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Standout players over the European Championship group stages

The knockout rounds will commence this Saturday.

Just over a week after kicking off, the European Championship group stages have come to an end. The next step being the knockout rounds in which 16 teams will compete for a place in the final – the ultimate hope being to lift the trophy.

With each team playing just 3 games in their group, it’s still difficult to gauge just how well some will fare in the knockouts.

During those games, there has been a number of players who have impressed.

That said, we’ve compiled a list (in no particular order) of 5 footballers who have impressed us the most in the tournament so far.

ROMELU LUKAKU | BELGIUM | STRIKER

One of the favourites to claim top scorer before the tournament commenced, Romelu Lukaku has certainly lived up to expectation so far.

The Inter Milan striker had a prolific season at club level and appears to have continued that form into the Euros, scoring 3 goals in 3 games.

Not only has Lukaku been impressive in terms of goal contributions, he’s also received praise for his general play. His role in the build-up for Belgium’s 2 goals against Denmark being particularly evident of his improved link-up play over the years.

Naturally, Belgium are one of the favourites to win the tournament and with Lukaku up top complimented by the creative talents of Kevin De Bruyne among others, they’ll be hard stopped.

CRISTIANO RONALDO | PORTUGAL | STRIKER

You wouldn’t think Ronaldo was one of the oldest players at the tournament. 3 games in with a massive 6 goal contributions (5 goals, 1 assist), the Portuguese legend is showing no sign of slowing down. In fact, he currently leads the top scorer table by 2 goals with the aforementioned Romelu Lukaku being tied second.

Not only is Ronaldo top scorer at the Euros, his last goal against France left him equal at the top with Iran’s Ali Daei for the top men’s international goal scorer of all time with 109 goals – incredible.

Although Portugal have qualified for the knockouts, their reliance on Ronaldo so far has been worrying. The Juventus striker has been involved in all but one of their goals and to tell the truth, their hasn’t been many standout performers other than him.

Even Bruno Fernandes – who is Manchester United’s main source of goal contributions – was dropped against France for his lacklustre performances in the other games.

That said, though, Portugal did manage to win the last European Championships despite poor performances in the group stages. Time will tell.

PAUL POGBA | FRANCE | MIDFIELDER 

Often a scapegoat for when things go wrong at club level, the same can’t be said for Pogba on the international scene.

He has his critics, but his performances so far in the tournament should silence them – at least for the time being.

Arguably France’s best player so far, Pogba has shown his importance to the national side, dictating play and spraying some magnificent passes to find his team mates.

Pogba was one of the key players when his country lifted the World Cup in 2018, can he be just as instrumental in this tournament?

GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM | NETHERLANDS | MIDFIELDER

The newly-signed PSG man wasn’t necessarily known as a goal scorer during his time at Liverpool, but his time with the national team and previous sides would say otherwise.

Wijnaldum is currently the joint-second in the scoring charts after scoring 3 goals in 3 games from midfield.

His scoring record for the national team is so impressive in fact, that he has more goals than AC Milan and Ajax legend Marco van Basten.

Not only is he scoring at will, he also has a highly impressive pass completion rate of 90% over the 3 games which is nothing to be scoffed at.

EMIL FORSBERG | SWEDEN | WINGER

It would be unfair not to include a Swedish player on the list. Not many fancied the Scandinavian side before the tournament but they’ve arguably been the biggest surprise package so far, winning 2 of their 3 games and drawing the other.

In fact, they’re still being overlooked by many despite reaching the quarter final being a realistic target. They’re up against Ukraine in the round of 16 who were less than impressive in their most recent showing.

There are a number of players we could have picked including Alexander Isak, who despite not scoring a goal as a striker has earned himself plenty of fans or alternatively, Victor Lindelöf, who’s been a rock at the back for his county.

But we’ve gone for Emil Forsberg.

The winger has long been regarded as one of the best talents in the Bundesliga, but inconsistency has been a problem for the 29-year-old over the years. But so far this tournament, he’s been nothing but consistent.

