Ireland Women’s Rugby Build-Up To Australia Test: Cliodhna Moloney & Scott Bemand – The Irish Examiner – September 3 2024

Posted on September 2, 2024 by admin

Current Ireland set-up ‘worlds apart’ from Moloney’s previous experience

“Things have changed quite a lot, I think that kind of reflects the landscape of women’s rugby worldwide.”
DAIRE WALSH

Cliodhna Moloney has said the current Ireland women’s rugby set-up under Scott Bemand is ‘worlds apart’ from what she had experienced in the past.

Having picked up her 31st Irish cap in a test victory against Japan on November 20, 2021, the Galway woman had to wait more than two years for her 32nd appearance as an international 15s player. While the Japanese game took place 11 days after she compared remarks made by the IRFU’s then Director of Women’s Rugby Anthony Eddy to “slurry spreading” in a social media post, new head coach Greg McWilliams insisted her exclusion from the squad for the 2022 Six Nations was purely a ‘rugby decision’.

IRFU CEO Kevin Potts reiterated in May 2023 that Moloney’s continued absence from the international stage wasn’t due to her past comments and despite being left out of his original squad, current head coach Scott Bemand subsequently handed her a recall midway through this year’s Six Nations.

She left a sizable impression during her three appearances off the bench in the latter stages of the Championship and the Exeter Chiefs hooker is also part of Ireland’s squad for a forthcoming test with Australia at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast on September 14 – as well as subsequent WXV 1 clashes with New Zealand, Canada and USA in Vancouver.

“Things have changed quite a lot, I think that kind of reflects the landscape of women’s rugby worldwide. Things are moving at a very fast pace externally and are developing quickly. That’s kind of what’s happened in here too,” Moloney explained.

“Since Scott’s come in, the environment in here has changed a lot and it’s definitely worlds apart from when I was last in here. In a good way. I’m really enjoying it and enjoying seeing all the young kids I don’t know much about really.

“It was a weird time, but we’re all very happy to leave that in the past now and move forward. It’s evident, inside and out, that things are very different here. That’s the most important thing and growing rugby in the right way is the next most important thing. They guys are doing that with the plans they’ve put together over the next five, six years.”

Joining Moloney on Monday at a press conference held in the IRFU’s High Performance Centre was Bemand. Since becoming the head coach of the Ireland women’s 15s team a little over a year ago, he has guided them to an inaugural WXV 3 title and a third-place finish in the 2024 Six Nations Championship.

Their overall standing in the latter helped them to not only qualify for this autumn’s WXV 1, but also next year’s Rugby World Cup in England.

The upcoming international window affords him an opportunity to test the resources at his disposal and with some experienced faces on board to balance out a plethora of uncapped players, Bemand is happy with his selection for the next four games.

“It’s a brilliant blend. We’ve got some experience, some returning experience. Eimear Considine comes in. It’s a couple of years since she was last capped, but she has been going well for Munster and has been showing bits in training we’ve been able to see,” Bemand said.

“You have some of the youngsters coming through. As a centralised programme, we’ve had Hannah Clarke and Robyn O’Connor in for a bit to see how they go, and their shape looked great. Keeping some of the more experienced girls on their toes.

“It creates an opportunity now for us to have a couple of weeks where we can really get down and compete and earn a place to go on the plane for WXV 1.”

Posted in International Rugby, Women's Rugby | Comments Off on Ireland Women’s Rugby Build-Up To Australia Test: Cliodhna Moloney & Scott Bemand – The Irish Examiner – September 3 2024

Women’s Interprovincial Championship Final: Leinster V Munster – The Irish Times – September 2 2024

Posted on September 1, 2024 by admin

Leinster take crushing win over Munster to retain Interprovincial title

Leah Tarpey claimed two tries for Leinster on her way to being named player of the match at Kingspan Stadium

Daire Walsh

Women’s Interprovincial Championship Final: Leinster 27 – Munster 7

Player of the match Leah Tarpey helped herself to a brace of tries at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast on Saturday as Leinster retained their Women’s Interprovincial Championshipcrown with an emphatic final triumph over Munster.

