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Paralympic Athletics: Comerford fails to reach 100m final

Team Ireland had one sole athlete in the Tokyo Olympic Stadium this morning for the women’s 100m race in athletics

Orla Comerford – Women’s T13 100m race (Heats)

Comerford had to psyche herself up for a tough morning race starting at 10:45 in Tokyo.

This is her first and only event at this year’s Games, the 23-year-old from Howth made her debut at the Paralympics five years ago in Rio de Janeiro. She wanted to show her real quality today after being disappointed with her performance in 2016.

She should be happy to have made it this far after undergoing surgery on her left ankle in 2019, resulting in her barely competing over a three-year period.

This morning she ran in the third and final heat with the Howth woman running in lane six. This was a good chance for Comerford as she came into this race with the third-fastest personal best of her opponents.

The two fastest athletes from each heat would be guaranteed places in the final.

After a false start that only resulted in talking to the Ugandan athlete, the race got underway. Comerford started strong but by the halfway mark, the top three athletes started to break away.

She held onto a fourth-place position in a time of 12.87, she would have needed to cut down 0.67 seconds to reach the qualifying places.

Azerbaijan’s Elena Chebanu qualified in the first place and was narrowly followed by Spain’s Adriaratou Iglesias Forneiro in second.

This marks the end of another Paralympic journey for Orla Comerford but she can keep her head held high as it was remarkable how she managed to reach these Games.

 

FAI Agree Equal Pay For Women’s And Men’s National Teams

The FAI have announced that they will pay their women’s and men’s national team athletes equally after reaching an agreement.

The historic three-way agreement between the Men’s and Women’s squads and the FAI was brokered by FAI CEO Jonathan Hill and Ciaran Medlar, advisor to the male and female international players, alongside captains Katie McCabe and Seamus Coleman.

Ongoing talks between all parties reached a successful conclusion ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualification games involving Stephen Kenny’s Senior Men’s side and Vera Pauw’s Senior Women’s team.

The men’s squad have agreed to reduce their international fees, with the FAI matching their contribution to ensure that the Senior Women’s team match fee is increased and all male and female players receive the same match fee from the September international window onwards.

The FAI has also agreed to equality of approach with the Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s squad with regard to any future tournament qualification.

Welcoming the announcement today, Ireland Senior Women’s Team captain Katie McCabe said: “This is a great day for Irish football. We have taken a huge step forward with this deal and have shown the world what can be achieved through unity as we offer male and female international players the same opportunities.

“I am very proud as Ireland captain of the work that has been put in to get us to this point, not just by the current team but by so many Irish players in the past. They are the real heroes in this story, they took a stand and they passed on the baton to the current generation.

“Seamus Coleman and his team-mates in the Senior Men’s squad also deserve credit for being brave enough to support us in such a progressive way on this issue. It is really appreciated.

“I also want to thank Jonathan Hill and Ciaran Medlar for their roles in this agreement. The relationship between the FAI and the Senior Women’s team is stronger than I have ever known it and we look forward to continuing to work together to make Irish football better for everyone who plays our game, regardless of their identity or background.”

Senior Ireland Men’s team captain Seamus Coleman added: “On behalf of the Senior Men’s squad, I welcome this news today. We are delighted as players to do what we can to ensure that our female international players are treated equally and fairly and we remain fully committed to doing whatever we can to achieve that goal together.

“This deal is the right one for everyone who plays international football for Ireland, no matter which team they represent.

“We have been working towards this agreement for some time now with Katie, Jonathan and Ciaran and I hope this acts as an inspiration to many other nations to follow suit.”

FAI Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Hill commented: “Speaking on behalf of the Board of the FAI and myself, we are delighted to announce this historic agreement today. As we celebrate our Centenary and begin to build out the strategic plan for a new FAI, the Board agreed unanimously that this is absolutely the right thing for us to do as an Association.

“This is another important milestone in the FAI’s own transformation journey and I believe this equal pay programme shows us to be the progressive footballing nation we have always aspired to be.

