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Lessons Learnt For Ireland From 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

After battling past Scotland to reach the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, there was plenty of excitement about what the Republic of Ireland might achieve Down Under.

Two defeats and a draw saw Ireland finish bottom of Group A but much will have been learnt by head coach Vera Pauw and her side over the three games in Australia.

Ireland Proved A Tough Nut To Crack

Playing the hosts Australia in the opening game at Stadium Australia in Sydney was always going to be a daunting task for Ireland but the Girls in Green came away from the game with plenty of plaudits. Australia went on to finish top of Group A and are 7/1 in the football odds to win the tournament on their own patch. The Matildas, who are 5/1 in the Women’s World Cup odds to finish as runners-up, were made to work hard for their 1-0 win over Ireland. In the end, Steph Catley’s second-half penalty was the difference between the sides.

 

Ireland learnt the hard way that discipline at these major tournaments is key and Marissa Sheva’s push on Hayley Raso was punished with Catley’s well-taken penalty. Ireland were fearless against the Aussies going forward and came close on a few occasions to grabbing an equaliser. Megan Connolly, Katie McCabe and Louise Quinn all had chances and Ireland learnt again that taking opportunities is key. It was a game that might have gone another way but was one that showed Ireland would be no pushovers at this major tournament.

An Early Exit But Experience Key For Development

Ireland made the perfect start to their second game at Perth Rectangular Stadium against Canada, with McCabe finding the back of the net after just four minutes. Again the Irish might have been wondering what might have been as they just failed to keep Canada out before the break, with Megan Connolly scoring an own goal. That shifted the momentum in the game and Canada came out and got what proved to be the winner with Manchester United’s Adriana Leon scoring in the 53rd minute.

 

Two battling defeats in Australia and Ireland knew there was no hope of reaching the knockout stages, with only pride to play for in their final game against Nigeria at Lang Park in Brisbane. It was to prove to be a low-key affair and the match ended in a goalless stalemate with little in attack from either side during the contest. The game ended on a sour note with the suggestion McCabe had called on coach Pauw to make substitutions during the clash with Nigeria. While the future of Pauw is uncertain, Ireland can look back on their efforts in Australia with pride and even wonder what might have been if a few key moments had gone their way.

Fine margins are the very nature of what elite sport in major tournaments is about and Ireland’s women will be hoping to be back at a World Cup at the next opportunity in 2027.

Richard Howley & Consulent de Prelet Z win Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes

Richard Howley and Consulent de Prelet Z won the Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes at last year's Dublin Horse Show. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Sligo’s Richard Howley and Consulent de Prelet Z won the Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes, the main class of the second day of the 2023 Dublin Horse Show.

The England-based rider and the 12-year-old gelding took the winner’s cheque of €17,358 with a clear round in the jump-off, stopping the timer in 34.52 seconds.

Howley’s compatriot Harry Allen, whose older brother Bertram won the earlier Speed Derby, was second with Calculatus, jumping clear in the jump-off round in a time of 36.85 seconds.

Greek rider Ioli Mytillineou, riding Levis de Muze, was third in 38.00, winning €7,890.

The next two positions went to Irish combinations, with Denis Lynch and Vistogrand fourth in 34.83, followed by 2018 winner Shane Sweetnam and yesterday’s Sport Ireland Classic winner Out of the Blue Scf (36.80).

Howley’s win was a first for Ireland in the class since 2018 when US-based Shane Sweetnam and Indra van de Oude Heiheof claimed victory by just 0.59 seconds.

It was only a fifth victory for the home nation since 2011.

Statistical information kindly provided by Equiratings.

Bertram Allen and Carrera Denfer win Speed Derby at the RDS

Bertram Allen and Carrera Denfer took the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge Speed Derby. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Bertram Allen and Carrera Denfer took the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge Speed Derby on Thursday at the Dublin Horse Show.

The Wexford rider and his bay mare were best of the 17 combinations to win the Paul Darragh Trophy in a time of 81.95 seconds to claim the €8,646 first prize.

Irish rider claimed the top four spots in the class, with Shane Breen and Z7 Ipswich, the long time leaders, taking the runner-up spot in 83.67 seconds.

Next best was Jack Ryan and the Irish Sport Horse mare Cavalier Teaca, stopping the clock in 85.30 seconds.