Brushing off their second round defeat to the Reds at Cork’s Virgin Media Park, Leinsterregistered 27 points without reply after initially falling behind to ultimately claim the competition’s top prize in devastating fashion.

Munster dominated possession during the early moments of the game and it took disciplined defence from Leinster to hold up UL Bohemians hooker Beth Buttimer as she attempted to touch down beyond the whitewash in the third minute. Leinster subsequently gained a stranglehold further up the pitch – thanks in no small part to the strong carrying of Ireland international Linda Djougang – before their arch rivals eventually broke the deadlock on 12 minutes.

After cutting inside off the left-wing, Alana McInerney breezed past a challenge from opposition full-back Robyn O’Connor and proceeded to cross over underneath the posts. This was the Clare woman’s seventh try of the tournament and was supplemented by a routine Kate Flannery conversion to give Munster a seven-point lead.

While this gave Fiona Hayes’ side some breathing space, the game was still very much in its infancy. Munster full-back Aoife Corey held up stand-in Leinster captain Molly Boyne just shy of the first-quarter mark, but the eastern province finally opened their account courtesy of a superb individual try from Tarpey (who was also player of the match in last year’s Interpro decider) on 23 minutes.

Leinster squeezed in front when Belfast native Nikki Caughey followed up her bonus strike with a 34th minute penalty and courtesy of an outstanding converted finish by international star Aoife Wafer (who had been introduced off the bench for Jane Neill on 25 minutes), Tania Rosser’s charges brought a 17-7 cushion into the interval.

Although this had Leinster in a strong position on the resumption, Munster weren’t out of the reckoning just yet. It looked like Dorothy Wall had gotten her side back into contention with a try, but a TMO check determined there was no clear evidence the versatile forward had grounded the ball.

This was a let-off for Leinster, but the title holders had ultimately moved into an unassailable position by the hour mark. After replacement fly-half Dannah O’Brien marked her first appearance of the 2024 championship by splitting the uprights off a place-kick, Aoife Dalton embarked on a lung-bursting break up the field on 58 minutes and expertly picked out centre partner Tarpey for her second try of the game.

Dalton was one of several players on display who will be hoping to feature for the Ireland women’s team when they face Australia in Kingspan on August 14 and on the strength of their clinical performance in this game, several of the victorious Leinster side could be joining her.

Earlier on in Kingspan, Faith Oviawe and Beibhinn Gleeson grabbed late tries to earn Connacht a 33-19 victory over Ulster in a third/fourth place Interpro play-off.

Scorers – Leinster: L Tarpey 2 tries, A Wafer try each, N Caughey pen, 2 cons, D O’Brien pen, con. Munster: A McInerney try, K Flannery con.

Leinster: R O’Connor; E Tilly, A Dalton, L Tarpey, E Roberts; N Caughey, J Gaffney; L Djougang, S Delaney, C Haney; R Campbell, E Corri; J Neill, M Boyne, C Molloy.

Replacements: A Wafer for Neill, 25 mins; N O’Dowd for Haney, 34 mins; D O’Brien for Caughey, 46 mins; Neill for Corri, 57 mins; A Hughes for Gaffney, J Farrell for O’Brien, A Doyle for Tilly, K Burke for Wafer, A Moore for Delaney, Haney for Molloy, all 76 mins.

Munster: A Corey; C Ugwueru, S Nunan, E Breen, A McInerney; K Flannery, M Wall; S McCarthy, B Buttimer, E Cahill; D Wall, C Bennett; C O’Halloran, J Clohessy, C Pearse.

