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Two gold medals for Ireland at Youth Sailing World Championships

Gold medallist Eve McMahon in action. Credit: Sailing Energy. Image provided by Sailing Ireland.

Both of Ireland’s single-handed sailors have won Gold medals at the Allianz Youth Sailing World Championships in The Hague, The Netherlands, this afternoon.

Howth Yacht Club’s Eve McMahon and Rocco Wright delivered fantastic performances over their seven-races series which began last Sunday.

Eve McMahon led her 55-strong field from day one. She scored all top three results for the week including four race wins.  Her worst result of the week (6th place)  came in the final race today.

“It feels amazing – last year’s fourth place in Oman was so disappointing,” McMahon said shortly before the medal ceremony. “I’m so proud of Ireland to achieve gold at the worlds and to make it a double in the same year is history-making.”

Wright also claims gold

Rocco Wright made his mark in the Male single-handed event on his first ever appearance at a Youth Worlds. He finished the penultimate day in second overall but only separated by tie-break from the leader.

A confident start in the final race today saw the Dublin sailor beat Ole Schweckendiek by finishing fourth, one place ahead of his German rival. This was enough to break the points tie as American Peter Barnard missed the podium with a 14th place.

“I tried not to think about the others around me and just sail my own race,” said Wright about keeping focused at his first Youth Worlds appearance. “I didn’t expect to win so it’s all a bit mind-blowing really.”

“I was so surprised that Rocco displayed such maturity at such a young age (15) as he remained calm and executed the result,” said Vasilij Zbogar, Irish Sailing’s Laser Coach.

“Two Irish winning Gold in the ILCA6 … I still can’t quite believe it; the work is paying off – all of us are on the right track,” Zbogar added.

Both McMahon and Wright now switch their attention to Texas later this month where they compete in their ILCA6 class world championships, a stand-alone event that differs from this week’s championship where all disciplines are in competition.

Video – Andy Farrell discusses Ireland’s starting team for 3rd test

Video – Andy Farrell discusses Ireland’s starting team for 3rd test against New Zealand on Saturday. Kick off 8:05am

 

Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell has made one change to the team who won in Dunedin last week ahead of the Series decider against New Zealand at the Sky Stadium in Wellington (Kick-off 7.05pm NZ time/8.05am Irish time).

Bundee Aki comes in for the injured Garry Ringrose and partners Robbie Henshaw in midfield. Johnny Sexton, who celebrated his 37th birthday this week, leads the team as he wins his 108th cap, equalling Paul O’Connell’s tally for Ireland.

Sexton will be partnered by Jamison Gibson-Park in the half-backs with the back three of Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen and James Lowe retained.

The pack from the first two Tests lines out again in the final game of the tour with Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong in the front row and Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan at lock. Peter O’Mahony is at six, Josh van der Flier at seven and Caelan Doris is named at No.8.

The replacements include Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Keith Earls.

The third Test against New Zealand will be broadcast live on SKY and RTE Radio.

IRELAND v New Zealand
SKY Stadium, Wellington, Saturday 16th July, 2022
KO: 8.05am Irish Time

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 22 caps
14. Mack Hansen (Connacht) 5 caps
13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 59 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 39 caps
11. James Lowe (Leinster) 14 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 107 caps CAPTAIN
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 19 caps

1. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 9 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 59 caps
4. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 32 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 45 caps
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 86 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 42 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 19 caps

Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 27 caps
17. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 117 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 24 caps
19. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 7 caps
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 29 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 98 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 34 caps
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 97 caps

Cricket Results – Heartbreak as New Zealand storm home in final over thriller against Ireland

10 July 2022; Harry Tector of Ireland, right, celebrates after bringing up his century during the Men's One Day International match between Ireland and New Zealand at Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

– Michael Bracewell was the architect of a dramatic heist at Malahide as New Zealand sealed the first ODI against Ireland by one wicket with a ball remaining.

His unbeaten century trumped a sublime hundred for Harry Tector and an all-round show from Curtis Campher, with Ireland denied their first-ever win over the Black Caps in heart-breaking circumstances.