Like Wijnaldum and Lukaku, Forsberg currently sits second in the scoring charts having scored 3 goals.

His last performance was particularly impressive, scoring 2 brilliantly taken goals as his side ran out 3-2 winners over Poland.

With Forsberg and a recently fit Kulusevski on either wing, Sweden will be a tough challenge for any team to get past.

Athlete Lanigan-O’Keefe ruled out of Olympics

Irish pentathlete Arthur Lanigan-O’Keefe has announced that he will miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a hip injury

Lanigan-O’Keefe has represented Ireland at the Olympics in London 2012 and in Rio 2016. He finished 8th overall at his last Games.

The Kilkenny man will be replaced in Tokyo by Mexican athlete, Alvaro Sandoval Aguilar.

The injury forced Lanigan-O’Keefe out of the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup final in Hungary last month. The 29-year-old is still young and could recover and improve to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The athlete made a statement on Instagram about missing out on his third Olympics in a row:

“What was on the last two occasions a euphoric moment was however bittersweet this time around. My injury to my hip is too much to overcome and I have decided that the honorable thing to do would be to pass my place onto another athlete who was fit to compete at the highest level.

“This is not a decision I have taken lightly and it’s been one of the most painful things for me to do having fought soo hard to get here.

“@alvaro_sandoval_aguilar you are the better man for the job. You now not only represent Mexico but also Ireland and we will be cheering for you, best of luck my friend!

 

What is the Modern Pentathlon?

At the Olympics, the modern pentathlon is one of the original sports and consists of five events. All athletes must compete in fencing, 200m freestyle swimming, show jumping and the last event of pistol shooting, and a 3200m cross-country race.

 

Lanigan-O’Keefe’s fiancée, Natalya Coyle will now be Ireland’s only athlete competing in the modern pentathlon.

The Meath athlete is also going to her third Olympics. She is in good form after finishing fifth in the UIPM Pentathlon World Cup Final this month.

For more stories about Arthur Lanigan-O’Keefe, check out this article here:

Lanigan-O’Keeffe finishes 22nd in Pentathlon World Cup Sofia

 

Ireland U20 Starting Team Announced For Wales Clash

The Ireland U20 team for their game against Wales at the Cardiff Arms Park has been announced.

Six changes have been made to the Ireland side who beat Scotland 31-7 last Saturday.

Prop Sam Illo is rested after a stellar performance, with Mark Donnelly coming in in his place.

Leinster’s Alex Soroka is moved up to lock as Donncha Byrne gets a starting berth on the blindside.

Two of last week’s standout performers, Oisin McCormack and Captain Alex Kendellen keep their places in the starting XV.

Nathan Doak and Tim Corkery take the nine and 10 jerseys respectfully, replacing Ulster’s Conor McKee and James Humphreys.

The Connacht centre pairing of Cathal Forde and Shane Jennings starts once again while one change is made to the back three.

St. Michael’s College graduate Chris Cosgrave comes into the side to play alongside Jamie Osborne and Ben Moxham.

Illo, McKee and others are available from the bench.

The kick-off is at 8 pm with coverage starting on RTÉ One at 7:30 pm.

Backs

15. Jamie Osborne (Naas CBS/Naas RFC/Leinster)
14. Ben Moxham (Larne High School/Ballymena RFC/Ulster)
13. Shane Jennings (Garbally College/Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
12. Cathal Forde (Colaiste Iognaid/Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
11. Chris Cosgrave (St Michael’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
10. Tim Corkery (St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny/UCD RFC/Leinster)
9. Nathan Doak (Wallace High School/Banbridge RFC/Ulster)

Forwards

1. Jack Boyle (St Michael’s College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
2. Ronan Loughnane (Cistercian College Roscrea/UCD RFC/Leinster)
3. Mark Donnelly (CBC Cork/Garryowen RFC/Munster)
4. Alex Soroka (Belvedere College/Clontarf RFC/Leinster)
5. Harry Sheridan (Sullivan Upper School/Dublin University FC/Ulster)
6. Donnacha Byrne (Summerhill College/Sligo RFC/Connacht)
7. Oisin McCormack (Garbally College/Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
8. Alex Kendellen (PBC Cork/UCC RFC/Munster)(Captain)