Replacements: B Heylmann for Clohessy, 21 mins; C Finn for Flannery, 56 mins; E Considine for Corey, L Linn for Nunan, both 59 mins; A McGrath for Bennett, C McLoughlin for Bennett, both 62 mins; C O’Dwyer for Buttimer, A O’Flynn for Pearse, both 69 mins.

Referee: K Davison (IRFU).

 

Posted in Interprovincial Rugby, Women's Rugby | Comments Off on Women’s Interprovincial Championship Final: Leinster V Munster – The Irish Times – September 2 2024

The Big Interview: Abby Shiels (Dublin/Lucan Sarsfields) – Media West Ireland – August 31 2024

Posted on August 31, 2024 by admin

Dublin goalkeeper Abby Shiels aims for more inter-county glory as she returns to club action with Lucan Sarsfields

Daire Walsh

Following an abrupt end to her latest inter-county season with Dublin back at the beginning of July, Abby Shiels has enjoyed making a return to club action in the colours of Lucan Sarsfields over the past few weeks.

The starting goalkeeper when the Jackies secured the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship at the expense of future champions Kerry in 2023, Shiels was hoping to add another Brendan Martin Cup success to her list of honours this summer.

Yet while Mick Bohan’s side had been in fine form leading up to their All-Ireland SFC quarter-final showdown against Galway at Parnell Park on July 6, they ultimately fell short by a single point (3-7 to 1-12) at the end of an engrossing battle that required extra-time before eventually producing a winner.

This left Shiels idle for an extended period, but she was finally back on the field of play when Lucan opened their Go-Ahead Dublin Intermediate Football Championship campaign with a 2-16 to 1-3 triumph at home to Clanna Gael Fontenoy on August 14.

A 2-7 to 1-5 win followed away to Ballinteer St John’s seven days later, putting them in a strong position ahead of subsequent clashes with St Brigid’s (September 4) and O’Dwyers (September 11).

“Obviously the last few months, everything ended a little bit abruptly with regards to Dublin. Then we were straight into preparing for the club championship, which has been so far, so good. Everybody is delighted with the first two games,” Shiels said.

“We’ve Brigid’s next week now, which will be a tough enough game because they’ve been senior more recently than other teams. It will definitely be a good challenge for us to come up against. I think in Lucan we do have really strong players coming through from underage. Definitely in the next couple of years senior status is something that we’d love.”

Despite not having an active part in it this year, Shiels was in attendance at Croke Park on August 4 for All-Ireland finals day. After suffering heartbreak at the hands of Dublin 12 months earlier – and their provincial rivals Meath in the 2022 decider – the latest Brendan Martin Cup showpiece went the way of Kerry.

Coming up against the Galway side that had brought the Sky Blues’ summer to a close, the Kingdom registered an emphatic 3-14 to 0-11 success to end their 31-year wait for a 12th All-Ireland senior title. Shiels acknowledges this group of Kerry players deserve enormous credit for the way they have constantly dealt with adversity and there is one of their stars in particular that the netminder was delighted to see getting over the line.

“I think it just goes to show the character throughout that Kerry team. To have lost in the previous years and to eventually get through and win it this year, it was great for them.

“Especially for the likes of Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, I don’t think there is any ladies footballer in the country that is not delighted that she got her All-Ireland title. They won well against Galway as well, so it was a good performance from them.”

Though it was only last year that she became a championship regular, Shiels underwent a significant apprenticeship prior to establishing herself as Dublin’s number one of choice.

Listed as a substitute when Dublin defeated Galway in the TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship final of 2019, she was also an extended panel member when the Jackies retained their crown against Cork the following year.

Shiels later got a chance to show her worth during the 2021 Lidl National Football League and was in the starting line-up as Dublin once again had the measure of Cork in a Division 1 decider held at Croke Park.

Ciara Trant was back between the sticks for that summer’s championship, but when the St Brigid’s custodian stepped away from the panel ahead of the 2023 season, Shiels had a golden opportunity to cement her spot in the side.