Having put up 300 with the bat, Ireland carried the momentum into their start with the ball, Mark Adair and Craig Young each striking inside the first six overs. Debutant Finn Allen started positively before hitting the former up in the air, McBrine settling under the steepler, and the latter getting No.3 Will Young, forcing his namesake to edge behind.

The tourists were 19-2, and while there were hints of a middle-order rebuild, Campher interjected with a trio of vital interventions to keep Ireland on top. First he removed New Zealand captain Tom Latham, who was caught out by a full toss destined for leg stump. Then it was Henry Nicholls, outfoxed by a hint of away seam, before half-centurion Martin Guptill failed to get any bat on a pinpoint yorker and was bowled.

When Guptill fell, New Zealand were 120-5, with Michael Bracewell, just three ODI caps and four runs to his name, coming in to bat. He constructed a series of lower-order partnerships to bring the Black Caps back into the game, with Ireland striking to ensure they remained ahead of the game but New Zealand just about hanging on in the contest.

Glenn Phillips, on debut, contributed 38 before being removed lbw by Andy McBrine while Ish Sodhi kept New Zealand fighting with 25 before being run out by Campher. When Josh Little nicked off Matt Henry for a duck, Ireland were just two wickets away, with New Zealand still needing 84 off 7.2 overs. But as long as Bracewell remained at the crease, the Black Caps had hope, and as he continued to marshall the chase, the possibility of a stunning comeback grew more likely.

His hundred was brought up on the final ball of the 48th over, with Bracewell’s muted celebration indicating the job was far from done, and his task only grew tougher as Adair delivered an excellent penultimate over, conceding just four runs and bowling Lockie Ferguson with its final ball.

That left 20 runs needed to win and Bracewell on strike, with no margin for error, and he seized the moment, manufacturing the opportunity to hit to the leg-side and smashing three fours and two sixes to seal victory with a ball to spare. His score was the highest by a No.7 in a successful ODI chase.

Earlier Tector was the star of Ireland’s batting effort, making his maiden international hundred, though there were contributions from throughout the batting order. The 22-year-old came in with his side in trouble, openers Andrew Balbirnie and Paul Stirling dismissed in single figures, and set about rebuilding the innings with a series of substantial stands.

Tector took his time to get set, choosing to rebuild safely at first, but scored more freely as the innings went on. His last 16 balls before being dismissed were despatched for 40 runs, with the flurry of strokes to bring up the milestone especially pleasing. Twice he advanced and timed Blair Tickner sumptuously to the rope, once on the off-side and once on the leg, before staying in his crease to the next two deliveries to nail a pair of orthodox cover drives, with four fours in four balls moving him from 85 to 101 in a flourish.

Although this marked Tector’s first international three-figure score, it was also a continuation of his excellent recent returns. The innings was his fourth consecutive fifty-plus score in ODIs (a feat matched only by Paul Stirling among Irishmen) with the run of form extending back to eight fifty-plus scores in his last 11 innings.

This wasn’t simply a one-man show, with Tector receiving sterling support from the rest of the middle order, who made a succession of increasingly aggressive cameos. McBrine continued to showcase solidity in his new role at No.3, making a steady 58-ball 39 in a half-century stand.

His departure saw Campher join Tector at the crease, and the two youngsters put on the day’s largest partnership. With Ireland scoring at just over four an over when Campher entered, the pair also added some vital impetus, with Campher scoring 29 off 23 balls at the end of his innings following a cautious start. The off-spin of Bracewell was lap-swept and thumped over mid-off and Henry thumped for back-to-back boundaries as Ireland upped the ante.

Campher fell for 43, Phillips beating his backfoot push with an off-break to claim his maiden ODI wicket, but Lorcan Tucker picked up the momentum immediately, slog-sweeping Sodhi for six off just the ninth ball he faced and adding 10 more off two balls in the legspinner’s next over.

