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The Irish Cream of the Crop: The Best Combat Stars

Ireland has produced some of the toughest fighters in the world. Whether it’s the world of MMA, boxing, or wrestling, the world of combat sports has a few Irish fighters that have made their mark. The luck of the Irish combined with hours upon hours of training and skill has made these fighters what they are.

Fighting sports have always gotten a lot of attention which is why fighting events get big audiences. But Irish culture is seen pretty much everywhere. You can see it in books, films, and TV shows and it has even inspired some online slot games. Any selection of Irish casino sites in 2022 will give casino fans a nice group of slots and table games to enjoy. The main thing about them is to enjoy them responsibly.

The best combat stars of Ireland are easy to pinpoint. These are fighters that have made a name for themselves through hard work and grit. So just like a stiff combination of jab-cross, it’s time for the best Irish combat stars you’ll come across:

Katie Taylor

The Bray Bomber isn’t the kind of girl you’re looking to get angry with. After all, Katie had big things early in her career. She was not your average amateur because she had a lot of wins under her belt. Fast forward to today, and you have a professional boxer with an unblemished record.

She has hammered down every opponent she has faced. In other words, she has won 21 fights out of the 21 she fought. Moreover, she has won 6 of those fights by knockout. In short, Katie Taylor is a professional boxer with a lot more fights to go as she’s looking to go down as one of the greatest female boxers.

Becky Lynch

When it comes to combat sports, wrestling seems to get pushed aside. But when you have Becky Lynch in the ring, wrestling is hard to ignore. She made a name for herself in the ring by defeating her opponents and soon enough she was signed to WWE.

She still going big as a member of WWE and has proven, multiple times, that women can duke it out just as men can. She put female wrestlers out of the margins on the map and will continue to do so as her career is far from over.

Steve Collins

Both ladies have an amazing track record, but men shouldn’t be underestimated either. When it comes to boxing, Steve Collins is one of the former great boxers, and he is Irish. In the 90s, English middleweights seemed to have dominated boxing, until Collins put a stop to it.

He also managed to face and beat Chris Eubank in 1995. Collins has an impressive record of 39 wins and 3 losses. He has faced Americans, Brits, French, and boxers from other countries and has made sure they go down in the ring. That’s why everyone knows about the Celtic Warrior.

Conor McGregor

You can’t talk about the best Irish combat start and not mention Conor McGregor. This Irish MMA fighter is known to the world for his bravado inside and outside the ring. He insults his opponents, gets them to drop their guard, and takes them down in the ring.

One of his most memorable performances was when he faced Jose Aldo for the second time and managed to knock him out in 13 seconds. His MMA career didn’t stop him from getting into boxing. He lost to Floyd Mayweather Junior, but he got a lot of attention. Whichever way he goes in the future, he’s going to remain a legend of the combat world.

Conclusion

With these people in mind, you can see that Irish lassies and lads can be pretty tough. Irish combat stars will keep on representing the Irish in the ring for years to come.

Ireland Sevens Squad Named For World Series in LA this weekend

Credit: USA Rugby.

The Ireland Men’s Sevens squad has been named for the final leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Los Angeles this weekend.

Following strong performances in Toulouse and London in May, James Topping’s side currently sit fifth in the World Series standings heading into the finale of the 2022 season at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Squad arrived yesterday

A 15-player squad, captained by Billy Dardis, arrived in Los Angeles yesterday to finalise preparations for the first LA Sevens since 2020.

Eight Olympians are included in the travelling squad, while Ireland U20s Grand Slam winger Chay Mullins and Leinster duo Andrew Smith and Niall Comerford add further World Series experience to the ranks having featured strongly over the course of the 2022 season.

Terry Kennedy will be looking to continue his rich vein of form having been one of the standout performers on the World Series, with the 26-year-old leading the try-scoring charts with 47, nine ahead of Australia’s Corey Toole and Marcos Moneta of Argentina.

This weekend, Ireland will have one eye on building towards the upcoming Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town, which takes place between 9-11 September.

Ireland’s Group

Ireland have been paired in Pool C alongside France, Wales and Fiji, with all the action live from LA on the World Rugby stream here.

Topping’s side open their LA Sevens campaign against France on Saturday (6.48pm Irish time), before facing Wales (10.09pm Irish time) and Fiji (2.05am Irish time) early the following morning Irish time.

“A pleasing World Series season so far”

Commenting ahead of the tournament, the Ireland Head Coach said: “It has been a pleasing World Series season for us so far, particularly as we’ve introduced a number of new players onto this stage since the turn of the year, and the squad are motivated to finish as strong as possible in LA.

