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Weekend GAA Betting Odds and Advice

Weekend GAA betting Odds and Advice for Hurling and Gaelic Football, all odds are a guide and all advice is free.

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WEEK 1 2022

Our Betting advice for this weekend is backing Louth to beat Laois in the first week of the league at 11/10
Colleges Football
St Marys
NUI Maynooth
2/5
15/2
5/2
Ulster University
MTU Cork
1/6
12/1
9/2
Colleges Hurling
1
X
2
IT Carlow
NUI Maynooth
1/33
25/1
9/1
UCC
UCD
1/8
14/1
5/1
NUI Galway
Mary I
2/7
10/1
3/1
DCU
WIT
4/11
9/1
5/2
Tomorrow
Colleges Hurling
1
X
2
TUS Midwest
TU Dublin
11/8
8/1
8/11
Trinity College
MTU Cork
16/1
33/1
1/100
Saturday
NFL Division 1 Football
1
X
2
Dublin
Armagh
1/5
11/1
4/1
NFL Division 2 Football
1
X
2
Derry
Down
2/5
15/2
5/2
NFL Division 3 Football
1
X
2
Limerick
Longford
5/6
7/1
5/4
Fermanagh
Antrim
4/6
13/2
13/8
NFL Division 4 Football
1
X
2
Carlow
London
1/10
14/1
13/2
Pre Season Hurling
1
X
2
Dublin
Wexford
EVS
8/1
EVS
Club Football
1
X
2
Kilcoo
St Finbarrs
1/4
9/1
4/1
Kilmacud Crokes
Padraig Pearses
4/7
7/1
15/8
Ladies Football
1
X
2
Mourneabbey Ladies
Kilkerrin-Clonberne Ladies
8/13
9/1
6/4
Club Intermediate Football
1
X
2
Trim
St Faithleachs
8/11
13/2
6/4
Na Gaeil
Steelstown
4/11
15/2
11/4
Club Junior Football
1
X
2
Gneeveguilla
Denn
1/6
11/1
9/2
Kilmeena
Clonbullogue
10/11
13/2
11/10
Sunday
NFL Division 1 Football
1
X
2
Kildare
Kerry
11/2
14/1
1/8
Mayo
Donegal
4/6
15/2
6/4
Tyrone
Monaghan
4/7
7/1
15/8
NFL Division 2 Football
1
X
2
Clare
Offaly
5/6
7/1
5/4
Galway
Meath
8/15
15/2
15/8
Roscommon
Cork
5/4
7/1
5/6
NFL Division 3 Football
1
X
2
Louth
Laois
EVS
15/2
EVS
Westmeath
Wicklow
1/7
14/1
5/1
NFL Division 4 Football
1
X
2
Leitrim
Cavan
10/3
8/1
2/7
Waterford
Tipperary
7/2
9/1
1/4
Wexford
Sligo
8/11
15/2
11/8
05 February
NHL Division 1A Hurling
1
X
2
Cork
Clare
4/11
10/1
5/2
NHL Division 1B Hurling
1
X
2
Laois
Tipperary
8/1
20/1
1/20
Club Intermediate Hurling
1
X
2
Naas
Kilmoyley
4/7
8/1
7/4
Club Junior Hurling
1
X
2
Mooncoin
Ballygiblin
8/11
8/1
11/8
06 February
NHL Division 1A Hurling
1
X
2
Wexford
Limerick
7/2
11/1
2/9
Galway
Offaly
1/25
20/1
9/1
NHL Division 1B Hurling
1
X
2
Kilkenny
Antrim
1/16
16/1
15/2
Dublin
Waterford
9/4
10/1
2/5
12 February
Club Hurling
1
X
2
Ballyhale Shamrocks
Ballygunner
5/6
8/1
6/5

Schedule for Irish athletes at Winter Olympics

The official team announcement for Team Ireland in Beijing 2022 is due to be on the 24 January, and the team announcement will be released from the Pre-Games holding camp in Innsbruck, Austria. At least six people are guaranteed to be on the team across Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Freestyle Skiing, Cross Country Skiing and Luge, with allocation places set to be confirmed for Skeleton early next week. Short Track Skater Liam O’Brien missed out by one spot when the qualification period closed before Christmas.

The Beijing Games is spread across three distinct villages and zones – Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou. Speaking ahead of travelling to the Games, Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Beijing 2022, Nancy Chillingworth outlined the challenging journey of the athletes, and what to expect.