His dismissal, holing out to an extraordinary, leaping one-hander from Bracewell on the boundary, precipitated a mini-collapse, with Tector and Adair following Tucker back to the pavilion, and it looked as if a slide of 12-3 had become 12-4 when Simi Singh was given out caught behind first ball. However, a review showed the ball had merely flicked the pad, and Singh made the most of the reprieve, striking a brisk 30. With George Dockrell, making his 100th ODI appearance, contributing 18, Ireland pushed up to exactly 300 by the end of the innings.

It was the hosts’ second-highest total at Malahide, and it gave them the ascendancy heading into the innings break. But, although they remained ahead throughout most of the chase, it was Bracewell and New Zealand who won out.

Which Are The Most Interesting Groups For World Cup 2022

The football world cup is one of the most awaited events in the world. Fans, punters, players, and everyone else keep their eyes on the groups and fixtures of the world cup. However, if you also appreciate the World cup of football, then the WC 2022 is going to boggle your mind!

 

This article will look at some of the exciting WC 2022 groups and World Cup fixtures that will provide you with an exhilarating experience.

Exciting Football WC 2022 Groups And Fixtures To Look Out For

Group E

The four teams in Group E are Germany, Japan, Spain, and Costa Rica. However, what makes Group E the most interesting is the sheer number of total world cups they collectively earned which comes to a total of five.

 

Moreover, we will be able to see a second round between Germany and Spain after the heated game back in the WC 2010 semi-final. Everyone is eagerly waiting for these two colossus football teams to clash against each other again after a long time.

 

In addition, another team to look out for in Group E is Japan which has made a comeback with a very versatile team that previously nearly decimated Belgium to knock out.

Group H

The four titans in Group H are Ghana, South Korea, Portugal, and Uruguay. However, the main reason behind the people’s interest in Group H is the confrontation between Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez.

 

The game between Portugal and Uruguay is going to set the sports betting market on fire as both the teams have come prepared this year. According to experts, Portugal has brought their A-game in WC 2022 as their special squad includes big names like Pepe, Bruno Fernandes, Rubian Dias, DiogoJotham, and Joao Cancelo.

 

Moreover, how can we forget the rivalry between Ghana and Uruguay. Uruguay eliminated Ghana back in a 2010 game. Therefore, the fixtures in Group H are going to be very interesting.

Group F

The countries selected for Group F are Canada, Croatia, Belgium, and Morocco. The fixtures between the two European teams, Belgium and Croatia, are going to be legendary. Both of these teams are considered among the best football teams in the world.

 

It is believed that Croatia has ramped up its training sessions after its devastating defeat in the FIFA World Cup final in 2018 against France. Thanks to their effort, the team is more powerful than before and all set to drop your jaws in awe.

 

In the midst of these two powerful teams, we cannot forget about Canada, which is considered the black horse of Group F. Even though Canada could not shine in the past, they are prepared to do what is needed for its glory.

Group C

The four teams in Group C are Mexico, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, and Poland. In Group C games, we will be able to witness the epic match between the two stars Lewandowski and Messi. It’s been a while since Poland and Argentina came face to face. To be exact, their last game was in 1978 when Poland had to taste defeat.

 

There have been only two incidents when they both fought on a football field, and Football WC 2022 has brought these two old rivals together for another super game after such a long time. However, it’s not only Poland and Argentina that will be in the limelight; Mexico has also come prepared for the WC 2022.

 

They have prepared their ultimate team for this season and included various popular names in their ranks like Lozano and Jimenez. A match between Argentina and Mexico is sure to bring the fire of excitement on the field when legendary players like Messi, Jimenez, and Lozano clash on the field.

Group B

Group B consists of four big names, USA, England, Wales, and Iran. All group B matches are scheduled to take place from 21 to 29 November 2022, and during this period, you will be able to witness some fantastic fixtures.

 

The most anticipated one is the USA vs. the UK. So naturally, fans and bettors are awaiting the clash between these two football giants as both the teams are constituted with some of the best players in the world.

 

England, for one, has shown considerable growth in the Euro 2020 finals and the semifinals of the football world cup 2018. In addition, Iran is set to face Wales in the Group B fixtures, which is going to be a pretty exciting matchup as both of these teams are formed of balanced, skilled players.