Replacements

16. Eoin de Buitléar (Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiáran/An Ghaeltacht/Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
17. George Saunderson (Sullivan Upper School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
18. Sam Illo (Wesley College/Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
19. Mark Morrissey (Blackrock College/UCD RFC/Leinster)
20. Reuben Crothers (Wallace High School/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster)
21. Conor McKee (Sullivan Upper School/Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
22. Ben Carson (Wallace High School/Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
23. Jude Postlethwaite (RBAI/Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
24. Fearghail O’Donoghue (Cashel Community School/Cashel RFC/Munster)
25. Daniel Okeke (Ard Scoil Ris/Shannon RFC/Munster)
26. Conor Rankin (Campbell College Belfast/Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster).

Leinster Football Preview Team News & Live Score : Wicklow v Wexford

Wicklow and Wexford will meet in round one of the Leinster Senior Football Championship for the second year in a row.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORES ON Wicklow v Wexford

The game will be available to watch on GAAGO and will kick off at 3 pm on Sunday.

The fixture last year saw Wicklow beat the Model County’s footballers by four points, scoring two goals during the 70 minutes.

The winner of this instalment will face Leinster and All-Ireland holders Dublin.

Since then, Wicklow was knocked out of the 2020 championship and both sides had a league campaign.

Both sides finished the league on a high after losing their initial games, with Wexford getting the added bonus of silverware – the Division Four Shield.

Wicklow managed an average of 1.5 goals per game in their 2021 National Football League Division Three campaign.

Their attack is not as potent as that stat may suggest but the quality of Seanie Furlong and Eoin Darcy should not be underestimated.

The two attackers have impressed under Davy Byrne and will threaten the Wexford backline often.

Their surprise win over Cavan kept the side in Division Three for 2022 and the performance of Patrick O’Connor against the reigning Ulster champions is a promising sign for the future.

The Wicklow attack will face a Wexford defence that has looked porous in 2021.

The Model men’s backline allowed Carlow back into a game they should have lost and put the game out of reach for their attack at home to Waterford.

The games were filled with cards that handicapped all three sides involved in the two games.

Specifically, Wexford goalkeeper Darragh Brooke was black-carded 37 minutes into the Waterford game.

Regardless, their defence was susceptible to counter-attacks in that same match and will have a tougher time against Davy Byrne’s Wicklow.

However, in turn, their attack has the quality to threaten Wicklow’s defence and bring the game to them that way.

Mark Rossiter, Tom Byrne and Robbie Brooks looked lively in the side’s league games.

John Tubritt racked up six points in their Division Four Shield win over Sligo.

Four goals in their last two games have added a positive twist to the season that goes well with the Shield.

However, if they are to take down Wicklow, their defence will need to lock the Wicklow forwards down.

The quality of Furlong and co. may be too much for the Model county.

Team News
Wicklow

M Jackson, N Devereux, E Murtagh, O Manning, D Fitzgerald, N Donnelly, D Devereux, P O’Toole, JP Hurley, A Maher, M Kenny, C Byrne, J Sheeran, S Furlong, P O’Conor

Wexford

P Doyle, L O’Connor, G Sheehan, C Carty, B Malone, M O’Connor, M Furong, D Waters, L Coleman, P Hughes, S Nolan, K O’Grady, M Rossiter, J Tubritt, B Brosnan

Predicted Winner: Wicklow
Odds

Wicklow 4/7

Draw 15/2

Wexford 7/4

GAA Live Scores, Team News & Betting – Munster Football – Kerry v Clare

Kerry v Clare – Fitzgerald Stadium – 7:00 pm – Sky Sports

Kerry will host Clare in Killarney in the second of two Munster Quarter-Finals to be played on Saturday afternoon.