“It was a big achievement for the group to reach our first World Series final in Toulouse in May and coming off the back of a Rugby Europe campaign in June and July, we are excited to return to action this weekend. We are also building towards the Rugby World Cup Sevens and performing well in LA will be an important stepping stone for us towards Cape Town.”

Ireland Men’s Sevens Squad, LA Sevens

Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Niall Comerford (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Sean Cribbin (Suttonians RFC)
Billy Dardis (Terenure College RFC) (capt)
Ed Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Jack Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s College RFC)
Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC)
Matt McDonald (IQ Rugby)
Harry McNulty (UCD RFC)
Bryan Mollen (Blackrock College RFC)
Chay Mullins (IQ Rugby)
Aaron O’Sullivan (Blackrock College RFC)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC)
Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Leinster).

Ireland Sevens Schedule, LA Sevens

Saturday, August 27:
Ireland v France, 10.48am local time/6.48pm Irish time
Ireland v Wales, 2.09pm local time/10.09pm Irish time
Ireland v Fiji, 6.05pm local time/2.05am Irish time

Sunday, August 28:
Play-off matches

European Silver Medal for Kris Rohrssen

Tipperary’s Kris Rohrssen and Checkmate won the silver medal at the FEI European Driving Championship for Junior’s (U18) single pony class at Kisbér-Ászár in Hungary. Credit: @HorseSportIRL

Tipperary’s Kris Rohrssen and Checkmate won the silver mdal at the FEI European Driving Championship for Junior’s (U18) single pony class at Kisbér-Ászár in Hungary.

It is the first year that 15-year-old Kris Rohrssen has competed at this level. In Sunday’s competition, the Irish youngster was competing against much more experienced drivers.

In 2021 Rohrssen and his pony Checkmate won the gold medal in the FEI European Carriage Driving Championships for U14 (Children) in Selestat, France.

Sam Bennett wins a second stage at 2022 Vuelta

Sam Bennett (Bora - Hansgrohe) wins stage 3. Credit: Luis Angel Gomez/SprintCyclingAgency/Bora-Hansgrohe.

Sam Bennett has won stage 3 of the 2022 Vuelta.

It is a second stage success for the Carrick-on-Suir sprinter, who also won yesterday, and gives his team two stage victories in the first week of the final Grand Tour of the season.

Stage 3, which was the final stage in the Netherlands, was again a showdown between the fast men. They duly contested the sprint on a circuit around Breda on the longest stage of this year’s Vuelta, at 193.5 km in length.

Sam Bennett started the stage in the green points jersey and hoped to be able to defend it and take another stage win.

With his Bora-Hansgrohe team supporting him all day, in the end, Danny van Poppel was the last man to set his teammate up perfectly on the left hand side of the road, ahead of the bunch sprint.

The Irish fast man was able to hold his own in a hectic tussle at the front and ultimately take the win.

The team from Raubling thereby took its second stage victory in a row and extended its lead in the points classification.

Swiss rider denies Aga Khan-winning heroes to take Longines Grand Prix of Ireland

Swiss rider Edouard Schmitz and the 10-year-old Gamin Van’t Naastveldhof won the Longines Grand Prix of Ireland at the Dublin Horse Show 2022. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Swiss rider Edouard Schmitz and the 10-year-old Gamin Van’t Naastveldhof won Sunday’s Longines Grand Prix of Ireland at the Dublin Horse Show.

The visitor denied two of Ireland’s Aga Khan Trophy-winning combinations from Friday, Conor Swail with Count Me In and Shane Sweetnam with the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz as they filled second and third places respectively.

Ireland’s Andrew Bourns and the Irish Sport Horse Sea Topblue were fourth while French combination Megane Moissonnier and Cordial were fifth.

Ireland’s Rhys Williams and the 7-year-old Playboy JT Z took the International 7 & 8 year-old competition. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch with Dark Chocolate took the runner-up spot, while Jason Higgins and Heritage MBF came third.

Kildare’s Mikey Pender achieved yet another RDS win on Sunday when winning the six-year-old ‘Cruising’ National Championship with HHS Rose. Leah Stack and Laurina won the 5-Year-Old ‘Flexible’ National Championship.

Sam Bennett wins stage 2 of La Vuelta 2022

Sam Bennett on the podium after Saturday's stage 2 success at La Vuelta 2022. Credit: Luis Angel Gomez Gomez/SprintCyclingAgency/Bora-Hansgrohe.