Final Thoughts

The upcoming football world cup 2022 is sure to stir up some exciting rivalries, and during these heated games, there are sure to be some new names who will make history pop up. In any case, the above-mentioned Groups of WC 2022 games will provide you with the maximum excitement.

Best high return investments

To secure a comfortable financial future, you better search for ways to make some extra cash.

There are many ways to make money today. You can bet on football or any other sport and make some cash from it, or you can do some simple tasks online like writing or translating and make some profit from them. Investing is another way to ensure a sufficient lifestyle when you get old, but with the economy struggling with high inflation rates , you do not know where to put your money, so what are the best investments to invest in this year?

High-yield savings accounts

Savings accounts are not technically an investment, but they do offer some return on your money. Many people consider these accounts a good investment because they are safe. You will not lose any money when you consider putting your money in a savings account, as most of these accounts are insured by the government. These accounts offer fixed rates, but some banks design saving accounts that offer better yields to lure customers to them, so try to do some online search to find the best rates before opening a savings account in any bank.

Short-term Certificates of Deposit

Certificates of deposit are another option for investment seekers. They are similar to saving accounts, but they offer higher interest rates. They are issued by banks and insured federally, but they have specific maturity dates that range from a few weeks to several years. Banks will pay you interest at regular intervals. The bank will allow you to get your money back with any accrued interest once your CDs mature. Each bank offers its interest rates, so you better do some search before you get any of them. You better choose a short-term certificate of deposit when you expect the rates will rise like nowadays. This way, you will ensure that you will re-invest your money at higher rates when your certificate is due.

Short-Term Government Bond Funds

The U.S. federal government and its agencies issue these types of investments. They are considered very good for beginners and those looking for cash flow because they have low risk. The FDIC does not back Government Bond Funds. However, the funds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Short-term government bond funds are better than long-term ones because these bonds are affected by interest rates, this means that if interest rates decline, the price of the bonds rises, and the opposite is true. This way the price of short-term fund bonds will not be affected by the rising or rates falling.

Short-Term Corporate Bond Funds

These are similar to government bonds, but they differ in one thing, which is Corporate bonds are issued by major corporations. Big corporations issue Corporate bonds to fund their investments, you shall remember that corporations are exposed to having their credit rating downgraded or face some financial troubles. Thus you better make sure your fund consists of some of the best corporate bonds on the market. These bonds are considered excellent options for those who want to earn money and minimize the overall risk of their portfolio or those retirees looking for cash flow. Corporate bonds pay higher rates of interest. These interests are paid at regular intervals, typically every month.

Treasury Bonds

U.S. Treasury bonds or T-Bonds are considered by many as highly secure investment tools. There is a reason behind this belief, which is that the United States government has never defaulted on its debt. Keep in mind that when you buy a treasury bond, you are doing it at a set interest rate and date of maturity. The maturity date ranges between one month and 30 years. After you have bought the bond, you will receive regular payments for the interest, and when the bond matures, you will get your principal back. You have to remember that these bonds are not like CDs, you won’t be able to withdraw the money at all, but there is always a solution. You can head to any secondary market and put the bond on sale.

Rental Housing

Renting a house is a good investment if you have the time and well to manage your own properties. It may be hard to succeed because of the unstable economy and increasing mortgage rates, but investing in housing is never a bad investment. To start this investment, you have to study the market to know the best options before buying the properties that suit you, then you need to maintain them and deal with the tenants. You may have to work with real estate brokers to strike the best deals on rental housing, or you can work on establishing a solid network to be able to hit the best deals on the market.

Money Market Accounts

These accounts are much like savings accounts, but they differ from them in many things, like paying better rates and offering a debit card. Money market Accounts require higher minimum deposits than savings accounts, plus banks will impose a limit of six transactions each month, if you exceed this period of time, you will be fined. These accounts are considered ideal for investors who are looking for a little more flexibility than savings accounts. If you decide to invest in these accounts, you should be aware that banks offer different rates, so you better do some online search before investing in one of these accounts.

Everything you need to know about football betting

Football is the most popular game in the world. It is also the most followed sport in the United Kingdom with many punters visiting non UK casinos accepting UK players to place their bets weekly.