“It is also another step forward in our key strategic goal to grow the women’s game in Ireland in a sustainable and systematic way. For some months now, I have been working with Katie, Seamus and Ciaran on this agreement.

“Katie and her team-mates are role models to all the young girls playing football in Ireland whilst the actions of Seamus and his fellow players in our Senior Men’s squad to make this equal pay proposition possible should not be underestimated.

“When the proposal was first discussed, the Board was also united in its commitment to support the approach which we firmly believe is the right way forward for a modern, progressive and inclusive sports organisation.

“Our women footballers have worked tirelessly to get to this point and I am delighted to see their ambitions for equality come to fruition with today’s announcement, one which all involved with Irish sport should celebrate. We now wish Vera, Katie and the whole team the very best for their upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification campaign.”

Liverpool Sporting Director Michael Edwards Expected To Leave In 2022

Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards is expected to step down from his role at the club next summer, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

Edwards’ contract runs until the end of the current season and he is believed to have informed the hierarchy at Liverpool of his intention to leave.

Ornstein added that the situation is not final and that discussions are ongoing to keep the popular sporting director at the club.

However, the expected outcome is that the long-term relationship Edwards has with the club will come to a close when his existing contract ends.

Julian Ward, who was promoted to assistant sporting director in December, is the man expected to replace Edwards if he leaves.

Edwards was hired by Harry Redknapp to be Portsmouth’s Head of Performance Analysis in 2003 and stayed at the club for six years.

He was in the same role at Tottenham Hotspur under Redknapp for two years and joined Liverpool in 2011.

Edwards has been Liverpool’s sporting director since November 2016 and has sculpted a Premier League-winning side in a number of years alongside Jurgen Klopp and recruitment staff.

The former Peterborough United player signed the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Fabinho to the club, helping to grow Klopp’s Liverpool into one of the best sides in the world.

His sales have also been impressive as the Englishman has had a history of getting great deals for outgoing players in his time in the role.

Rhian Brewster moved to Sheffield United last summer for a fee of £24 million while Dominic Solanke, who scored one goal for the club, was sold to Bournemouth for a fee in the region of £20 million.

He oversaw the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona for a massive £142 million – a move that kick-started Liverpool’s evolution into one of the greatest sides in the world.

Dan James in ‘advanced talks’ for move to Leeds

The latest reports suggest that Welsh winger Dan James is very close to a permanent move to Leeds from Manchester United

This transfer has been three years in the making since James was a prodigy in Swansea. The red side of Manchester is starting to get a bit cramped, especially after the return of icon Cristiano Ronaldo.

United now has stars like Sancho, Rashford, and Pogba in their ranks and it seems hard for the young Welsh man to get more game time.

According to The Athletic, James will now leave for Leeds before the end of the transfer window. At first, this move seemed to be only a loan but now he is being linked with a move on a more permanent basis.

Italian reporter Fabrizio Romano also issued an update on the transfer saga saying that the two clubs are in ‘ongoing discussion.’

The 23-year-old started in two of the club’s opening matches this season as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needed to blend their new signings into the squad. Although he was not involved in any of the team’s goals, he proved to still be a fast attacking threat down the right-wing.

Last season he only made 15 appearances in the league, scoring three goals and providing an assist. He instead was a big part of the team’s Europa League run as they lost out in the final on penalties.

Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has been a very big admirer of James for the last few years and it is easy to see why. His speedy, energetic play fits in perfectly with the Whites’ style of play.

James would also provide great competition for positions with mainstays Jack Harrison and Raphinha.

Leeds has not made the best start to the season with a bad loss to United followed by two draws to Burnley and Everton. They will next face Liverpool on Sunday 12th August in Elland Road.

A signing like this could rejuvenate the squad and improve their standing in the league as they push for top 10.

 

Ireland Finish Second In T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier

The Ireland Women’s cricket team have finished second in the T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier after a win over the Netherlands on Monday morning.