The Kingdom come into this game having just won the league alongside Dublin due to commitments with this game.

The Kingdom were by far the standout performers of the Allianz League. Sweeping aside Galway and Tyrone in ruthless fashion and drawing against All-Ireland champions Dublin to share the spoils.

David Clifford has been as clinical as ever, the young star is well on his way to becoming a Kerry great, and at such a young age he will hope to replicate the like of Colm Cooper and Kieran Donaghy on the push for All-Ireland glory.

Clare will be looking to bounce back in stunning fashion after narrowly losing to Mayo in a promotion play-off. Staging a comeback but just missing out after a slow first-half performance against the westerners.

Colm Collins will hope he can guide his side further than last years campaign, losing to eventual champions Tipperary at the same stage will be running through their minds. They just have to face an outstanding Kerry side this time around.

Players to watch

Kerry: David Clifford (Fossa)

Clare: David Tubridy (Doonbeg)

Starting/Predicted Teams
Kerry

Kieran Fitzgibbon; Brian O Beaglaoich, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Mike Breen, Gavin Crowley, Gavin White; Diarmuid O’Connor, Adrian Spillane; Stephen O’Brien, Sean O’Shea, Paul Geaney; David Clifford, Dara Moynihan, Paudie Clifford.

Clare

Stephen Ryan; Ciaran Russell, Cillian Brennan, Kevin Harnett; Cian O’Dea, Sean Collins, Daniel Walsh; Darren O’Neill, Cathal O’Connor; Darragh Bohannon, Eoin Cleary, Pearse Lillis; Gavin Cooney, David Tubridy, Joe McGann

Referee: Jerome Henry (Maigh Eo)
Betting

Kerry: 1/50

Clare: 14/1

Draw: 25/1

Prediction

Kerry.

https://twitter.com/i/lists/1408021311960518668

There is still a lot of Irish connections at Euro 2020

In early 2020, the future of Irish football looked promising, we had made the knockout rounds of Euro 2020 qualifying and set to host four games for the competition. A year onwards our involvement in the Euros is small, but there is some ‘Irish’ we can cheer for

After devastating losing on penalties to Slovakia, we knew that the boys in green would not play at Euro 2020.

In April 2021, Ireland could not guarantee a 25% attendance at its matches, so Dublin’s Aviva Stadium also withdrew from hosting the tournament.

The group stage and knockout matches meant to be in Dublin were replaced with venues in England and Russia.

Between players and performers, Ireland still has some representation at the competition. It may even help you to decide who to cheer for in the rest of the competition.

Where are the Irish?

Ireland has been involved in the competition long before the first ball was kicked. Two members of the band U2 have helped make the official Euro 2020 song.

Bono and the Edge, along with Martin Garrix wrote the song ‘We Are The People’ for the competition. Many fans love the catchy and emotional tune with it being compared to Zara Larsson’s ‘This One’s For You’ in 2016.

 

The Players at Euro 2020

England

It is well known that there are a lot of family ties between Ireland and England which can even be seen in the Three lions’ new golden generation.

Starting with their captain, Harry Kane could have chosen to play for Ireland back in 2014. The talismanic striker’s father, Patrick Kane, was from Galway.

In the heart of their defence, Harry Maguire also has links to Ireland through his grandparents.

One that stings for Irish fans still is Jack Grealish who has connections in Dublin. He even managed to pick up Ireland’s U21 Player of the Year award in 2015.

Another central defender Conor Coady has Irish grandparents. It makes sense since he has the same second name as Irelands greatest GAA manager.

Most recently, Declan Rice through grandparents from Cork played three friendlies for Ireland before choosing to play for England.

Each of those five English players will have a big impact on their run in Euro 2020 knock out rounds. Although, that probably will not make them any more popular on Irish shores.

Rest of Europe

A vital part of Denmark’s challenge in the Round of 16 will be their midfielder, Thomas Delaney.

His great-grandfather moved from Ireland to the USA after the famine making him eligible for both countries, but instead, he chose to play for his native Denmark.