The Premier League and the ancillary football competitions organized by the Football Association are followed worldwide with thousands of punters placing their bets on their favourite team or top-scoring players. It is assumed, that forty percent of all money wagered in the United Kingdom by bettors is placed on football.

The vast number of football games emanating from the different structured competitions in the United Kingdom and Europe together with the extensive media coverage of domestic football leagues; European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and, the FIFA World Cup gave a tremendous impetus to the betting industry to grow and flourish across the globe.

Evaluating football and its perils

 

Like in any other sports or commercial activity, the game of football has its own rules, gossip, and developing news. Getting to know exactly what the rules are, the latest news on the transfer market, and the latest developments on the teams and their players, are essential elements for the bettors to evaluate and decide which bet is likely to get them the best rewards they hope for.

Odds on matches are established by bookmakers and resonate with the ratio between the bet and winnings on a particular game or game. Odds are usually depicted as a fraction (2/1) or as a decimal nomination (2.0). This basically means that if the game has these odds and your selected team wins the game, the bettor will win £2 for every £1 one bet.

How to bet on football and win

 

Being a very popular game, there are thousands of football matches played across the globe. Be it in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, South America, Africa, or Asia, punters have a variety of options where to place their bets. One does not need to be physically resident of the United Kingdom to bet on domestic leagues. Today’s technology allows punters from around the world to place their bets online on any game played across the globe. The betting market is vast and endless bookmakers offer a huge variety of different odds and extensive details of matches. Bookmakers will indicate the prices on the outcome of the game and/or event within the duration of the match like what the outcome will be at half-time, the number of goals scored, red and yellow cards issued by the referee to players, individual goal scorers and how many corners are won by respective teams.

Bookmakers are continually striving to provide punters with the best odds and offer aimed at using their services rather than their competitors. Once the details on the outcome of the match areknown, confirmed winners will be paid their original betting amount in addition to the winnings from the odds. Throughout this process, bookmakers can offer a number of different types of bets including what is termed accumulator bets. This means that the bettors can amalgamate different aspects of bets into one combined odds price. This facility is normally available by the majority of football betting outlets.

Obviously, the simplest form of football betting is to pick the result or outcome of the match. Punters have the opportunity tobet on three different outcomes namely, the team playing at home wins the game, the team playing away wins the match or a simply draw game. It is imperative to understand that bets placed on matches are based on a 90-minute game and do not include any extra time played or shooting of penalties.

How to bet building works

 

Bet Builder is a new innovative form of betting introduced in sports including football. Bet builder, also known as game multis, can be termed as an accumulator of outcomes from a particular game rather than a number of matches. Such bets are a bit difficult to come in due to the number of outcomes that need to happen for the bettor to win. However, experienced punters who are well versed in both teams and the players involved can acquire good returns on winnings and risk a small amount of money on stakes.

Player props or player statistics is another new introduction in the football betting market. Such bets can be placed on domestic football games as well as on international matches. This method is completely different from the bet builder bet or the goalscoring or card market. It involves betting on the ability and skills of one individual player or a set of players betting on the number of shots, tackles, and sometimes even the number of offsides. It can also include how many free-kick, goal-kicks; throw-ins are there in a match and; the number of passes a player makes in a game. Though this kind of bet is somewhat complex, it allows punters to venture into the world of research to procure enough information and details on a particular player or players aimed at making the best wager possible.

Bet builder and player props are frequently used by bookmakers to boost the odds trying to entice punters to go for such bets. Due to the complexities involved, punters should be very careful and cautious about the number of stakes placed on such bets as football, despite the knowledge of the game and players, which can be very unpredictable.

Understanding the Asian handicap bet

 

Another betting option available is the Asian handicap bet. What is unique about this unique bet is that it excludes the possibility of a draw in the game (in betting terms). The bookmakers give each team a plus or minus figure to indicate their handicap. This handicap can be either a whole-goal one or a half-goal handicap. As an example, let’s take Team A -1 and Team B +2. If you bet on Team A, you win if the team wins by a two-goal margin or more. You 1987will lose if the game ends in a draw. You will get your stake back if Team A wins the final result is 1-0. If you bet on Team B, you win if the team wins, if they draw or they loseby a three-goal margin. You will get your stake back if Team B loses by a two-goal margin.