It couldn’t have gone much better for the Lucan woman from there as, in addition to winning Leinster and All-Ireland senior titles with her county, she earned herself a TG4 All Star and a ZuCar Golden Glove award.

“I was delighted with those two awards last year. It wasn’t something you set out at the start of the year expecting or hoping for. You just want to get a good season as a team out of the way and hopefully get to the end days in August, and we did that.

“It was definitely just a bonus to get those two awards at the end of the year and I was absolutely delighted. My first proper season as the Dublin goalkeeper, to have come away with all those bonuses was definitely nice. It was definitely very special to win it last year.

“With Niamh Crowley and Niamh Donlon being so young — they were both 19 — and they being the last line of defence in front of me. Then you had the more experienced players who have been through so many losses and so many wins. It was just so nice for it all to come together. For everyone from their different perspectives celebrating that win was lovely.”

While Shiels’ focus from a football point of view in the next few months will be on Lucan Sarsfields and their intermediate championship journey, she will also be kept busy away from the sport itself. Currently part of the Professional Master of Education (PME) programme in DCU, she will be spending the school year teaching at Kishoge Community College in Lucan.

Last year saw her working out of the nearby Adamstown Community College and it was during this period that she gained an appreciation of what it means to be representing her area on the Dublin senior panel.

“I remember last year I was in Adamstown in the school, doing my first year placement. Some of the kids would have been part of Lucan Sarsfields.

“You’d be going into school the next day and they’d be asking you more about playing football and asking you for little bits of advice. So it’s really nice to have the kids supportive as well.”

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on The Big Interview: Abby Shiels (Dublin/Lucan Sarsfields) – Media West Ireland – August 31 2024

Aer Lingus College Football Classic: Georgia Tech V Florida State – The Irish Examiner – August 26 2024

Posted on August 24, 2024 by admin

Pageantry and pain in Dublin kickoff as Georgia Tech stun Florida State with upset at the death 

At a raucous Aviva Stadium kicker Aidan Birr was ice cold as the Yellowjackets, with Kerry’s David Shanahan among their ranks, win the Aer Lingus College Football Classic
DAIRE WALSH, AVIVA STADIUM

Aer Lingus College Football Classic: Georgia Tech 24 Florida State 21

Aidan Birr struck a spectacular last-gasp field goal at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday as Georgia Tech defeated Florida State to claim their second Aer Lingus College Football Classic victory.

When Georgia (who included Kerry man David Shanahan amongst their ranks) previously competed in this game back on September 3, 2016, Dedrick Mills bagged a touchdown with just 35 seconds left to earn the Atlanta-based side the bragging rights over Boston College.

It was hard to envisage the same level of drama on this occasion, but with time practically up at the end of the contest, Birr nervelessly split the uprights to help Georgia claim the spoils.

The third year in succession that this college football classic has been held at the Aviva, it will become a fourth in 2025 when Iowa State and Kansas State lock horns on Lansdowne Road on August 23.

While there may have been lull periods over the course of the play, there was more than enough drama on display in south Dublin to suggest that next year’s Aer Lingus Classic will be another affair to remember.

As expected, there was plenty of spectacle on offer in the hours and minutes leading up to kick-off with the Lansdowne Road ground looking world’s apart from the one that traditionally hosts rugby and soccer fixtures on a regular basis.

After Georgia Tech’s Yellow Jacket marching band had performed the Star Spangled Banner and a selection of other numbers with typical gusto, Irish soprano Claudia Boyle produced a stirring rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann to the sold-out Aviva crowd – which was estimated to have included more than 25,000 American-based supporters.

In a nice touch from the organisers, Special Olympics athlete Caolan McConville was called upon to deliver the game ball onto the field. From Craigavon in Armagh, McConville is set to represent Ireland in skiing at next year’s Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Once the game finally kicked off, any notion that it was going to be a slow burner were quickly dismissed. Last year’s Atlantic Coast Conference champions, Florida opened the scoring with just over four minutes gone when running back Lawrance Toafili raced through for a 28-yard touchdown that was followed up by Brian Courtney’s two-point conversion.

