we are fully focused for the team.
We know both of our hearts are in the right place in terms of what works best for the Ireland women’s national team going forward.
During Ireland's final World Cup game, things truly came to a head, with Pauw accusing McCabe of calling for teammate Sinead Farrelly to be substituted, and pointedly stating:
Why would we change? If Katie McCabe says that she wants a change, that doesn't mean [we change].
She's not the coach, eh? Everybody was doing so well - I said, 'what do you want Katie, take our best player off?'
A player is allowed to be emotional, is allowed to say that, it's fine. But during the game I step back and analyse and make changes that are necessary.
McCabe responded by simply tweeting a shushing emoji - and the Irish football public was dramatically split on who was in the right. Ultimately, Pauw departed as Ireland manager in the weeks following the World Cup, and some of McCabe's teammates have since spoken out about their displeasure with her management.
For what it's worth, Pauw has since said that she "loves" McCabe and that the pair spoke for over an hour in the period following the World Cup to clear the air.
Kilmacud Crokes' 16th man
For a fortnight earlier this year, Gaelic games was dominated by one story: Kilmacud Crokes having an extra player on the pitch as they defended one of the final plays of the game in the All-Ireland senior club football final against Glen.
The shrill of the final whistle had barely faded when another one was blown on Dara Mullins remaining on the pitch despite having been replaced by Conor Casey. Mullins stood on the line as side face Danny Tallon's 45 which resulted in a low shot from Conleth McGuckian going narrowly wide.
Following the game, Glen lodged an appeal and the GAA's CCCC ordered a replay. However, Kilmacud countered with their own objection as the controversy neared saga territory.
It ended 12 days after the game when Glen withdrew their appeal, telling Gaelic Life that "Due to the ongoing proceedings we as a club now do not believe the conditions exist for a replay to be contested".
A replay had never been in the calendar. Holidays for players on both teams had been pencilled in, as had their involvement with inter-county teams. If an absolute call for a replay had been made, there was absolutely no clear sense of when it would have taken place. Though Kilmacud players had already celebrated the win, they were officially champions.
Katie Taylor and Croke Park
Part two of this story is already underway. When Katie Taylor defeated Chantelle Cameron in November to become an undisputed two-weight world champion, she immediately called for the trilogy fight to take place at Croke Park. Discussions have already taken place.
Part one premiered more than a year ago when Taylor was slated to face Amanda Serrano for her homecoming fight in Ireland. Croke Park was the dream venue for Taylor. Due to Serrano suffering an injury, and an unbridgeable gap in security costs between Croke Park and Matchroom, that fight didn't happen. Instead, Taylor lost to Cameron at the 3Arena.
In public, at least, all the relevant parties are saying they want Croke Park to host the trilogy fight. That doesn't mean it will.
SEE ALSO: 50 Of The Best Irish Sports Photographs Of 2023