There is also the European handicap bet which is similar to the Asian handicap bet but with two important differences. One of the differences is that the draw in a match remain an option for the bettor and, the other is that the handicaps are only ever whole numbers.

Other betting options include:

Half-time/full-time results. Punters can bet on the home team, away team, or a draw for one or both halves.
Double chance bet means you can bet on two of three outcomes of the game aimed at increasing your winning chances. The options are the home team or draw, away team or draw and, home team or away team. If either of your chosen combinations wins, you will be paid out.
Accumulators are where bettors can combine multiple selections of bets in one bet.
Goal scorer bet – as the name implies to bet on a particular player to score during the game.
Correct score in which you predict the final score of the match based on a 90-minute playing time.
Draw No Bet – one bet on the outcome of the match, however, if the game ends in a draw you will get your stake back.

The options available to bettors to bet on football is almost endless. Bookmakers endeavor to make their products more attractive by giving better odds and offers. Different kinds of options can make life a bit harder for the punter but at the end of the day getting to know what football is all about and the necessary statistics on teams and players can pay dividends.

2nd Test Starting Teams – Māori All Blacks v Ireland

2nd Test Starting Teams – Māori All Blacks v Ireland. Keith Earls captains with Cian Prendergast, Jimmy O’Brien and Joe McCarthy all start the 8:05am Tuesday match.

Andy Farrell has announced the Ireland side that will play against the Māori All Blacks in the Sky Stadium in Wellington on Tuesday evening (Kick-off 7.05pm NZ time/8.05am Irish time).

Keith Earls captains the side as they seek to square the Series against the Māori All Blacks having lost the first fixture in Hamilton.

Craig Casey and Ciaran Frawley are retained at half-back while Stuart McCloskey comes into partner Earls in the midfield. Michael Lowry is introduced at fullback with Jimmy O’Brienswitching to the left wing and Jordan Larmour is on the right.

The front row consists of Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannelland Tom O’Toole with Joe McCarthy andKieran Treadwell named at lock. The backrow from the first game against the Māori is retained with Cian Prendergast at 6, Nick Timoneyat 7 and Gavin Coombes at No.8.

The replacements include Rob Herring, Ed Byrne, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Mack Hansen.

The game will be televised live by SKY Sports at 8.05am Irish time.

IRELAND v Māori All Blacks
SKY Stadium, Wellington, Tuesday 12th July 2022
KO: 8.05am Irish Time

15. Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps
13. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 97 caps CAPTAIN
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 6 caps
11. Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) uncapped
10. Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/Skerries) uncapped
9. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 5 caps

1. Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen) uncapped
2. Niall Scannell (Munster/Dolphin) 20 caps
3. Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 2 caps
4. Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin) uncapped
5. Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 7 caps
6. Cian Prendergast (Connacht) uncapped
7. Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps
8. Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps

Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 27 caps
17. Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 6 caps
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 24 caps
19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps
20. Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 29 caps
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 98 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 34 caps
23. Mack Hansen (Connacht) 5 caps

 

Māori All Blacks team named to face Ireland for second match in Wellington

Josh Moorby (Ngāti Maniapoto), Max Hicks (Ngāti Ranginui/Ngāi te Rangi) and Caleb Delany (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) to debut
Strong Hurricanes representation with nine players from the Super Rugby club named in the team
Final match of the Māori All Blacks v Ireland presented by Chemist Warehouse two-match series
The Māori All Blacks team has been named to play Ireland at Sky Stadium in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) on Tuesday 12 July. Kick-off: 7.05PM NZST, live and exclusive on Sky Sport NZ.

The matchday 23 is as follows (Province/Super Rugby Club, and Iwi in brackets, debutants in bold).