 

An unexpected one that many haven’t heard of is Wales’ young defender, Ethan Ampadu. His father Kwame played for Ireland U21s back in the early 1990s having been raised in Dublin.

Now, Ampadu will be hoping that Wales get past the Round of 16 next week against Denmark after he was sent off in their last game against Italy.

 

Finland has been one of the sides that Europe has fallen in love with at the tournament. Sadly, we will not see them anymore after a dramatic last day in Group B, losing to Belgium.

They showcased some great defence talent including young centre back Daniel O’Shaughnessy whose father is from Galway.

 

Referees

Sadly no, Ireland does not have any referees or linesmen officiating at Euro 2020.

Instead, Michelle O’Neill will represent Ireland by refereeing matches at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games in July.

2020 Olympics: Who will Ireland 7s Rugby team need to beat for a medal

The Ireland Men’s Sevens side will compete at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo as one of 12 sides going for gold.

The Men’s competition will take place from June 26th – June 28th.

Team Ireland will have a lot of competition for medals as the other 11 sides are strong.

We break down who Ireland’s toughest competition for Olympic glory will be.

Great Britain

First up is some familiar foes under a different – England, Wales and Scotland.

The side got to the Olympics after Simon Amor’s England side won the 2019 Rugby Europe Sevens Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Colomiers.

England veteran Dan Norton will be a danger on the flanks as he will look to extend his all-time try-scoring record.

The active Sevens legend is one of four survivors from the 2016 squad who won a silver medal in Rio – Dan Bibby, Tom Mitchell and Ollie Lindsay-Hague also represent Great Britain for the second successive Olympic games.

England star Tom Bowen is available in reserve.

They will be one of the favourites for the top prize this summer.

GB men: Dan Bibby, Alec Coombes, Alex Davis, Robbie Fergusson, Harry Glover, Ben Harris, Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Ross McCann, Max McFarland, Tom Mitchell, Dan Norton, Ethan Waddleton.

Men’s reserve: Tom Bowen.

Odds: 12/1

United States

The United States Men’s Sevens side have underachieved at times throughout their lifespan.

They failed to deliver at the Olympics in 2016 but will want to put on an improved showing this year.

If they can build on their qualification promise, the national team could go far at the Olympics.

Speedster Carlin Isles is as fast as ever and will be a threat to every opponent he faces.

Perry Baker, Stephen Tomasin and Madison Hughes will also be ones to look out for as the side attempt to bring home an Olympic medal.

The United States Men’s Sevens Olympics squad has not been announced yet.

Odds: 7/1

Fiji

The 2016 Olympic champions are tipped by many to repeat that feat.

World Rugby’s Men’s Sevens Player of the Decade Jerry Tuwai is expected to lead the side to their second Olympic games with the hopes of defending their crown.

The side’s Oceania 7s squad gives fans an idea of what to expect for the Olympics.

2016 Olympic Gold Medal winner Kitione Taluga is set to take part in his second Olympic games as well.

Head Coach Gareth Baber can win a 12th tournament with his Fiji side, compared to nine tournament wins under 2016 Olympic Head Coach Ben Ryan.

The Pacific Islanders will have their eyes on the prize once again and if their 2018-19 World Rugby Sevens performance is anything to go by, they may retain it.

The Fiji Men’s Sevens Olympics squad has not been announced yet.

Odds: 11/4

New Zealand

The bookies’ favourite New Zealand will want to avenge their quarter-final loss to Fiji at the 2016 Olympics with a medal in Tokyo.

Clark Laidlaw’s world-class side will have the extra boost of 15’s star Caleb Clarke being available for the Olympics.

The Blues winger will line up alongside Sevens legends Scott Curry and and Tim Mikkelson at the Oceania 7s and is set to do so again at the Olympics next month.

Before cancellation, the All Blacks were leading the 2019-20 World Rugby Sevens Series and have the quality to carry that form over to this year’s Olympic tournament.

The New Zealand Men’s Sevens rugby team have not announced their Olympic squad yet.