ā€œAt the moment Team Ireland will definitely be present in Yanqing and Zhangjiakou and there is still an outside possibility of an athlete in Beijing. This qualification has been extremely challenging for all athletes as they have struggled to qualify against a background of increased covid restrictions and competition cancellations. They have shown immense resilience in the face of these setbacks, and we are looking forward to supporting them to perform to their best in Beijing.

Ā 

ā€œAlthough the final team will not be known until qualification and selection concludes next week, we do know that there will be a mix of experienced Olympians and athletes making their Olympic debut which will be exciting, and we are looking forward to the team having an opportunity to get to know each other and build a sense of the Team Ireland culture in the pre-games camp.

Ā 

ā€œBeijing 2022 will be implementing very strict covid countermeasures, many of which are similar to those experienced in Tokyo 2020 but with some added layers around the strictness of the closed loop, daily pcr testing, monitoring of FFP2 mask wearing, health tracking in advance of travel etc. As Team Ireland we are prepared for this and have run a number of webinars with the prospective team to ensure everyone knows what is expected.ā€

The team will be training in Innsbruck from the 20 January before they travel to Beijing on the 26 January, and photography of Team Ireland will be available to the media alongside the team announcement and a media guidebook.

Later this month the Road to Beijing challenge will be officially launched. The OFI Dare to Believe schools challenge will bring the Winter Olympic Games to school children right around Ireland, and will be based on the Road to Tokyo which saw 55,000 children participate.Ā  As part of the reveal of the official poster, the Road to BeijingĀ Colouring CompetitionĀ is underway, with the closing date for entries on the 17thĀ January.

 

The schedule for Team Ireland in Beijing 2022 is as follows:

Sport Name Event Competition Date
Ceremony All Opening Ceremony 04-Feb
Alpine Skiing Jack Gower Downhill 06-Feb
Cross‑country skiing Thomas Westgard 15km 06-Feb
Alpine Skiing Tess Arbez Giant Slalom Run 07-Feb
Luge Elsa Desmond Run 1 & 2 07-Feb
Alpine Skiing Jack Gower Super G 08-Feb
Cross‑country skiing Thomas Westgard Sprint 08-Feb
Luge Elsa Desmond Run 3 & 4 08-Feb
Alpine Skiing Tess Arbez Slalom Run #2 09-Feb
Snowboard Seamus O’Connor Halfpipe Q 09-Feb
Alpine Skiing Tess Arbez Slalom Run #1 09-Feb
Alpine Skiing Jack Gower Alpine Combined 10-Feb
Snowboard Seamus O’Connor Halfpipe Final (1,2, 3) 11-Feb
Alpine Skiing Tess Arbez Super G 11-Feb
Cross‑country skiing Thomas Westgard 15km Classic 11-Feb
Alpine Skiing Jack Gower Giant Slalom 13-Feb
Freestyle skiing Brendan Newby Halfpipe Qualifying 17-Feb
Freestyle skiing Brendan Newby Halfpipe Final (1. 2 & 3) 19-Feb
Cross‑country skiing Thomas Westgard 50km 19-Feb
Ceremony All Closing Ceremony 20-Feb

Today Bubba Newby who competes in the Freestyle Halfpipe Skiing events will be doing a takeover on our Instagram account.

Profiles of athletes to date who have been targeting qualification:

One was Luge athleteĀ Elsa Desmond
Two was Alpine SkierĀ Jack Gower
Three was SnowboarderĀ Maggie Rose Carrigan
Four was Alpine SkierĀ Tess Arbez
Five was Alpine SkierĀ Alec Scott
Six was Freestyle Moguls SkierĀ Claire Dooley
Seven was Freestyle Halfpipe SkierĀ Bubba Newby

SPORT EVENT STATUS
Alpine Skiing Female

 

TBC
Male TBC
Cross-country skiing Male TBC
Freestyle Skiing Male Halfpipe Qualified
Luge Female Qualified
Short Track Skating Male 1500m Not qualified

One spot outside qualification

Skeleton Male TBC
Snowboard Male Halfpipe Qualified
Ā  Female Parallel Giant Slalom Not qualified