Georgia Tech had also arrived in Dublin with plenty of intent and after Jamal Haynes was agonisingly close to get into the end zone, quarter-back Zach Pyron eventually secured a touchdown for the Yellow Jackets from one yard out.

Birr’s one-point kick in the direct aftermath of this kick was successful and left the bare minimum (8-7) between the teams with seven minutes of the opening period still remaining.

During one of several stoppages in the first quarter, a short video was shown on the big screen of the aforementioned Shanahan, which saw him detailing a remarkable journey from his native Castleisland to becoming a punter within this Georgia Tech side.

He got a chance to showcase his kicking ability in the 14th minute of play and the former Kerry U17 Gaelic footballer got the Yellow Jackets in a good field position with his first meaningful involvement of the day.

In total, Shanahan made 93 yards from his two punts over the course of the game for an average of 46.5.

Although Florida subsequently created additional daylight in the second quarter courtesy of an excellent 52-yard field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald, Georgia Tech later edged in front for the first time when running back Haynes joined his team-mate Pyron in securing a one-yard touchdown.

Another single point bonus from Birr looked set to give Georgia the upper hand heading into the half-time break, but in the final second of the second quarter, Fitzgerald produced another monstrous field goal to leave the sides tied at 14-14.

This latest contribution from Fitzgerald served to ramp up the tension and even though the action resumed with a scoreless third quarter, this meant there was a significant amount at stake for both sides moving into the final 15 minutes of the game.

Whilst Georgia once again regained the initiative with a second Haynes touchdown at the very start of the fourth quarter, Florida running back Roydell Williams responded by getting through the end zone with just over six minutes left to play. The dependable boots of Birr and Fitzgerald complimented these efforts at either end of the pitch, but just when it looked like the sides were practically inseparable, Birr provided the boisterous Georgia Tech fans with a moment to savour right at the death.

Posted in American Football | Comments Off on Aer Lingus College Football Classic: Georgia Tech V Florida State – The Irish Examiner – August 26 2024

Women’s Interprovincial Championship Round Three Round-Up: The Irish Times – August 26 2024

Posted on August 24, 2024 by admin

Women’s Interprovincials: Munster and Leinster prepare for final meeting with victories

Fast-finishing Connacht fall short in second-half comeback against Munster; Leinster too strong for Ulster in Belfast

Daire Walsh

Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship: Connacht 24 Munster 29

Munster and defending champions Leinster will face off in the Women’s Interprovincial Championship final next Saturday following their respective third-round victories over Connacht and Ulster on Saturday.

Whereas Munster – who defeated their forthcoming opponents on home soil last weekend – withstood a late rally from Connacht at the newly-revamped Dexcom Stadium in Galway to claim a 29-24 triumph, Leinster enjoyed a comprehensive 39-14 win against Ulster at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. It is in Kingspan that Munster and the eastern province will renew acquaintances next weekend, when there will also be a third/fourth place playoff encounter between Ulster and Connacht.

Intent on maintaining their 100 per cent record in this year’s Interpros, Munster hit the ground running in their duel with Connacht as captain Chloe Pearse and the in-form Chisom Ugwueru both crossed the whitewash inside the opening six minutes.

Ugwueru’s fellow winger Alana McInerney had followed up a hat-trick in Munster’s first-round success over Ulster with another impressive five-pointer the last day out against Leinster and she increased her tally for the campaign by dotting down over the Connacht line on 26 minutes.

Hooker Beth Buttimer subsequently guaranteed a bonus point for Munster by claiming their fourth try of the game and while Connacht eventually responded with a stoppage-time try by industrious flanker Faith Oviawe, the home team were facing into a 22-5 interval deficit.

The outcome appeared to have been placed beyond doubt when the elusive McInerney got through for her second try on 57 minutes, but a determined Connacht refused to throw in the towel.

