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European Baseball: Ireland dominate a poor Hungary team

Ireland improved on their last game to inflict a very heavy defeat on Hungary on Day 2 of the European Baseball Qualifiers

In a group with Slovakia, Hungary, and Finland, the Irish are proving to be the team to beat. After defeating Finland 6-1 on the first day, they have thrashed a poor Hungary side.

Mitch Hillert showed his precise pitching with the batting of Frank Andrew’s team also got some impressive scores.

Ireland (16) v Hungary (3), Bratislava

Ireland started the match batting and with real tenacity. After captain Leo Farrell walked to first and stole second, a sweet swing by Fionn Gallahar-Hal let the captain run home for the first point of the game.

Next, a high Brian McAuliffe hit lets Gallahar-Hall and David Gallagher at second base run home for two more points.

Hungary calmed themselves to stop any more Irish scores but could not handle pitcher Mitch Hillert’s tricky throws.

In the second inning, Ireland showed a short masterclass in baseball. With the bases loaded a Farrell double sent Mike McGee and JP Dolan home. Tim Shea then was allowed to walk home after a pitching mistake.

McAuliffe, Gallagher, and Farrell made it home by the end of the inning to make it 9-0.

Hungary had trouble pitching, changing their pitcher halfway through the second inning. Hillert did not have the same trouble finishing the round keeping his opponents scoreless.

Ireland took a break from scoring in the third inning as Hungary improved their defense. The score remained the same going into the top of the fourth.

Ireland brought back the class of earlier batting in this round. McGee stole third before a Farrell single let him reach home base. With two strikeouts, Ireland needed some magic which David Gallagher produced. A fantastic home run, the first of the competition, but three more points on the board, with Tim Shea and Farrell also scoring.

Hungary still had no response to the Irish onslaught as the green defense held firm.

The fifth inning was quiet as both teams made changes knowing the game was already won. The score was 13-0 going into the sixth.

Ireland managed to get another man to home base after more stealing from Gallagher and McGee batting the ball far enough for him to score. The score was now at 14-0, Hungary would need points on the board soon or the game would be forced to end early.

Hillert continued to scare Hungary batters with his fastballs, adding two more strikeouts to his long tally.

Ireland made one last push at the start of the seventh inning. Hungary ended the game with their fourth pitcher, but he could not stop the Irish from getting two more points. First Dolan made an easy jog home from third base and Shea rounded off Ireland’s 16th score.

Like the Finland game, Hungary made a last-ditch attempt to get some points. With men on the second and third base, a great bat by Carlos Rubio sends the first two Hungarians home. Rubio was their star player and he got himself home before substitute pitcher Patrick Mitchell upped his game.

Three was not enough for Hungary to keep the game going and Ireland was given the win after the seventh inning with a score of 16-3.

 

This was a dominant team performance with no standout players. This game leaves them with a lot of confidence going into their last game against the home country, already qualified for the final.

Ireland will face Slovakia tomorrow, the 2nd of July with all matches being shown live on YouTube on the Slovakia Baseball page.

 

Ireland Team Announced For Japan Test

Ireland have announced their side to face Japan in the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, July 3rd at 1 pm.

The 23-man matchday squad was carved out of the 36-man squad available for selection.

The starting lineup is filled with players familiar with the Irish setup and the bench features some international prospects.

Dave Kilcoyne and Finlay Bealham will line up on either side of Ronan Kelleher, who had recently with Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions.

James Ryan returns to the starting lineup as captain and is paired with Ultan Dillane at lock forward.

Peter O’Mahony, Josh Van Der Flier and Caelan Doris round off the starting forwards in the back row.

Jamison Gibson-Park will wear the number nine shirt while Joey Carbery makes his first appearance in green since the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Stuart McCloskey and Chris Farrell provide a veteran presence at inside and outside centre.

Jacob Stockdale, Jordan Larmour and Hugo Keenan fill out the back three.

Rob Herring and Billy Burns are joined by the uncapped Gavin Coombes and others on the bench.

The game will be available to watch on RTÉ 2 with coverage starting at 12:30 pm.