Ollie Norris (Waikato/Chiefs/Ngāpuhi)
Kurt Eklund (Bay of Plenty/Blues/Ngāti Kahu)
Tyrel Lomax (Tasman/Hurricanes/Muaupoko/Ngāi Tūhoe)
Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Bay of Plenty/Highlanders /Ngāti Raukawa/Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (Hawkes Bay/ Hurricanes/Ngāti Porou)
Reed Prinsep (Canterbury/Hurricanes/Te Rārawa)
Billy Harmon (Canterbury/ Highlanders/Ngāi Tahu)
Cullen Grace (Canterbury/Crusaders/Ngāti Whakaue/Ngāti Raukawa)
TJ Perenara© – Kāpene Paheko (Wellington/Hurricanes/Ngāti Rangitihi)
Josh Ioane (Otago/Chiefs/Te Rārawa)
Connor Garden-Bachop (Wellington/Highlanders/Ngāti Awa)
Alex Nankivell (Tasman/Chiefs/Ngāti Pikiao)
Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato/Hurricanes/Ngāti Kahungunu)
Shaun Stevenson (North Harbour/Chiefs/Ngāpuhi)
Josh Moorby (Northland/Hurricanes/Ngāti Maniapoto)
Leni Apisai (Auckland/Ngāti Awa)
Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury/Crusaders/Ngāpuhi)
Marcel Renata (Auckland/Blues/Ngāti Whānaunga/Ngāi Takoto)
Max Hicks (Tasman/Highlanders/Ngāti Ranginui/Ngāi te Rangi)
Caleb Delany (Wellington/Hurricanes/Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
Brad Weber© – Kāpene Paheko (Hawkes Bay/Chiefs/Ngāti Porou)
Ruben Love (Wellington/Hurricanes/Te Atiawa)
Billy Proctor (Wellington/Hurricanes/Ngāi te Rangi/Ngāpuhi)
Māori All Blacks Head Coach Clayton McMillan (Ngāi te Rangi/Ngāi Tamawhariua/Te Rangihouhiri) has named a strong team to challenge Ireland in their closing match at Sky Stadium. Following a win in Hamilton, the side sees a few changes to last week’s team with a strong contingent of local Hurricanes players named to take the field.

The starting front row remains unchanged, Ollie Norris (Ngāpuhi) will start at loosehead prop alongside tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax (Muaupoko / Ngāi Tūhoe) and hooker Kurt Eklund (Ngāti Kahu). Leni Apisai (Ngāti Awa), Tamaiti Williams (Ngāpuhi) and Marcel Renata (Ngāti Whānaunga / Ngāi Takoto) will provide impact off the bench.

Locking duo of Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Ngāti Raukawa / Ngāti Tūwharetoa) and Isaia Walker-Leawere (Ngāti Porou) will start, with debutant Max Hicks (Ngāti Ranginui/Ngāi te Rangi) on the bench. Experienced campaigner Reed Prinsep (Te Rārawa) alongside Billy Harmon (Ngāi Tahu) and Cullen Grace (Ngāti Whakaue / Ngāti Raukawa) make up the starting loose forward trio, with Hurricanes player and debutant Caleb Delany (Ngāti Tūwharetoa) on the bench.

In the backs, Hurricanes halfback and Kāpene Paheko (Co-Captain) TJ Perenara (Ngāti Rangitihi) will take the field with Josh Ioane (Te Rārawa) at nine and ten. Kāpene Paheko (Co-Captain) Brad Weber (Ngāti Porou) will provide impact from the bench.

The midfield sees a new combination, with Alex Nankivell (Ngāti Pikiao) and Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu) to start at 12 and 13.

The back three is made up of Connor Garden-Bachop (Ngāti Awa) on the left wing, Shaun Stevenson (Ngāpuhi) on the right, with Josh Moorby (Ngāti Maniapoto) debuting at fullback, Hurricanes teammates Ruben Love (Te Atiawa) and Billy Proctor (Ngāi Te Rangi/Ngāpuhi) to be injected off the bench.

Māori All Blacks Head Coach Clayton McMillan (Ngāi te Rangi/Ngāi Tamawhariua/Te Rangihouhiri) said: “We are anticipating Ireland to come back strong on Tuesday, we have learnt a lot from that first match in Hamilton as I am sure they have too.”