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

Sport Name Event Competition Date
Ceremony All Opening Ceremony 04-Feb
Alpine Skiing Male Downhill 06-Feb
Cross‑country skiing ThomasWestgard 15km 06-Feb
Alpine Skiing Female Giant Slalom 07-Feb
Luge Elsa Desmond Run 1 & 2 07-Feb
Snowboard Maggie Rose Carrigan Parallel Giant Slalom 08-Feb
Alpine Skiing Male Super G 08-Feb
Luge Elsa Desmond Run 3 & 4 08-Feb
Cross‑country skiing Thomas Westgard Sprint 08-Feb
Alpine Skiing Female Slalom Run 1&2 09-Feb
Snowboard Seamus O’Connor Halfpipe Qualifying 09-Feb
Skeleton Brendan Doyle Run 1 & 2 10-Feb
Alpine Skiing Male Alpine Combined Downhill 10-Feb
Snowboard Seamus O’Connor Halfpipe Final (1,2, 3) 11-Feb
Alpine Skiing Female Super G 11-Feb
Cross‑country skiing Thomas Westgard 15km Classic 11-Feb
Skeleton Brendan Doyle Run 3 & 4 11-Feb
Alpine Skiing Male Giant Slalom Run1 & 2 13-Feb
Alpine Skiing Female Downhill 15-Feb
Alpine Skiing Male Slalom Run 1&2 16-Feb
Alpine Skiing Female Alpine Combined Downhill 17-Feb
Freestyle skiing Brendan Newby Halfpipe Qualifying 1&2 17-Feb
Freestyle skiing Brendan Newby Halfpipe Final (1. 2 & 3) 19-Feb
Cross‑country skiing Thomas Westgard 50km 19-Feb
Ceremony All Closing Ceremony 20-Feb

Ā 

A Guide for Test Cricket Fans- How to Keep Yourself Entertained During Lunch Break

In order to provide the test cricketers with a much-needed break in play, the umpire will call an end to the first session and the lunch break will commence. This interval lasts for 40 minutes and is designed to help the players refocus. After having relaxed, recharged, and taken on ample protein, the players are then better prepared for the challenges that lay ahead in the rest of the test match/series.

 

As beneficial as the traditional lunch break may be for your cricketing heroes, it can leave you with a 40-minute hole in your day. This is a long time to go without any sporting action, especially when you are fully immersed in the action that you have already witnessed.

 

Are you determined to beat the lunch break blues? If so, you’ve most certainly come to the right place. Here are three things you can do to keep yourself entertained during this interval:

 

  1. Play casino games

 

The 40-minute lunch break will seem like a lifetime if you don’t find yourself a pastime that actively distracts you from your boredom. There are plenty of different activities that you can perform during the break in play, one of the most engaging being to play casino games. This is a highly intuitive and immersive form of gaming, simply because it will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions each and every time. Whether you opt to play poker, blackjack, or roulette, whenever you indulge in a spot of casino gaming, you will be sure to experience a plethora of different sensations.

 

Of course, 40 minutes won’t provide you with enough time to visit your local casino. Fear not, however, as the Internet is at hand to provide some much-needed assistance in this instance. When you access a reputable casino online Ireland, such as Lucky Nugget, you will be able to enjoy the thrills and spills of traditional casino gaming from the comfort of your own home.

 

  1. Take part in a short cricket match

 

Unlike the halftime interval in football, the test cricket lunch break actually provides a relatively substantial downtime period. Forty minutes might not provide you with enough time to head to your local casino … but it should be long enough to allow you to play a short game of cricket with your friends. If the weather outside is good enough, you and your mates can keep yourselves entertained by bowling and batting alongside one another.

 

  1. Listen to the in-studio analysts

 

Over the course of the lunch break, the in-studio analysts will provide their expert opinion on the cricketing action that has already taken place. If you’ve really got nothing better to do, you could always listen to what they have to say. You never know; they might actually end up having a mildly interesting discussion!

 

Are you determined to banish boredom from your overall test cricket viewing experience? If so, be sure to keep yourself entertained during the lunch break period by putting the above advice into practice.

Roy Keane’s Greatest Games

Ah, Roy Keane, now there’s a name that divides opinion. Some still haven’t forgiven him for his fallout with Mick McCarthy in Saipan back in 2002 which led to him being sent home from the Ireland squad weeks before the World Cup.

Nowadays though, the hardman from Cork has settled nicely into his role as a highly-strung pundit with opinions that cut like glass. So when you turn on your T.V. and see him delve into a five-minute rant aimed at some nimble-footed player with fluorescent boots, it’s easy to forget that Keane used to actually walk the walk to back up all the talk.