Ireland came out on top against the Netherlands in a battle that determined who finished behind Scotland in the qualifiers.

The side had beaten France on Sunday morning to set up the showdown with the Dutch.

Batting first, Ireland posted 111/9, with Eimear Richardson hitting a half-century and posting 53 runs.

Gaby Lewis also put up a respectable 32 runs to help Ireland to a strong start against their opponents.

This left Lewis on 145 runs across the qualifiers – the most in the tournament.

Eva Lynch picked up four wickets for the Dutch, while Iris Zwilling also chipped in with three scalps.

In the chase, a lack of contribution from the batters, apart from Robine Rijke who added 32 runs to her cause, proved costly as the Netherlands fell short of the total by 24 runs.

Captain Laura Delany and Cara Murray picked up three wickets apiece for the Irish.

With the victory, Ireland finished behind Scotland, accumulating 6 points in four matches.

Richardson was awarded Player of the Series after spectacular performances throughout the tournament.

Scotland finished at the top of the qualifiers with an unblemished record, earning maximum points and winning all four games.

The Scots comfortably beat France by ten wickets, much like Ireland did on Sunday morning, to finish with a 100% record.

The French were bowled out for 24 when they batted first as the Scottish bowlers wreaked havoc.

The French batters couldn’t register a double-figure score and Scotland gained control of the contest early on.

For the Scots, Megan McColl was the pick of the bowlers with astounding match-figures of 5/3 in her spell of four overs while Abbi Aitken-Drummond also picked up two wickets.

With a small total to chase, the Scottish women went hell for leather, which led to them losing three wickets. But the target was accomplished after only 2.2 overs, continuing their dominant run in the tournament, winning four matches out of four to top the Europe Qualifier.

Scotland will progress to the global qualifier which will begin in 2022 – Ireland have a chance to join them if they are the highest-ranked team on November 30 that did not win their group.

All Blacks Squad For Rugby Championship And Northern Tour Revealed

The All Blacks squad has flown to Australia for the Fortinet Rugby Championship and then onto the Northern Tour to the USA and Europe.
The side has played one game in the Rugby Championship and had their second game against Australia postponed due to lockdown restrictions in Aotearoa.
They reclaimed the Bledisloe Cup this year and beat their old rivals 57-22 on the opening weekend of the Rugby Championship.
All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said:  “We’ll be playing ten Tests in 12 weeks in both the southern and northern hemispheres, and with Covid-19 travel and quarantine restrictions, this will be a tour like no other for us in the professional era.
“We can’t wait to get underway and once again represent our country on the world stage.”
The All Blacks’ next Test is against Australia before Tests against Argentina and World Cup winners and Championship leaders South Africa to round out the Rugby Championship.
The Rugby Championship runs until Saturday, October 2 and New Zealand are on a mission to reclaim the trophy they won last year.
South Africa are on a mission to take back what was once theirs after sitting out the 2020 instalment of the tournament.
The All Blacks initial travelling squad is as follows:
Forwards:

Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Codie Taylor.
Props: George Bower, Ethan de Groot, Nepo Laulala, Tyrel Lomax, Joe Moody, Angus Ta’avao, Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi.
Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu and Tupou Vaa’i.
Loose forwards: Ethan Blackadder, Akira Ioane, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papalii, Ardie Savea and Hoskins Sotutu.

Backs:

Halfbacks: Finlay Christie, TJ Perenara and Brad Weber.
First five–eighths: Beauden Barrett.
Midfielders: Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown and Quinn Tupaea.
Outside backs: Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie and Sevu Reece.

Ireland Beat France To Continue T20 World Cup Charge

Ireland produced a dominant display with the ball to defeat France and maintain second place in the ICC T20 World Cup European Qualifier tournament on Sunday morning.  

The third game of the tournament saw Ireland take on France in their first-ever meeting in international cricket.

After winning the toss, Ireland elected to bowl and immediately imposed their authority on the match with some frugal bowling.