Odds: 2/1

To view the full list of Irish athletes heading to the Olympic games this summer, click here.

 

 

A Look at the All-Ireland contenders for 2021

Dublin is coming into the 2021 championship season looking to claim an unprecedented seven-in-a-row after a decade of dominance.

Dessie Farrell took over from Jim Gavin in 2019 and claimed his first All-Ireland title in 2020 against Mayo.

The men from the capital are the clear favourites to claim another Sam Maguire.

Before the start of the upcoming season, we look at each contender to dethrone the Dubs.

Kerry

Manager: Peter Keane

Last All-Ireland: 2014 (37 titles)

Last year’s finish: Munster Semi-Final

Betting odds: 5/2

Key Player: David Clifford. Fossa’s starman has been on a tear of the championship since his debut in 2018. Becoming an influential forward the likes that Cooper would be proud off. During the league campaign this season, Clifford has torn teams apart by himself. With his performance against Galway a standout. If Kerry go further than last years escapades he will be a danger for anyone.

Point of discussion: Can they match Dublin strength for strength? The Kingdom were on the verge of dethroning the Dubs in their first meeting in the 2019 final but came up short in the replay. While its hard to find a squad as talented as Dublins, Peter Keane has blooded youth with experience since his appointment. They might not be able to finish the job this year but this young team will be pushing the Dubs for years to coe.

 

Mayo

Manager: James Horan

Last All-Ireland: 1951 (3 titles)

Last year’s finish: All-Ireland finalists

Betting odds: 12/1

Key Player: Aidan O’Shea. The Breaffy man is coming back from a knee injury sustained in training months ago. Making his first appearance in a league win against Meath in May. The three time All-Star will be looking to fire Mayo towards glory after being named captain after last years losing effort to Dublin. He can be deployed in midfield or in full-forward to cause damage, and with Cillian O’Connor out injured. They might call upon his services to notch up the scores.

Point of discussion: Will Cillian O’Connors recent injury hamper their quest for Sam? The 29 year old Ballintubber forwards fitness is the worst possible injury for Mayo. He will be sorely missed through Connacht and if they were to retain their provincial title, they would go up against the Dubs in the All-Ireland semi-final. When Mayo have faced Dublin with O’Connor leading the line they have come up short, without him will be almost impossible for the Westerners.

 

Donegal

Manager: Declan Bonner

Last All-Ireland: 2012 (2 titles)

Last year’s finish: Ulster finalists

Betting odds: 16/1

Key Player: Michael Murphy. The last captain to lift Sam for Donegal is one of the most influential players in gaelic football history. Often carrying an inexperienced Donegal side to no end. The Glenswilly man is coming back from an hamstring injury in May on league duties. He may not be fully fit but without his presence, Donegal are not the same team.

Point of discussion: Can they get past Ulster? The Ulster giants have been out of sorts in the past few years since Jim McGuinness left in 2014. Not appearing in an All-Ireland semi-final since his departure. A success other than reedeming their Ulster final loss in 2020 will be a major objective going forward.

 

Tyrone

Managers: Feargal Lohan and Brian Dooher

Last All-Ireland: 2008 (3 titles)

Last year’s finish: Ulster Quarter-Finals

Betting odds: 18/1

Key Player: Mattie Donnelly. Since Seán Cavanagh’s retirement in 2017, Donnelly was given captaincy duties and has been his sides best midfielder by a long distance. Without him, not much emphasis will be put on this Tyrone side as major contenders. The two time All-Star will need a massive season if Tyrone are to pose a serious question.

Point of discussion: Can they return to former glory? Under Mickey Harte, Tyrone were Kerry’s bogey team, and were a major contender season in, season out until they fell off at the start of the new decade. After Kerry’s hammering in the league, many pundits have asked rather or not they have the minerals to even put up a showing in Ulster. It remains to be seen rather or not they can prove the doubters wrong.