Here then is a quick look at two of his greatest games out on the soccer pitch.

Manchester City 2 – 3 Manchester United (93/94)

Having just joined Manchester United from Nottingham Forest in the summer of 1993 for a then British transfer record of £3.75million, this is the game that made everyone begin to realise that United had bagged themselves a bargain. City went two-nil up in the first half and the fans decked out in sky blue at Maine Road started to dream about their first derby win of the decade.

Yet Sir Alex Ferguson, then just a humble Alex Ferguson, gave his players the full wrath of his now legendary hairdryer half-time team talks and sent the players back out with their tails up. From the whistle, Keane started flying into tackles and taking the fight to the City team. Suddenly they looked nervous and mistakes started creeping into their game. Eric Cantona took advantage and managed to bag two goals to bring the game level going into the closing stages.

With Eric Cantona playing so well, he must have been wearing his lucky socks. In 2020, United’s old kit man Albert Morgan revealed on a podcast that Cantona had to have the same pair of socks to wear at every game to feel he could play to his best. Wearing the same clothes is a common superstition across many sports with football and poker being the most prominent.Ā 

It was Keane though who had started the comeback by taking the game by the scruff of its neck and it was he who would decide it, when he stormed onto the end of a Dennis Irwin ball into the box and smashed home the winner.Ā 

Juventus 2 – 3 Manchester United (98/99)

Another magical and courageous comeback with the same scoreline as the previous example, this match is commonly regarded as Keane’s magnum opus and is the greatest portrayal of the dogged and driven personality that the man possesses. It was a hot and sweaty night in Turin during the Spring of 1999 and Manchester United had a lot of work to do to make it to their first European Cup final in 31 years.

The first leg of the tie held at Old Trafford a few weeks before had ended in a 1-1 draw, and had Juventus feeling that progression to the final was all but guaranteed. That feeling was solidified within eleven minutes of the second leg when professional goal-hanger Filippo Inzaghi netted twice to leave United on the edge of elimination. Yet Keane refused to lie down and let the game wither out and instead pulled his socks up and put inĀ one of the greatest performances in soccer history.

By getting stuck in with hard but fair tackles and breaking up numerous Juventus attacks, he began to re-build the confidence amongst the United players. Then on the 24th minute, Beckham whipped a corner in and Keane made a darting run into the box and timed his jump to perfection to glance a header past Angelo Peruzzi and into the net. Game on.Ā 

However, disaster for Keane struck, as minutes later the ball bobbled in midfield to the greatest player in the world at the time Zinedine Zidane. Zidane took the ball and set off on one of his glided runs at an out of position United defense, leaving Keane with little option but to scythe the Frenchman down. The ref rightly brandished a yellow card for the tackle and this now meant that if United progressed to the final, Keane would be suspended and unable to play.Ā 

Lesser men would have shrunk into themselves. Keane though still managed to place the team on his back and inspired the victory, with goals coming from Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, to take United to the final in Barcelona and complete an incredible treble. A showing of real tenacity.

Rachael Blackmore will have her sights set on more Cheltenham glory

Every now and then, Rachael Blackmore must pinch herself when she looks back on her performances at last year’s Cheltenham Festival. A total of six winners over the meeting’s four days saw her become the first woman to win the Leading Jockey accolade at the Festival, with victories in the Champion Hurdle and Ryanair Chase proving to be the highlight of an incredible purple patch of form.Ā 

Prior to the Festival last year, Blackmore was considered a strong contender, but few could have anticipated the success she would ultimately enjoy. You would have got long odds if you’d bet on horse racing exchange for Blackmore to win six races, but she stunned racing fans all over the world and became something of a sporting icon overnight.Ā 

Now, all eyes are turning towards Blackmore once again as she seeks to produce yet more heroics at the Cheltenham Festival. The 2022 edition of the event is just a couple of months away, and racing fans all across the country are expecting big things of Blackmore, now that she has proved herself on the biggest stage and in the most prestigious races.Ā 

Honeysuckle, last year’s winner of the Champion Hurdle, is heavily favoured to defend the title, and Blackmore will likely be the jockey in the saddle for that one. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the mare is unbeaten in all her career outings thus far, and it’s hard to see that run of victories coming to an end, even if she will face stiff competition from the likes of Appreciate It, Sharjah and Epatante.Ā 

Similarly, Allaho is well fancied to repeat his success in the Ryanair Chase. Blackmore produced a fine display to win the race last year, and the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old looks in good nick following a win in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown back in December. The chasing pack for the 2022 Ryanair Chase, according to the betting market, includes Fakir D’Oudairies, Saint Calvados and Shan Blue.