Sophie MacMahon (1-2) and Leah Paul (2-5) bowled a tight and economical line leaving the French struggling at 7-2 after the first powerplay.

The French batters struggled under the conditions and pressure from the Irish bowlers, and wickets began to tumble.

All six Irish bowlers used picked up wickets as the side in blue collapsed for just 24 runs.

Ireland openers Rebecca Stokell (7*) and Louise Little (12*) knocked off the 25 runs required for victory within three overs.

Ireland claimed another 2 points and a boost to their net run rate, but, as they are set to face the Netherlands tomorrow morning in their final game of the tournament in a crunch match for what looks like 2nd place in the Qualifier Tournament. 

 The Netherlands have won the last two games heading into the final matchup with Ireland.

Neither side have been able to beat Scotland, who look set to seal the top spot with an unblemished record.

The Dutch have beaten Germany and France in recent days and will be a tough test for the Irish, who previously played them in July.

Ireland won the series 2-1 and will hope that the result of the final game will not motivate the Netherlands to an impressive victory.

Mayo Win Nancy Murray Cup After Two-Point Victory Over Tyrone

Mayo camogie marked their first season of adult camogie after a lengthy absence with a 3-8 to 1-12 victory over Tyrone to claim the Nancy Murray Cup at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada.

Tyrone’s camogie team missed out on silverware for the county while their Men’s football side went one step closer to the Sam Maguire.

The goals were crucial with two of them coming from Ciara Delaney, having been set up by player of the match Áine Charlton. Captain Helen O’Malley also raised a green flag but Tyrone almost pulled off a spectacular comeback, getting to within one of the westerners having trailed by 11 but they just could not get over the line.

Mayo led by 2-6 to 0-4 at half-time thanks to Delaney and O’Malley’s majors, the latter part of a run of 1-5 without reply as Tyrone failed to score in the second quarter. When Delaney finished after another strong run by Charlton 15 seconds after the restart, it seemed like curtains.

But with Reagan Fay in inspired form and bringing her tally to eight points, the Red Hand women rallied. Niamh McNulty’s goal after an excellent catch was a real boost but when it seemed like momentum was in their favour, Mayo dug deep and Orla Hession pointed to leave Tyrone needing a goal that they couldn’t get.

Meanwhile, champions Armagh, who beat Clare in their semi-final by 2-13 to 1-6 on Saturday, will play Wexford in the All-Ireland premier junior final at Croke Park on September 12, as a result of the Yellowbellies’ 3-18 to 0-8 victory over Roscommon.

Roscommon had two early chances but two wides resulted and once Wexford got to grips with the excellent opposition sweeper, Rachel Fitzmaurice by playing the wings, they began to make hay.

Megan Cullen got an eighth-minute goal and it was 1-2 to 0-0 at the water break. On the resumption, all the Wexford inside forwards, Emma Tompkins, Emma Codd and Lisa Firman registered points and  Ailis Neville scored to make it 2-7 to 0-1 at half-time.

The Roscommon point came from a long-distance free by Shauna Fallon just before the short whistle.

The Connacht side were awarded a penalty early in the second half but Fallon’s shot was too central and goalkeeper Lara O’Shea was able to make the stop.

With that, any hope of a spectacular comeback dissipated.

When Roscommon removed Fitzmaurice from her sweeping role as they needed to chase the game, it opened space and Wexford profited. Chloe Cashe, who had been kept to a point in the first half, got a goal at the end of an excellent move on 41 minutes and finished with 1-8.

Fitzmaurice and Niamh Watson tried hard for Roscommon but it was all about Wexford, Clodagh Jackman, Aideen Brennan, Cashe, Neville and Cullen among those to shine.

Elsewhere, the talented Áine Magill completed 24 hours she won’t forget in a hurry as she played for Antrim in the intermediate semi-final against Galway and then against Laois in the Tesco All-Ireland B semi final.