 

Galway

Manager: Pádraic Joyce

Last All-Ireland: 2001 (9 titles)

Last year’s finish: Connacht finalists

Betting odds: 20/1

Key Player: Shane Walsh. When fully fit, is the focal point of a decent forward line for the Tribesmen. They will need him firing on all cylinders if they can get back to challenging Mayo in Connacht and beyond.

Point of discussion: Can they find form? Galway were a dissappointing outfit in the league. being relegated down to Division 2 alongside their West counterparts Roscommon, they will try to find their feet once again and get into the position to conquer rivals Mayo.

 

Monaghan

Manager: Seamus McEnaney

Last All-Ireland: No All-Ireland totles

Last year’s finish: Preliminary Round

Betting odds: 66/1

Key Player: Conor McManus. The man who was influential in Monaghans two Ulster title wins in 2013 and 2015 remains his counties main scoring threat. Being seen as the proponent in the Monaghan panel for years, given the chance he will keep Monaghans Ulster hopes alive.

Point of discussion: Can they live up to their title of dark horses? One of the favourites for Ulster glory every season, Monaghan have failed to bring home the Anglo-Celt Cup in half a decade, but are always favoured more than the likes of rivals Donegal and Tyrone. With the emergence of Cavan, they will have to fight off high expectations in order to bring home success.

Ireland 7s: From Originals To Olympians

The current Ireland Men’s Sevens side did not exist until 2014 but by 2021 are already an Olympic-level sevens side.

They were created with the Olympics in mind after it was announced that the sport would become an Olympic sport in Rio in 2016.

The project only gained steam in 2014 after the announcement in 2009 with the men’s sevens program introduced in October of that year.

It’s first Director of Rugby was announced in December – New Zealander Anthony Eddy, who is still there today.

The IRFU then scouted talents from Ireland who were interested in joining the program and recruited those that they took a liking to.

The 27-man squad announced in May 2015 became known as ‘The Originals’ and included British and Irish Lion Tadhg Beirne was part of the squad alongside Connacht star Alex Wootton.

Other players have stayed in the program – Terry Kennedy is still the star fullback for the side and has a fantastic link with winger Jordan Conroy.

Ireland Men’s Sevens’ most-capped player of all-time Harry McNulty is an original and Foster Horan has been there from the start as well as Ian Fitzpatrick and Mark Roche.

The side started out in Rugby Europe’s Division C, playing against the likes of Liechtenstein and San Marino.

The team climbed up the ranks over time and took part in the 2015 Rugby Europe Olympic Sevens Repechage tournament where they finished third and earned a spot in the 2016 Monaco Repechage.

A spot at the inaugural Olympic Sevens tournament was up for grabs.

However, they fell short in the knockout stages but have grown exponentially since then.

Players that have shaped the core of the 2020 side became important members of the team as the side grew.

Current captain Billy Dardis became a part of the squad prior to the Olympic qualification disappointment and Jordan Conroy made notable contributions in 2017.

The aforementioned originals that are still a part of the squad began to develop chemistry with the players coming, having already bonded themselves.

Their win in Moscow marked the first tournament win for the program and underlined the progress those working on it had made since its inception.

A win over Spain in the final was a perfect example of this, after their loss to Spain in Monaco the year previous.

2018 and 2019 saw the side take part in the two final events on the 2018-19 World Rugby Sevens Series and finish sixth in the 2018 Rugby Sevens World Cup in their first appearance at the tournament.

Their impressive season saw them earn the ‘core team’ status for the 2019-20 season after their performance at the Hong Kong Sevens qualifier.

At the time, they were impressing neutrals with their energy and individual qualities.

Jordan Conroy was blazing a trail that he is still on with his blistering pace helping him to get past defences with ease.

Dardis and Harry McNulty were leaders in the side and led by example with their work-rates always at a high level.

However, the side were knocked out of the semi-finals of the 2019 Rugby Europe Sevens Olympic Qualifying tournament after a loss to France.

The loss left them with one final chance – the 2020 Monaco Repechage.

They had to succeed where they had fallen several years prior.