Of course, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup will be races that Blackmore will be desperate to add to her CV, having fallen short in both in 2021. She rode the 22/1 shot Notebook to a seventh-placed finish in last year’s Champion Chase, and then failed to get A Plus Tard over the line in first place in the Gold Cup, with stablemate Minella Indo nicking the big one.Ā 

Captain Guinness could be Blackmore’s best bet for the 2022 Champion Chase, although the ante-post odds are listing him as a 20/1 shot, so the jockey will have to work to do to overcome some of the favourites in that race, which include Shishkin, Energumene and Chacun Pour Soi.Ā 

As for the Gold Cup, Blackmore will view it as one that got away last year, despite her huge haul of wins in other races. A Plus Tard was seen as the most likely horse to topple two-time defending champion Al Boum Photo, but it was Minella Indo and jockey Jack Kennedy who stole the show.Ā 

It will be interesting to see whether Blackmore rides A Plus Tard again in the Gold Cup or if she switches to Minella Indo. It’s one of the big decisions facing De Bromhead in the lead-up to the showpiece race, but whoever Blackmore takes the saddle of, you can bet she’ll be doing everything to land the victory.Ā 

Early entries for Irish Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown

Honeysuckle, Frodon and a number of Christmas Festival winners feature among the entries for the eight Grade 1 races at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, February 5 and Sunday, February 6.

Day 1 – Irish Gold Cup

The Paul Nicholls-trained Frodon is among 18 horses entered for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup which will feature on the opening day of the festival for the first time.

Nicholls previously rode the winner of the race in Playschool in 1988 and then trained Neptune Collonges to win in 2009. He has also entered his four-time Grade 1 winner Clan Des Obeaux in the Irish Gold Cup. His King George VI Chase conqueror Tornado Flyer is among an entry of eight in the race for Willie Mullins. The Closutton handler has also engaged Kemboy, last year’s Irish Gold Cup winner, Melon and Asterion Forlonge.

Galvin, successful in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, Mount Ida, Delta Work and Run Wild Fred are on the Gordon Elliott team. Minella Indo and Eklat De Rire have been entered by Henry de Bromhead.

Day 2 – Irish Champion Hurdle

Sunday’s feature is the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle and racing’s star mare Honeysuckle heads the dozen entries as she bids to become only the third horse after Istabraq and Hurricane Fly to win the race on more than two occasions.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained mare completed a hat-trick of wins in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle on her seasonal reappearance at Fairyhouse in November. The Kenny Alexander-owned eight-year-old is bidding to extend her remarkable unbeaten winning streak to 14 under Rachael Blackmore.

Her trainer Henry de Bromhead is the only trainer to have won the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle with three different horses, Sizing Europe, Petit Mouchoir and Honeysuckle. He has also entered Quilixios in this year’s renewal. Willie Mullins has four entries, headed by last season’s leading novice hurdler Appreciate It. Leopardstown stalwart Sharjah, a four-time Matheson Hurdle winner and third in Irish Champion Hurdle last year is also among the Mullins string. The champion trainer also has Echoes In Rain and Saint Roi in the race.

Betting on Last 16 Champions Cup matches – What the bookies think

Champions Cup
Connacht will play leinster in the last 16 of the champions cup

Leinster, Connacht, Ulster, and Munster have progressed to Champions Cup rugby last 16 here is the outright and handicap match betting.