Ireland Team v Japan

Backs

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps
14. Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 29 caps
13. Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan) 34 caps
10. Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 22 caps
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 9 caps

Forwards
1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 43 caps
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 11 caps
3. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 14 caps
4. Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 18 caps
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps Captain
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 75 caps
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 31 caps
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/UCD) 7 caps
Replacements
16. Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 21 caps
17. Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 4 caps
18. John Ryan (Munster/Cork Constitution) 23 caps
19. Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 3 caps
20. Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) uncapped
21. Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 1 cap
22. Billy Burns (Ulster) 6 caps
23. Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Constitution) 1 cap

B&I Lions Team Annouced For First Test In SA

The British and Irish Lions have announced their starting lineup for their first test in South Africa against the Emirates Lions.

No Irish player is present in the starting XV with Gatland and his selectors instead opting to lean on the British side of the squad for talent.

There is only one survivor from the starting lineup against Japan with Josh Adams starting at 11 this week.

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg will captain the team for their match this weekend.

Louis-Ress Zammit will get his first minutes as a Lion this weekend when he starts on the opposite wing to Adams.

Owen Farrell and Chris Harris will offer different qualities in midfield while Scotland duo Ali Price and Finn Russell will wear the 9 and 10 shirts respectively.

In the pack, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler provide an English feel to the front row alongside Wyn Jones.

Maro Itoje and Jonny Hill come into the side at lock forward, replacing the benched Iain Henderson and the injured Alun Wyn Jones.

Courtney Lawes shows his flexibility with a start at six while Hamish Watson and Taulupe Faletau round out the forwards.

Bundee Aki and Exeter star Sam Simmonds take their places on the bench alongside Henderson.

The match will kick-off at 5 pm on Saturday, July 3rd and the game will be available to watch on Sky Sports.

The British & Irish Lions Team v Emirates Lions

Backs

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs/Scotland) C

14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester/Wales)

13. Chris Harris (Gloucester/Scotland)

12. Owen Farrell (Saracens/England)

11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues/Wales)

10. Finn Russell (Racing 92/Scotland)

9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)

Forwards
  1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets/Wales)
  2. Jamie George (Saracens/England)
  3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears/England)
  4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England)
  5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs/England)
  6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints/England)
  7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh/Scotland)
  8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath/Wales)
Replacements

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs/England)

17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens/England)

18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors/Scotland)

19. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Ireland)

20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs/England)

21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets/Wales)

22. Bundee Aki (Connacht/Ireland)

23. Elliot Daly (Saracens/England)

 

Irish goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu joins Portsmouth on loan

The young former Shamrock Rovers keeper Bazunu has joined the League One outfit from parent club Manchester City

It is understood that there were a few clubs looking for the goalkeeper, but he is now happy to be playing for Portsmouth.

This will be Bazunu’s second time in League One after a busy season last year with relegated Rochdale. The 19-year-old made 32 appearances and kept five clean sheets for the struggling team.

The best part of the young man’s year was his four starts for the Irish national team under Stephen Kenny. He played in one World Cup qualifier match against Luxembourg and three other friendlies over the summer.

Kenny high rates the shot-stopper and this loan move will only give him more experience between the sticks.

Although he is yet to make a start, Manchester City also highly rate the Irishman after handing him a long-term contract at the club to keep him till 2024.

How will Portsmouth help Bazunu?

Portsmouth will be a small step up from playing in Rochdale with the Fratton Park team planning to compete for the third division title.

The formerly great Portsmouth missed out of a playoff place for promotion after a slip-up at the end of the season.

Three of Portsmouth’s goalkeepers left the club this season leaving the first-place spot open for Bazunu. He will now join fellow Irishman Ronan Curtis who netted 10 goals last season.

The Pompey manager has said that he wants his goalkeepers to be fast off their line and good with their feet. These are both two qualities that the Dubliner has performed well at while playing for Ireland.

This is an important move for Bazunu who needs first-team football to help him hold his position for Ireland over Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher and West Ham’s Darren Randolph.

McIlroy Ready For Triple Header

Rory McIlroy will begin the first of a triple-header on Thursday afternoon when he tees off for the first round of the 2021 Irish Open.

He had hoped to bring his family to Kilkenny with him but strict travel restrictions made this tough and impractical with the golfer instead opting to go alone and play in the Scottish Open next week.