With three debutants named in Tuesday’s match, McMillan is excited for Max Hicks, Josh Moorby and Caleb Delany to get the chance to pull on the Māori All Blacks jersey.

“The first match was really special, with nine debutants up against Ireland and this week the remaining three debutant players get that same opportunity to represent not only the team but their whānau and their iwi.”

“Last time the Māori All Blacks took the field at Sky Stadium it was amidst the Covid-19 outbreak with no crowds allowed at the match, McMillan said the team are excited to take the field and showcase Māori rugby in front of our Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington) whānau.”

Paul O’Shea and Imerald Van’t Voorhof win $500,000 QE II Cup

Paul O'Shea and Imerald Van't Voorhof won the ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows. Credit: Spruce Meadows Media/Mike Sturk.

Paul O’Shea and Imerald Van’t Voorhof won the five-star ATCO Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows, Canada, last night.

A total of 31 combinations qualified for the two round $500,000 Grand Prix, with only the top 12 advancing to the second round of the class.
The Limerick rider and Imerald Van’t Voorhof posted one of only seven clears in the opening round of the class. They finished the competition as the only combination not to lower a fence over the two rounds, as they picked up just a time fault in the second round.

Mexican riders Eugenio Garza Perez and Patricio Pasquel both carried four faults into round two, but clear second rounds put them in second and third places respectively.“He’s a great water jumper (Imerald Van’t Voorhof) and very brave. I had a feeling if I brought him here he would excel.” Paul O’Shea on bringing his horse to Spruce Meadows for the first time.

Video Highlights of Galway beating Derry in the All-Ireland Football Semi-Final

Video Highlights of Galway beating Derry in the All-Ireland Football Semi-Final.

Damien Comer two goals secured Galway’s five point victory over Derry and will now play Kerry or Dublin in the All Ireland Final.

GALWAY: 1 C Gleeson; 2 L Silke, 3 S Kelly, 4 J Glynn; 5 D McHugh, 6 J Daly (0-1), 7 K Molloy; 8 P Conroy, 11 M Tierney; 9 C McDaid, 14 D Comer (2-2), 12 J Heaney (0-1); 10 P Kelly, 13 R Finnerty, 15 S Walsh (0-4, 50, 3 frees).

Substitutes: 23 F O’ Laoi for 12 J Heaney (61 mins), 18 B Mannion for 14 D Comer (68 mins), 25 D Conneely for 13 R Finnerty (68 mins), 21 Paul Kelly for 10 Patrick Kelly (73 mins).

DERRY: 1 O Lynch; 2 C McKaigue, 3 B Rogers (0-2), 4 C McCloskey; 5 C Doherty, 6 G McKinless, 7 P McGrogan; 8 C Glass, 12 E Doherty; 10 P Cassidy, 11 S Downey, 22 N toner; 12 B Heron, 13 S McGuigan (0-4, 3 frees, 50), 15 N Loughlin (0-1).

Substitutes: 9 E Bradley for 11 S Downey (45 mins), 21 L Murray (1-0) for 22 N Toner (54 mins), 19 B McCarron for 13 B Heron (61 mina),

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare

 

Gold for Paul O’Donovan in Lucerne

Credit: Rowing Ireland.

Paul O’Donovan struck gold today in the LM1x at the World Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Returning to the international rowing scene, the Corkman also set a new World Cup record.

The Skibbereen rower, currently studying and racing for University College Cork, stormed his heat, winning it by 7 seconds. With this performance, he was going straight into the A/B Semi with the fastest time. Lukasz Sawicki from Poland and Finn Wolter from Germany were both unable to race the semi due to illness, which reduced the field to four boats.

O’Donovan started steady and slowly but surely came through each of the crews as they progressed through the 2k. In a tight race, only three crews could qualify for the A Final, and the Algerian sculler was just .75 of a second short of that qualifying position. 

The UCC student finished off the event with his fastest race, coming across the finish line with a time of 6:47.15, a new World Cup record.