Ireland’s Sam Bennett won today’s first sprint stage of La Vuelta 2022, his fourth career stage win in the Spanish Grand Tour.

In a tight finish the Bora-Hansgrohe rider outsprinted Mads Pedersen of Trek-Segafredo and Tim Merlier from Aplecin-Deceuninck in the days 175.1 kilometre flat stage from ‘s-Hertogenbosch to Utrecht in the Netherlands.

With an excellent leadout from his Bora-Hansgrohe team, the Irish rider was well placed nearing the finish of the day’s action.

Danny van Poppel launched Bennett with the Carrick-on-Suir cyclist able to pull alongside the Pedersen before crossing the line first to win Saturday’s stage.

Merlier finished third with Jumbo-Visma’s Mike Teunissen coming home fourth and taking the race leader’s red jersey as a result.

“To win here is really nice,” an ecstatic Bennett admitted. “I knew I could win again at this race, but it was just a matter of time. Huge thanks to my teammates, who really did a strong job for me today, especially Danny (van Poppel) who rode a really fantastic lead-out. I’m very proud that I was able to reward all their hard work with the win.”

Today’s stage win was a second victory of the year for Bennett and his first in a Grand Tour since 2020.

Bora-Hansgrohe’s Sports Director Bernie Eisel felt Bennett’s stage 2 success was a perfect start to La Vuelta for his team, stating:

“It was extremely important for Sam and for the whole team to have such a good start to the Vuelta, and of course it really gives us a boost for the next few days. So, all in all, perfect teamwork was crowned with an incredibly strong sprint win today.”

Bennett now leads the points classification on 67 points and will wear the green jersey on Sunday.

 

 

Mikey Pender and Hearton Du Bois Halleux win Land Rover Puissance

Mikey Pender and Hearton Du Bois Halleux win the Land Rover Puissance. Credit: Laurence Dunne/Jumpinaction. Image provided by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI).

Kildare’s Mikey Pender won the Land Rover Puissance, the highlight of Saturday’s action at the 2022 Dublin Horse Show.

Riding the 15-year-old stallion Hearton Du Bois Halleux, Pender took his fourth five-star win of this year’s Dublin Horse Show.

Pender and Hearton Du Bois Halleux were the only combination to clear the wall in the fifth round, when it stood at a height of 2m20 (7ft 2 inches).

Daniel Coyle with Just Happy Hero Z and Commandant Geoff Curran with the Irish Sport Horse Bishops Quarter shared second place. Both combinations picked up four faults in the last round of the competition.

Tipperary rider Trevor Breen and Germaine W took the 1m50 Dublin Stakes, going clear in 36.00 seconds in the jump-off.

Mark McAuley and Jasco Vd Bisschop took second place in 36.23 seconds, while third place went to French rider Megane Moissonnier and Bracadabra in 36.35 seconds.

Richard Howley and Chinook won the Royal Dublin Society Stakes. Jordan Coyle and Picador finished as runners-up while third place went to Brazil’s Yuri Mansur and Away Semilly.

“As an Irish rider, it’s something that is a lifetime goal”

Conor Swail, Shane Sweetnam, Cian O'Connor and Max Wachman with The Aga Khan perpetual Trophy. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Ireland’s Aga Khan-winning hero Conor Swail described today’s win – his first in the famous competition – as “fantastic”.

Swail and Count Me In jumped three clear rounds during the competition proper and the jump-off that following to give the home side a first victory in the competition since 2015.

“This is my first time (winning) also like Shane (Sweetnam). This is my third Aga Khan,” Swail explained. “It’s fantastic. As an Irish rider it’s something that is a lifetime goal – thankfully I have achieved that. The horse (Count Me In) has jumped like that all year – it was no surprise whatsoever – he is so fast.”

Ireland team manager Michael Blake quipped “it has not been a bad six days” referring to Friday’s victory and Ireland qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games earlier this week.

The Clare man explained that he was very confident coming into today’s Longines Nations Cup of Ireland:

“Coming here I thought we had a very very good chance – I felt it was ours to lose. We started off really really well and then had a few uncharacteristic mistakes. There was a little pressure on us. Conor (Swail) was just amazing. He asked me could he be on the Aga Khan team earlier in the year.”

Kanturk, Co Cork-native Shane Sweetnam who jumped clear with The Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz in the first round, said:

“He jumped special in the first round, especially when it was raining – he knew he was home! Then in the second round, a little mistake – obviously I made it myself.”