Mikey Pender, a winner in the Main Arena on the opening day of this year’s show, rounded out the top four with HHS Vancouver, clocking 86.21 seconds.

European U20 gold medal for Elizabeth Ndudi

Elizabeth Ndudi wins Ireland's first ever field event gold medal at European U20 level. Image provided by Athletics Ireland.

Elizabeth Ndudi of Dundrum South Dublin AC has won gold for Ireland in the women’s long jump at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Jerusalem today. 

The Irish national senior champion put in an outstanding round of jumps with her best leap of 6.56m (+1.4) smashing her own Irish U20 record of 6.44m which she posted just last month.

The result moved the newly crowned European champion to second on the Irish all-time list behind Kelly Proper’s national record of 6.62m set in 2010.

Reacting to her historic achievement of becoming Ireland’s first ever field event champion at European U20 level, Ndudi said:

“I’m in shock, I’m amazed how well the event went for me. I was confident in myself coming in here but it’s a huge improvement and to do it in such a high competition makes the national record so special.”

The Dundrum South Dublin athlete continued:

“I really focused on my mental preparations as well as the physical side coming in here. I made sure to really get in the zone in the morning and evening before sessions. Last year I was a bit nervous and I think that’s why I didn’t post a big jump but today I came in here full of confidence, so I was mentally prepared.”

Bulgaria’s Plamena Mitkova took bronze in a season’s best of 6.54m, with German Laura Raquel Muller completing the podium with her bronze medal in a season’s best of 6.51m.

Ireland’s Aga Khan Nations Cup Team Named

Switzerland won today's Aga Khan Trophy at the RDS. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping High Performance Director Michael Blake has named The Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping team ahead of Friday’s five-star Longines FEI Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show.

Blake’s side will jump fifth of the eight competing nations, as Ireland aim for back-to-back wins in the Aga Khan Trophy at the RDS.

Aga Khan Trophy debutant Michael Duffy and Cinca 3 will be the Irish pathfinders.

Next into the Main Arena for the home nation will be another Aga Khan Trophy first timer in Mikey Pender and the Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais.

The experienced Cian O’Connor and Eve D’Ouilly will be next to jump for Ireland, while US-based Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz will be the anchor leg.

Speaking at the team draw on Friday morning, Michael Blake said:

“I’m very confident, I have named a strong team – but there are very strong teams here.

“Michel Duffy has been on three Nations Cup teams this season with Cinca 3 and jumped five clear rounds out of six. So we will start off with him as our first rider in.

“Michael Pender has jumped in two Nations Cup and was outstanding in Rome with HHS Calais.

“We are going to put Cian in third, which some might find unusual. He’s on a new horse to him, who is less experienced, so he can go in and jump his own round without as much pressure.

“Shane is on one of the best horses in the world right now, so we’re going to let him carry the weight of the world and put him in last.”

The eight nations competing for the Aga Khan Trophy will jump in the following order:

  1. Mexico
  2. The Netherlands
  3. Spain
  4. Great Britain
  5. Ireland
  6. Belgium
  7. France
  8. Switzerland

 

Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes is day two feature at RDS

Photo credit: @DublinHorseShow.

It’s Ladies’ Day at the 2023 Dublin Horse Show and the main class in the International Arena is the Cashel Hotel Palace Stakes this afternoon.

Bertram Allen, Shane Sweetnam and Alexander Butler, all recent winners of the competition, will bid to join American rider McLain Ward as the only repeat winner of the class, having won it in 2019 and 2013.

It was in 2018 that an Irish rider last won, when Kanturk’s Shane Sweetnam and Indra van de Oude Heiheof took the win by just 0.59 seconds.

With Irish riders having taken victory on only four occasions from 2011, both Daniel Coyle with Legacy and Bertram Allen and Pacino Amiro will be be among the favourites to increase that winning number. They will be ably supported in the quest for an Irish win by Michael Duffy and Zilton SL Z and Trevor Breen and Highland President.

Statistical information kindly provided by Equiratings.

Are There Any Tricks To Win On Online Slot Machines?

All online casino enthusiasts love playing slots. Despite being beginner-friendly, online slots are also a top choice for professional gamblers. If you are familiar with slots, you have wondered at least once whether you can manipulate them for bigger wins. Let’s find out whether it’s possible to manipulate online slots for bigger wins.   

Can You Rig Online Slots For Better Payouts?