This will be followed by the Open Championship in two weeks time, giving the golfer a run of three tournaments in three weeks.

“I just felt like it wasn’t fair to put them through what they would have to go through to be here with me, so plans changed very quickly,” said McIlroy.

The 32-year-old has never played at Mount Juliet before but is enjoying his time there.

He did go to the course as a child to watch the WGC-American Express Championship in 2002 and 2004 and has fond memories of his time there.

He was on the 18th green for the prize ceremony when Tiger Woods won the tournament in 2002 and even managed to close to the American golfing icon.

“His glove was still in the back pocket and I could have reached and got it and ran – it would have been a great story to tell him.”

Working with coach Pete Cowen has got Rory back into his stride at times and he is eyeing up silverware for the second half of the 2021 season.

His win at Quail Hollow last month is a positive sign that their work is coming together nicely.

After getting himself into contention at the US Open, he wants to chase another major with the Open only two weeks away.

McIlroy also cited the FedEx Cup, the Race to Dubai and the Ryder Cup as challenges he wants to tackle.

The current number 10 in the world feels confident after his promising Torrey Pines performance.

“I went out at Torrey on Sunday at least with a plan….previously over the last couple of years it has been more of a wishful, hopeful sort of thing.”

However, he is still looking forward to the Irish Open and many are confident that he will get the win on Sunday.

McIlroy noted similarities between the course designed by Jack Nicklaus and the course at the K Club, where he won in 2016.

Parkland courses are something McIlroy plays often overseas on the PGA Tour.

Following in the footsteps of his hero Tiger Woods and join the list of Major winners with a victory at Mount Juliet is something that McIlroy wants to do.

“I hope to continue that trend for sure.”

Irish Open tee times for Irish players and TV details are available here.

Declan Rice Turns Down Two West Ham Contract Offers

England Midfielder Declan Rice has turned down two West Ham contract offers putting Chelsea and Man United on high alert.

Rice is adamant in rejecting any further attempts from West Ham to sign a new deal to stay at the Hammers, with his hope of either Chelsea or Man United placing a bid for him.

West Ham has reportedly offered Rice a bumper pay wise, but the salary offered is much less than he could potentially earn elsewhere.

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel has named Rice his prefered midfield option this summer, alongside Monaco midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni.

United are big admirers of Rice, who are looking for a suitable central-defensive midfielder, and could offer Jesse Lingard as part of the deal after his successful loan spell last season contributing to nine goals and five assists.

The Hammers have put a price tag of £100 million on Rice, who still has 3 years left on his own current contract with the option for a further year.

The midfielder is keen on listing to any new bids and wants to be informed of any offers for him if they come in during this summers transfer window.

The England international, who is currently a starter for Gareth Southgate’s side at the European Championship, with his performance against Germany in England’s 2-0 Round of 16 victory on Tuesday being a standout.

Team-mate Mason Mount is Rice’s closest friend from their time together at Chelsea’s Academy and has gone on record of wanting to play with the Chelsea Champions League winner in the future.

Former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was a huge fan of the West Ham captain, and prior to his sacking recommended Rice to the Blues last summer in Chelsea’s massive overhaul of players.

 

 

Pádraig Harrington: “The First Priority Is The Ryder Cup.”

Pádraig Harrington is ready to tee-off on the first round of the Irish Open on Thursday but his long-term plans are bigger.

The Open is on the 49-year-old’s mind but so is the Ryder Cup, which gets closer and closer every week.

The Ryder Cup captain announced his third and fourth vice-captain choices last week with Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer earning the same honour as Robert Karlsson and Luke Donald.

“The first priority is the Ryder Cup,” said Harrington.

Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter have been two golfers that the three-time major champion has praised publicly.

Harrington feels that their Ryder Cup records mean that they should be held in high regard when it is time to select his team.

He also named Martin Kaymer as another example of a player with an impressive history as a Ryder Cup golfer.

However, the captain also understands that the future is coming fast with recent wins from Jon Rahm and Viktor Novland solidifying the need to take note of the younger golfers too.

But the best possible way of impressing Harrington, regardless of age, is with your performances.

“Wherever [players] play, I want to see them play well…the best possible way of impressing me is playing good golf.”