For the US-based rider, it was also a first Aga Khan win:

“It’s great to win. This was my fourth Aga Khan and it has always been a dream to win The Aga Khan, so I’m thrilled, thrilled with the horse and thrilled with my team members.”

It was certainly a dream come true for eighteen-year-old Tipperary rider Max Wachman, winning his first Aga Khan Trophy in his first outing in the Longines Nations Cup of Ireland.

“It’s a dream come true,” Wachman said. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was about ten years old. To be on a team with such brilliant riders is amazing. I’m just thrilled. He (Berlux Z) is eleven years old, he’s a very experienced horse and he’s a good horse and he jumped good today.”

Meath’s Cian O’Connor, Ireland’s anchor leg rider yet again, spoke highly during the winners’ press conference about his Irish Sport Horse Kilkenny.

“I was thrilled with him. I couldn’t be happier. It’s like when the bell goes and you head down to the first fence on a big rhythm and it just feels like he owns the ring. All I have to do is not get in his way and not make a mistake. It was really just good fun riding him around there.”

Winning The Aga Khan Perpetual Trophy is always special for all Irish riders. Team manager Michael Blake best summed up what winning the home Nations Cup means in front of the RDS crowd:

“The crowd so understand the sport and it means so much to them, and it means so much to us. We win plenty Nations Cup but this is an extra stratosphere.”

Ireland win The Aga Khan Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show

Conor Swail, Shane Sweetnam, Cian O'Connor and Max Wachman with The Aga Khan perpetual Trophy. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Ireland won the Longines Nation Cup of Ireland for the award of The Aga Khan Perpetual Trophy at the Dublin Horse Show this evening.

The Michael Blake-managed team produced six clear rounds, including three from Conor Swail and Count Me In to lift the famous equestrian cup for the first time since 2015.

In the seven-nation event, Ireland had been drawn sixth to jump, with Swail and Count Me In operating as pathfinders for the side.

In an exciting opening round, Blake’s side produced three clear rounds, from Swail (Count Me In), Shane Sweetnam (James Kann Cruz) and Cian O’Connor (Kilkenny).

The other member of the team, eighteen-year-old Max Wachman riding Berlux Z, had just one fence down in the first round.

Ireland ended the opening round on a zero score, followed by France and Switzerland on four faults each respectively.

Marc Dilasser (Aristo Du Gevres) and Edward Levy (Uno De Cerisy) produced clear rounds for Henk Nooren’s side, while Steve Guerdat (Dynamix De Belheme) and Martin Fuchs (Cardano CH) did likewise for the Swiss.

Netherlands and Belgium were next after round one, each on 12 faults, while USA and Norway (who were competing in The Aga Khan Trophy for the first time) each recorded scores of 20 opening round faults.

Second Round

France began round 2 with three clear rounds and with two of the first three Swiss riders both faulting at the water, France would finish on a worst-possible score of 4 faults.

Count Me In and Conor Swail went clear in round two while Max Wachman had the final part of the treble down.

Just as Cork rider Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz looked to be heading for a double clear round, a pole fell at the last, meaning Ireland would need their anchor leg combination of Cian O’Connor and Kilkenny to go clear in order to force a jump-off with the French.

The Irish combination duly obliged in order to force a jump-off over a shorter course.

Both Ireland and France opted for their original pathfinders, Conor Swail and Marc Dilasser, to contest the jump-off, as both had produced double-clear rounds during the competition.

With Dilasser and Aristo Du Gevres going clear in a time of 31.81 seconds, the pressure was now on the Irish combination, not alone to go clear, but to do so in a faster time.

Swail and Count Me In produced their third clear round of the competition, just as the French combination had moments earlier, but the Irish representatives went clear in a faster time of 30.31 seconds, winning the Longines Nations Cup of Ireland for The Aga Khan Perpetual Trophy for the home nation.

Ciara Mageean wins European 1500m silver medal

Credit: @irishathletics.

Ciara Mageean claimed a silver medal in the 1500 metres final at the European Athletics  Championships in Munich on Friday night.

The Portaferry athlete, who recently took silver in the event at the Commonwealth Games, chased home Laura Muir again on this occasion.

In an exciting final, the Irishwoman took up the early running before Muir took the lead with two laps of the three-and-three-quarter lap contest remaining.

With Scot Muir winning in 4:01.08, 30-year-old Mageean crossed the line in a season’s best time of 4:02.56. Poland’s Sofia Ennaoui took bronze in 4:03.59.

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