Before they could, the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the world and Sevens as a sport was put on pause.

The players, who had grown as a team together, were now separated against their will and forced to work by themselves.

The period of time spent in lockdown was a struggle for several in the side but they pulled through and were back together in 2021 with a shared goal in mind – becoming Olympians.

They trained hard and the team named for the tournament was filled with players who were familiar with each other.

Harry McNulty, who had left Ireland to join Major League Rugby side LA Giltinis was part of the 14-man squad.

His club allowed him to return temporarily to chase the Olympic dream that he had wanted to make a reality for so long.

The team had developed a wonderful rhythm that they unleashed in Monaco.

On the first day, Zimbabwe, Mexico and Tonga were beaten convincingly by the Irish with the telekinetic duo of Terry Kennedy and Jordan Conroy nabbing 14 tries between themselves and providing some easy-on-the-eye moments.

The side breezed past Samoa in the final pool game to qualify for the semi-finals as pool winners.

At the end of the day, they were in the final, one step from the promised land.

Ireland started the better of the two sides with Jordan Conroy making his presence known immediately.

However, Stephan Parez helped a France side looking for their second successive Olympic appearance get back into the game and Les Bleus led at the break.

A quickfire double courtesy of some Conroy-Kennedy magic swung momentum back in Ireland’s favour.

Originals member Harry McNulty sealed the deal after Dardis regained possession and passed to the veteran,who dotted down across the line.

A late France try served only to cushion the hurt of missing out on Olympic qualification, but for the Irish, the dream became a reality.

For Anthony Eddy, Harry McNulty and many others, it was the reward of years of hard work in the program.

They will forever be known as Ireland’s first Olympic rugby team.

That achievement is nothing short of what they deserve.

The Ireland Men’s Sevens side will take part in the Olympics Sevens tournament from July 26th – July 28th.

 

 

How To Care For Your Horse After Exercise

How To Care For Your Horse After The Races

For many years, horse racing has been a huge part of English culture. From Royal Ascot to the Grand National, there have been several race-winning horses that have lived long happy lives alongside their amazing racing careers. But how do you make sure your horse is getting the best possible level of care? In this article, we will be providing you with some simple tips for some of the ways that you can begin to care for your horse following a race. 

Consider The Sleeping Environment 

When you are caring for a racehorse after a race, it is important to make sure that the sleeping environment is the best that it can be. Not only should it be completely mucked out, but it should also have shelter from flies, winds and even direct sunlight. In addition to the barn or stable that they are sleeping in, it is important to accommodate for the likes of blankets, turnout rugs and other waterproof coats when the weather takes a turn for the worst. 

Maintain Regular Grooming Regimes 

In addition to providing the right sleeping arrangements for your horse, it is important to make sure that you are also providing the right grooming regime for your horse. By having a grooming regime alongside a veterinarian, you can ensure that your shoeing is maintained as well as the coat being at its best. It is important to make sure that every aspect of your horse is well-groomed as a penalty could be given to the owner and the trainer if the horse is not prepared for the race. 

Ensure Your Horse Is Fed And Watered Correctly 

When the temperature of the skin following the race has been cooled down, it is then time to ensure that your horse is fed and watered correctly. It is a common misconception that allowing your horse to drink water straight after a race can lead to colic, however, this is not the case. By allowing them access to water following a race, you can prevent overheating and dehydration and ensure their overall health. It is important to note however that cold water could be avoided, especially during the winter months as this can lead to buckets freezing over. 

Ensure Your Horse Has Resting Time

The final way that you can care for a horse after a race is to ensure that they have the right amount of time to rest. Typically following a race, it is advised to leave a minimum of 2 days for your horse to relax. When this relaxing period is over, you can then begin the training regime of your horse for the next race. You must stick to a clear and concise regime when you are beginning training for your horse as this will ensure it is in the best possible condition by race day. 

With this in mind, there are several ways that you can begin to ensure that your horse is in the best possible condition not only on race day but throughout the training camp for the next big race. 

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