As for the more immediate events on his planner – the Irish Open and The Open Championship – the golfer is confident and working on his mental game, which he said is a good sign.

He credited Mount Juliet as a great golf course with great greens and hopes to be very stressed when he’s on the back nine on Sunday.

The 2007 Irish Open winner does expect a great weekend in Kilkenny with a limited amount of fans present to see the golfers play.

“I think all the players will appreciate the limited fans.”

The Open begins two weeks from now and is something Harrington has his eye on after his impressive performance at the PGA Championship, where he was tied for fourth with Shane Lowry.

He felt that the conditions in South Carolina helped him to perform well, likening it to a links course which is what the Royal St George course is.

Given the right scenario, Harrington feels he could impress at Sandwich as he is used to links courses.

“Given the right conditions and the right golf course, I can be very competitive with the game I have.”

The idea of winning a major again is what gets the World number 155 up in the morning, adding that it gives him a unique buzz compared to the thought of winning non-major tournaments.

However, that does not mean the veteran golfer can not get excited for the other tournaments.

Harrington noted that Jack Nicklaus noticed he was at the tail-end of his career when he lost that feeling of excitement before every tournament, and that he still has that feeling.

This week is exciting for him but feels different to many others as he prepares to begin the quest for the title, as others have agreed with him on.

“We do feel like it’s special this week.”

Irish Open tee times and TV details are available here.

“It’s a tournament that obviously means a lot to me” says Shane Lowry

Open Champion Shane Lowry is among the group of Irish golfers playing in front of spectators at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open. He is being joined by four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy, Ryder Cup Captain Pádraig Harrington and former U.S Open Champion Graeme McDowell, among others.

“It’s nice being back home,” the County Offaly Open champion said. “No matter where you go in the world it’s always nice to be home. Got home last week and got to see some family and friends at the weekend.

“Obviously coming here to play the Irish Open is exciting. It’s a tournament that obviously means a lot to me. And not that I owe a lot to it, but it kick-started my whole career with that invite I got here and winning it. It is nice to be here and it’s nice to have some good weather down here in Kilkenny, and, hopefully that stays for the rest of the week and we can all have a good week.”

Lowry’s career took off unexpectedly in 2009 when he won the Irish Open at County Louth Golf Club as an amateur.

He claimed his maiden Major title two years ago in front of his jubilant home fans in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush. The 34-year-old is happy to be back playing in front of Irish fans after this week’s event was chosen by the Irish government as one of the first pilot initiatives for extended capacity at outdoor sporting events.

Ryder Cup Captain Harrington

This week’s event also marks a special occasion for Harrington, who will play in front of the Irish crowds for the last time before he leads Team Europe as Captain at The Ryder Cup in September, and he is joined in the field by his recently-announced Vice Captains McDowell and Martin Kaymer.

Commenting on the current state of his game the Dubliner offered:

“I see some nice form. I’m always working away at things and trying to get my game in shape. At the moment I’m working more on my mental game. That’s a good sign. That’s normally when you get the better results. Somewhat focused on The Open in two weeks’ time, but that kind of helps because this week, it’s all about getting things right. You can’t just turn up and it’s not like a light switch where you just turn it on and off. It takes a bit of time.

“But I saw some good green shots last week, and it’s following on this week so far and hopefully I’ll keep doing it and play my game, do my stuff and hopefully Sunday with a few holes to go, I have a chance and enjoy those feelings of being stressed out under pressure for the last couple of holes.

“It’s great to be back here”

Graeme McDowell spoke of his delight at being back on an Irish golf course:

“Listen, any time you’re not playing an Irish Open, something’s going on, and obviously it’s been a crazy 15 months for everyone. It’s great to be back here at Mount Juliet. Dubai Duty Free continue to support us, and having people watching us will be great. Golf course is in fantastic condition.”

The Ulsterman expressed his delight with the layout of the course, stating:

“I think it’s a course that sets up pretty well for me, as well. You have to hit the fairways and keep the ball in play off the tee. You have a lot of short irons in your hand and perfect greens. It’s going to be a low-scoring affair and definitely got to come out of the gates hot tomorrow hopefully. I’m excited to be back, and looking forward to a good week.”

The first round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on Thursday will be live on RTÉ Sport.