She up a star outing for Antrim in their win over Galway by scoring 1-3 from midfield as the Saffrons’ minors as they came out on top of a thriller against Laois by 3-19 to 3-12 to reach the Tesco All-Ireland B final.

Antrim will face Offaly in the final, who defeated Derry by 4-12 to 1-8 in the other semi-final.

Kevin O’Brien runs Zimbabwe ragged in series-levelling win

A sparkling Kevin O’Brien half-century, his first for Ireland in 31 innings and nearly two years, laid the platform for a series-leveling win in the T20 series against Zimbabwe.

The last time he passed fifty in national colors, O’Brien carried onto a magnificent career-best 124 against Hong Kong.

Ireland had fallen to a three-run defeat in the opener, with Zimbabwe making 117 on that occasion, but found chasing a target of 153 easier, in large part thanks to O’Brien’s efforts. The first delivery he faced struck him on the wrist and left him requiring treatment from the physios, but he shrugged off the blow to play a match-defining knock.

At first, however, it was Paul Stirling who did much of the scoring, with O’Brien content to turn the strike over to his opening partner. Stirling nudged his second ball fine for the first boundary of the innings, and peppered the boundary thereafter, with a crunching back-foot smash and a lofted off-drive finding the extra-cover rope, with a six over the leg-side needing the delivery of a new ball.

O’Brien carved Richard Ngarava over the offside before swinging Tendai Chatara through his leg to prove his own form, but did enjoy one moment of fortune, dropped by Craig Ervine running back from mid-off, with the ball popping out of the Zimbabwe skipper’s grasp and rolling into the rope.

By the end of the powerplay, Ireland had 53, with Stirling 31 off 27 and O’Brien 15 off 11. Two balls later, six had been added to the total but Stirling had been dismissed, with Ryan Burl dragging one down and punished before finding the inside edge through to the keeper.

 

Andrew Balbirnie joined O’Brien to steady the ship, with their 18-run stand occupying four overs and containing a solitary boundary, O’Brien sweeping Milton Shumba behind square. Balbirnie dragged Burl onto the stumps, but the entrance of George Dockrell injected some spark into the innings, with he and O’Brien running Zimbabwe ragged.

Their partnership contained five twos and a three, with pressure mounting on the touring side. O’Brien managed to find the boundary regularly too, bringing up a special half-century in perfect style, lofting Wellington Masakadza gloriously over extra-cover for six.

He fell not long after, caught at mid-off off Shumba, and another tense finish looked on the cards with 12 required from the last two overs. But in a flash, it was over, with Dockrell finding the fence three times in three deliveries, and victory had been secured with seven wickets and nine balls to spare.

Ervine briefly threatened to mount a resistance, striking two boundaries in his 12-ball stay, but Ben White removed him, the leg-spinner pinning the Zimbabwe skipper lbw for his maiden international wicket, the perfect gift on his 23rd birthday.

At the halfway stage, Zimbabwe were 64-4, and one delivery later that became 64-5, a leading-edge from Chakabva looping up into the offside where Stirling took a one-handed catch at full stretch. The grab gave Getkate his third wicket, and he finished with career-best figures of 3-20.

However, having dominated the opening half of the innings, Ireland could find no way through the sixth wicket stand between Shumba and Burl. After a quiet over from Simi Singh, it was a six-off Getkate that got the fightback underway. Burl skipped down the track, launching high and handsome over the straight boundary and into the houses behind.

Eight runs came in that and each of the following two overs, before another six, slog-swept by Burl off White over deep midwicket helped Zimbabwe accelerate further.

Zimbabwe ended with 152-5, the pair having put on 88 runs in just under 10 overs and took the momentum into the innings break. But O’Brien would ensure that it was Ireland who claimed victory.

On a less positive note, Ireland’s medical staff have confirmed Curtis Campher injured his left shoulder in the field in last Friday’s game and was forced to withdraw from the second match. Scans have revealed a sprain of the AC joint with some associated ligament damage. He will miss the rest of the T20I series and see a specialist as a precautionary measure.