In the history of gambling, you will encounter various stories of manipulating slots. Some of the world-class examples of casino cheats are as follows:

  • Dennis Nikrasch: He was a locksmith who used homemade tools to trick different slot machines and managed to win around $15 million.
  • Tommy Glenn Carmichael created the infamous monkey paw to swindle money from American and Caribbean casinos. 
  • Louis Colavechhio: He used to produce counterfeit currency for tricking software inside casino machines. 

Online slots are difficult to rig because they lack accessible hardware. But even for land-based slots with physical hardware, you will find sporadic ways of tricking them. Moreover, it’s difficult to manipulate slots because most of the old tricks in the book have already been detected. 

Does that mean you can never win while playing online slots? That’s different because many players have managed to win big from playing slot games. You can win on online slot machines without using any illegal means.

Tips And Tricks For Winning Slots

Some of the best tips and tricks for winning on online slots are as follows:

1.Play Games with High RTP

Jeffrey Gynn – Slotsup reviewer recommends trying out slots with high RTPs. The RTP of a slot can give you an idea of its paying potential. All slots with high RTPs are likely to pay higher winnings. Slots with a minimum RTP of 96% are highly recommended for higher payouts. But you should try to find slots with even higher RTPs.

Some of the best slots with high RTPs are as follows:

Slot Name Software Provider RTP
Blood Suckers NetEnt 98%
Starmania NextGen Gaming 97.87%
White Rabbit Big Time Gaming 97.72%
Medusa Megways NextGen Gaming 97.63%
Guns N’ Roses NetEnt 96.98%

2. Take Advantage Of Bonus Codes

 

Using cheat codes was a popular method of tricking land-based slots. In online slots, you won’t be able to use cheat codes. But you can find various casinos offering bonus codes to boost players’ bankroll. Therefore, always look for bonus codes while signing up at a casino and making deposits. 

3. Check The Volatility

Low volatility slots offer more frequent wins. But the catch is that the winning amount needs to be higher. On the other hand, high-volatility slots rarely offer payouts. But when they do, the amount is significant. 

You should check out the volatility of a game and pick one according to your risk appetite. For instance, the Wisdom of Athena demo slot tested by Jeffrey Gynn is considered a high-volatility slot. While the game has an RTP of 96.07%, everyone does not prefer the high volatility. 

Several players prefer low-volatility games because it enables them to keep playing for a long duration. A few popular low-volatility slots to check out are as follows:

  • Starburst
  • Crystal Vault
  • Cornelius
  • Wolf Run
  • Milkshake XXXtreme

4. Leverage Free Spins And Bonus Rounds

A large number of slots come with free spins and bonus rounds. They are an excellent opportunity to make money and offer a lot of thrill and excitement. Therefore, consider choosing slots with free spins and bonus rounds and take full advantage of them.  

5. Place Your Wagers Carefully

Many slot guides and reviews will recommend you place the maximum wager. While it is a helpful tip for slot players, being aware of random number generators is crucial. No matter how many paylines you wager on, these generators offer the same chance of winning.

Irrespective of the number of reels, symbols, and paylines on a slot machine, your chance of winning the jackpot will be 1 out of 1000. So, what’s the point of placing the maximum bet?

The benefit is that the paytable gives you a small sum of winnings when you hit other combinations. You can win on various combinations if you wager on all the paylines.

But it would help to consider multiple factors before maxing out your bet. The amount is one of these betting parameters. Maximizing your paylines will increase your expense and potential losses. If the stakes are minimal, it is acceptable to place the maximum wager.

Additionally, the volatility of the slot is quite crucial in this respect. High volatility indicates fewer winnings but big rewards. But for the big rewards, you will have to place high wagers. In this case, maxing out your bet is only prudent when you have a huge bankroll to fall back on. 

6. Look For No Deposit Bonuses

No-deposit bonuses are a great way of earning real money from slots for free. The payouts from no deposit bonuses can go as high as $20. These bonuses will enable you to spin the reels for free. If you are lucky, you will win a substantial amount to withdraw whenever you want. 

But no deposit bonuses are scarce. Moreover, slot machines come with a wagering requirement for no deposit bonuses. Therefore, you must fulfill the playthrough requirements to be eligible for withdrawals. 

7. Play The Games In Demo Mode At SlotsUp

Every online slot is different, and we all have our preferences. Before spending real money on a slot, trying its demo version on SlotsUp is always recommended. Playing the demo mode of slot games will cost you nothing. You will become familiar with the mechanics of the slots offered by various software providers. 