The tee-off times for round one can be accessed here.

Former winners Rory McIlroy and John Catlin among Dubai Duty Free Irish Open field

Rory McIlroy is relishing the opportunity to play in front of his home fans for the first time in two years as the four-time Major winner tees it up in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Mount Juliet Estate this week.

“It’s looking fabulous,” admitted McIlroy, “Wonderful weather. Great golf course. It’s great. I’ve never played here before. I’ve been here to watch when the World Golf Championships were here in 2002 and 2004; we came down to watch, but a little different playing it. And, yeah, obviously the vantage point is a little different, as well.”

Previous Irish Open host

For four consecutive seasons from 2015, the Irishman put his name to his home open as the tournament host and was credited with helping revive the event’s fortunes to reclaim its status as one of the most eagerly-awaited fixtures on the Irish sporting calendar.

The 32-year-old, who claimed the famous trophy in 2016, is relishing the opportunity to be welcomed home by the Irish spectators at the sold-out event – which is one of a select number of pilot test events as crowds return to live sport in Ireland.

McIlroy, whose last appearance on home soil came at The 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, will play alongside his fellow 2018 Ryder Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood and John Catlin – who defends his title having added his name to the prestigious list of winners at Galgorm Castle Golf Club last September.

McIlroy “encouraged” by recent performance

Speaking about his recent US Open performance the US-based Irish golfer said:

“I was very encouraged walking away from Torrey Pines, to have a share of the lead on the final day through a few holes. I gave myself a good chance. Looking back, the one thing that I kicked myself about, it wasn’t the double on 12, you’re going to get some bad breaks and I got a bad break but it was the three-putt on 11 that stopped the momentum.

“I made a really good putt for par on ten and then probably hit my best shot of the day into 11. Great 5-iron into the middle of the green. And then, you know, that three-putt was just pretty sloppy, and that killed the momentum to go on from there. But I thought the week was a real positive on whole and I’m looking forward to these next three weeks.”

John Gatlin set to defend title

Last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Open winner John Catlin is relishing the chance to defend his title:

“I’m very excited to defend, this is my first opportunity to defend my win,” the American said. “Even on the Asian Tour I didn’t have an opportunity to defend any of my wins so I’m really excited, a lot of the memories from last year coming back – different golf course but I’m definitely drawing on some of those shots I hit down the stretch and the confidence that gives me.

Commenting on his own game right night, Catlin stated:

“The game is pretty good. I’ve been putting in some good work when I was at home, with Noah my coach, just tightening some things up. I’m always trying to get a little better that I was before and I feel like I was close last week, I just couldn’t quite figure out the greens. I’m missing too many short putts and I missed the cut by a couple but that happens to everybody and I’m looking forward to this week.”

Round One tee-off times here.

Graeme McDowell: “I’m Not Ready To Walk Away”

Graeme McDowell believes he still has more to give the sport of golf after his slump in form over the past year.

His recent form, which consists of numerous cuts and off-the-pace performances mostly, has been the story of the last 12 months for McDowell.

The Northern Irish felt that he was flying high before the season was brought to a halt due to the pandemic.

“The dream of playing a Ryder Cup was starting to be real…I got back on the golf course and things went sideways,” said McDowell.

Adjectives like scrambling, searching and looking were used to describe his mentality when the run of bad form kept going after his return.

Work with a new coach did not turn things around and the Portrush golfer has had some dark days thinking about his career in recent times.

But he is “not ready to walk away” and wants to improve before he does but he has been his own worst enemy at times.

“The mental side of the game is not there [personally] – my confidence is low; my expectations are high.”

McDowell understands that he should not ask himself to change the way he plays golf in order to find results but instead rely on the basics.

He noted that while his numbers have been disappointing, the 2010 US Open winner believes he is closer than it appears to put things right.

“It’s not how I want the next 2-5 years to end.”

The number 167 ranked golfer in the world thinks that the Ryder Cup vice-captaincy has come at a good time.

Being around a Ryder Cup could be something that helps the once World no.4 to get back on his feet.

McDowell said that it is the kind of stuff he needs right now to help him regain his confidence on the course.

“There’s obviously no reason why I can’t do it again.”

Click here to view tee-times, betting and broadcasting details for the Irish Open.

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