Cork inch out Kilkenny in camogie semi-final

Paudie Murray and Brian Dowling have spoken highly of their teams after a dramatic game in the All-Ireland camogie semi-final

Cork 0-15

Kilkenny 1-11

Paudie Murray explained the decision to leave out skipper Linda Collins as a requirement for impetus from his bench and that call proved a masterstroke, as the Courcey Rovers forward was a danger for all 14 minutes of her involvement, concluding with a dramatic winner as the clock just wound into the fourth and final minute of injury time.

It was a stunning conclusion to a riveting affair that Cork dominated, for the most part, the wonderful Chloe Sigerson shooting five points.

On the red card for Cronin, Murray said to not have seen the incident but felt that Katrina Mackey should have had a penalty when Meighan Farrell came from nowhere to deny the full-forward a goal.

“I thought our first half was good, but our third quarter killed us. We spoke about a lot of things during the week and I think some of them went out the window. That 15 minutes really annoyed us. But I suppose Kilkenny were always going to have their period of dominance so I thought we showed great composure and great character. I think the team is starting to develop its own character,” said Murray.

“It takes a small bit of time for a new team to develop a new personality in the dressing-room and new characters. I think they are starting to do that.

“This is a very young team. Ciara O’Sullivan is 19, Fiona Keating 20, we have a lot in around the 21/22 years. This is a big day out for them. I thought we managed it very well.”

 

Brian Dowling, who had won an All-Ireland in his first season as manager last year, having previously served as deputy to Ann Downey, was understandably downbeat.

“The first half was a bit disappointing. I asked the girls for more energy and in fairness, they brought that to Cork and in fairness to these girls over the last number of years.

“They’ve died with their boots on for Kilkenny camogie.”

“I can’t ask for any more of them since I’ve been involved with them and unfortunately there are just days like this when you come up a little bit short and we’re just going to have to lick our wounds now.

“We got a great goal and we even pushed on to go a bit up but we probably needed to go (more) up. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen today.

“I don’t think we hurled as well as we could, especially in that second quarter of the first half, we probably didn’t score too much in that quarter but I can’t fault these girls for the effort and they’ve been great champions. Any time you play Cork, there’s never been anything between them and, we got the lucky breaks last year and they got them today.”

He hailed the character of his players.

“It wasn’t easy for these girls to lose three All-Irelands; it would have been easy to pack it in and retire but players like Collette Dormer, Denise Gaule, and Katie Power – what she’s gone through to get on the pitch is unbelievable. They’ll do anything to play, injections, whatever.

“Kellyann Doyle was only passed fit last night.

“How she was able to play that match I’ll never know. She couldn’t raise her arm on Friday evening.”

“I can’t speak highly enough of these girls – they’d die for the Kilkenny jersey. There’s a great bond in that group, but it’s so disappointing when you lose. You learn a lot more when you lose so you have to move on from here.”

SCORERS FOR CORK: O Cronin 0-6(5fs); C Sigerson 0-5 (1f); K Mackey, F Keating, S McCarthy, L Collins 0-1 each

SCORERS FOR KILKENNY: D Gaule 0-7(fs); M O’Connell 1-0; K Power 0-2; K Doyle, K Nolan 0-1 each

CORK: A Lee, P Mackey, L Coppinger, M Cahalane, L Hayes, L Treacy, S McCarthy, H Looney, A Thompson, C Sigerson, F Keating, C O’Sullivan, A O’Connor, O Cronin, K Mackey. Sub: L Collins for O’Sullivan (50)

KILKENNY: A Norris, M Teehan, C Dormer, D Tobin, K Doyle, M Farrell, C Phelan, D Gaule, G Walsh, M Walsh, K Nolan, M O’Connell, S Fitzgerald, K Power, A Doyle. Subs: L Murphy for Fitzgerald (38), N Deely for Teehan (48), M Kenneally for A Doyle (55)

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