For instance, you can play Pragmatic Play slots for free in demo mode to understand whether the games suit your preferences. After that, you can begin playing for real money and enhance your winning chance.

8. Play At Odd Hours

Several players have managed to win big from slots by playing at odd hours. With multiple players online during peak hours, slot machines receive millions of spins each minute. If you play slots while most players are sleeping or at work, you will have greater chances of winning. 

Another benefit of playing at odd hours is less chance of experiencing technical glitches because no servers are overloaded. Even if something goes wrong, you will immediately receive customer support because the team is far less busy. 

Parting Words

Resorting to illegal ways of manipulating slots can make you face grave consequences like imprisonment and monetary fines. Once you choose slots from top providers and become familiar with their mechanism in demo mode, you automatically develop a higher chance of winning. So get started with exploring different slots now!

 

Shane Sweetnam and Out of the Blue Scf secure third Irish win

Shane Sweetnam and Out of the Blue Scf lead the victory lap after taking the Sport Ireland Classic. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Shane Sweetnam and Out of the Blue Scf won the final International class in the Main Arena on the opening day of this year’s Dublin Horse Show.

The US-based Kanturk native and the nine-year-old mare Out of the Blue Scf were last of the 46 combinations to go in the Sport Ireland Classic, the day’s premier class.

Spaniard Eduardo Alvarez Aznar and Legend had held the lead for much of the competition with a clear in 66.88 seconds.

With the Irish combination last into the arena, they produced the 19th clear round of the class, and stopped the timer at 66.15 seconds, giving them the €8,646 first prize.

The win for the home nation continued the excellent form of Irish riders in the Sport Ireland Classic, having taking victory seven of the last 10 years prior to today.

Max Wachman, riding Coolmore Showjumping’s Quintini, was next in the line-up, with a time of 67.10 seconds, while his trainer and Olympic medallist Cian O’Conor claimed fourth spot aboard Tipperary (67.54).

Swiss Steve Guerdat was fifth in a time of 67.99 seconds with Albfuehren’s Maddox.

Shane Breen who had 6 clear rounds in this class since 2010, maintained his excellent record, with finishing clear in 68.20 seconds with Cuick Star Kervec, good enough for a 6th place finish.

Statistical information kindly provided by Equiratings.

Jessica Burke and Impulss win The Minerva Stakes

Jessica Burke and Impulss in action during The Minerva Stakes at the Dublin Horse Show. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

The good form shown by Irish combinations this morning in the Speed Stakes continued into the early afternoon in the Main Arena at the RDS.

Jessica Burke took the Minerva Stakes going clear in 60.54 seconds.

The Galway rider and her willing companion Impulss showed they meant business from the moment their round began. They attacked the course with determination and claimed the second International class of day one by more than three seconds, in a competition that saw 17 clears.

Britain’s Sienna Charles and Valkiry de Zance took the runner-up spot, stopping the clock, clear in 64.00 seconds.

Irish riders filled the next three places with Shane Breen and Z7 Ipswich third in 65.82 seconds, with the Coyle brothers from Derry filling the next two spots.

Daniel and Legacy were fourth in 66.38 seconds, with Jordan and For Gold next best with a time of 66.49 seconds.

Nick Grigg wins European U20 Championships silver medal

Nick Grigg claimed a silver medal in Jerusalem. Image provided by Athletics Ireland.

Candour Track Club’s Nick Griggs won a silver medal in the 3,000m at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Jerusalem.  

Griggs clocked 8:45.69 in a brave defence of the 3,000m title he won two years ago.

The Tyrone native took the bell well positioned before unleashing a run for home with 300m to go. Swede Jonathan Grahn was the only athlete to stay on Griggs’ and both athletes rounded the final bend side by side. The Swede managed to pass the defending champion in the final 80 metres to cross in a winning time of 8:44.67. Briton Bradley Giblin claimed the bronze medal in 8:47.26.

Speaking after his silver medal win, Griggs said:

“This was driving me all season, to come here and defend my title, so I’m disappointed. I’ll take some time to reflect, and I’ll head to Budapest in ten days which I’m really excited about. I’ll go out there and give it a go, there’s no pressure on me so I can just go out and see what happens”. 

Grigg will represent Ireland at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Budapest over 1500m.

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