European Champions Cup Rugby Betting

Asm Clermont Auvergne (-3) v Leicester Tigers (+3) TBC
Connacht Rugby (+9)Ā  v Leinster (-9) TBC
Exeter RC Chiefs (-6) v Munster (+6) TBC
Montpellier Herault Rugby (-3) v Harlequins FC (+3) TBC
Sale Sharks (-5) v Bristol RC Bears (+5) TBC
Stade Francais Paris (+3) v Racing 92 (-3) TBC
Stade Toulousain (-12) v Ulster Rugby (+12) TBC
Union Bordeaux Begles (-5) v Stade Rochelais (+5) TBC

Outright Champions Cup Betting

 

Leinster – 11/4

Racing 92 – 7/2

Toulouse – 9/2

La Rochelle – 10/1

Harlequins – 10/1

Exeter Chiefs – 12/1

Leicester – 12/1

Munster – 16/1

Bordeaux – 20/1

Ulster – 25/1

Sale Sharks – 25/1

Bristol – 33/1

Montpellier 40/1

Clermont Auvergne 50/1

Stade Francais 100/1

Connacht

150/1

Champions Cup Rugby – Connacht v Leinster – Tickets, Date & Kick off time

Champions Cup
Connacht will play leinster in the last 16 of the champions cup

Champions Cup Rugby – Connacht will play Leinster at home on 9th /10th of April, we will have ticket details and kick-off time.Ā 

Connacht v Leinster – Kick-off time and ticket details will appear here the minute they are announced.

Connacht finished 5th in their pool

Andy Friend – Whilst we didn’t get the win today, the performance was worthy – it had plenty of skill, determination & character. We’re into the knock out stages for the first time in our Clubs history. Proud of EVERYONE involved and excited about the next chapter ahead #StrengthInAmbition

Leinster finished 4th in their group.

 

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP
Round of 16 first leg – 8/9/10 April

Stade Francais v Racing 92
Toulouse vĀ Ulster
Union Bordeaux-Begles v La Rochelle
ConnachtĀ vĀ Leinster
Sale Sharks v Bristol Bears
Exeter Chiefs vĀ Munster
Montpellier v Harlequins
Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Tigers

Round of 16 second leg – 15/16/17 April
Racing 92 v Stade Francais
UlsterĀ v Toulouse
La Rochelle v Union Bordeaux-Begles
LeinsterĀ vĀ Connacht
Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks
MunsterĀ v Exeter Chiefs
Harlequins v Montpellier
Leicester Tigers v Clermont Auvergne

Club Semi-Final PĆ”draig Pearses v Kilmacud Crokes – Date, Venue, Throw In Time

PƔdraig Pearses (Roscommon) v Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) in the All-Ireland club semi-final, Tickets, start time, venue, and match date.

Dublin and Roscommon fans will be heading to Cavan’s Kingspan Breffni Park at 5 pm on Saturday 29th of January.

Tickets
Click here to tickets for PƔdraig Pearses v Kilmacud Crokes

Padraig Pearses beat Knockmore in the Connacht Final

Kilmacub are the Leinster Club Champions.

 

Ireland wins Longines FEI Nations Cup of the UAE in Abu Dhabi

Ireland won the FEI Nations Cup of the UAE in Abu Dhabi. Credit: Horse Sport Ireland (HRI).

Michael Blake’s Irish Show Jumping team won Sunday’s five-star Longines FEI Nations Cup in Abu Dhabi. The Irish side produced six Irish clear rounds leaving them on a zero score at the end of the competition.

Ireland were pushed all the way by the United Arab Emirates who finished as runners-up on four faults. Britain finished third of the seven teams that competed on 17 faults.

The in-form combination of Shane Breen and the Team Z7-owned Z7 Ipswich were first to go for Ireland in the opening round. They completed the course inside the time allowed but picked up four faults at the water.

Twenty-year-old Jack Ryan from Co Kilkenny and BBS McGregor produced an immaculate clear round to keep Ireland among the early pace-setters.

Derry’s David Simpson and Foudre F added another clear to put Ireland in a strong position with one rider left to go in the first round.

Anchor rider Trevor Breen put Ireland on a zero score when he and Highland President jumped clear. Ireland led at the halfway stage as the only team on a zero score. The home team from the UAE was second on four faults.

Double clears for Ryan and Simpson

In the second round, UAE’s Abdullah Mohd Al Marri, jumped clear. However Shane Breen then matched his performance with an excellent clear with Z7 Ipswich to keep Ireland with a one fence advantage over the hosts.

Another clear from the second UAE rider Hamad Ali Al Kirbi kept them on a four fault score before Jack Ryan and BBS McGregor produced a double clear.

Ali Hamad Al Kirbi produced another clear for the UAE, meaning the home team would finish on a two round total of just four faults with three second round clears.

Ireland needed a clear from one of their two remaining riders to take victory. David Simpson completed a brilliant double clear performance with Foudre F meaning Ireland could not be beaten.