With a brace of tries from Orla Dixon supplementing a clinical five-pointer by Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon, the westerners were just five points adrift of their opponents by the time the final whistle sounded.

This final-quarter flourish will come as a confidence boost to Connacht ahead of their third/fourth showdown with Ulster in Belfast next weekend.

The northern province were playing the second of three games on their home patch against Leinster on Saturday, but fell behind to an early converted try from fullback Robyn O’Connor. The ever-dependable Brittany Hogan got Ulster back on level terms with a similar score in the 21st minute, only for Leinster to reinforce their authority towards the end of the opening half.

Capitalising on initial approach work from Eimear Corri, lock Ruth Campbell made her way over for a try that was complemented by Jemma Farrell’s second bonus strike of the proceedings.

This offered Leinster a 14-7 lead at the interval and when Leah Tarpey and Aoife Wafer got over for additional tries on the resumption, the visitors had an extra bit of breathing space.

Even though the outstanding Hogan provided Ulster with some hope by bagging her second try of the game, Leinster turned on the style in the final quarter. Before Kelly Burke capped her senior debut for the province with a late five-pointer, Emma Tilly and player of the match Eimear Corri also found their way over the opposition whitewash to round off a ruthless display from Tania Rosser’s charges.

Posted in Interprovincial Rugby, Women's Rugby | Comments Off on Women’s Interprovincial Championship Round Three Round-Up: The Irish Times – August 26 2024

Aer Lingus College Football Classic Preview: Georgia Tech V Florida Tech – The Irish Examiner – August 24 2024

Posted on August 24, 2024 by admin

Kerry’s David Shanahan included in Georgia Tech ranks to face Florida State 

A native of Castleisland in Kerry, David Shanahan created his own slice of history back in May 2020 when it was revealed he was to become the first player born and raised in Ireland to take on a football college career in the States.
DAIRE WALSH

For their grand return to the Aviva Stadium later on today to face Florida State in the latest edition of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic (kick-off 5pm), Georgia Tech will have amongst their ranks a man who has a strong familiarity with this part of the world.

A native of Castleisland in Kerry, David Shanahan created his own slice of history back in May 2020 when it was revealed he was to become the first player born and raised in Ireland to take on a football college career in the States. While the covid-19 pandemic meant it was another 12 months until he officially began his scholarship in Georgia – he was initially set to arrive there in January of that year – Shanahan played his first game of American football for the side commonly known as the Yellow Jackets against Northern Illinois on September 4, 2021.

A gifted Gaelic footballer during his youth, Shanahan is one of four punters listed in Georgie Tech’s team roster for 2024. Although it is located over 170 miles from his hometown in East Kerry, getting the opportunity to line out for the Yellow Jackets at the Lansdowne Road venue should prove to be an emotional experience for Shanahan.

Georgia Tech will certainly be hoping for a similar outcome to the college’s last visit to the Aviva back on September 3, 2016. In the very first Aer Lingus College Football Classic, running back Dedrick Mills produced a late four-yard touchdown to snatch a 17-14 victory for Georgia at the expense of Boston College.

That game doubled up as an NCAA Division I FBS contest and it is in the same competition that Georgia and Florida State will also lock horns today.

Whereas 40,562 spectators were in attendance eight years ago for the maiden Aer Lingus Classic, last year’s clash between Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Navy Midshipmen attracted a seismic crowd of 49,000.

With today’s game officially sold out, it is predicated there will be a raucous atmosphere at the south Dublin ground. In this regard, the fact that an astonishing figure of more than 25,000 Americans are estimated to have crossed the Atlantic in order to attend the game will significantly help matters.

While Georgia had an overall record of seven wins and six defeats in 2023, a consistent Florida State ended the year with an impressive 13 victories and just one reversal to their name. That solitary loss was a heavy one (63-3) at the hands of Georgia Bulldogs in the Orange Bowl, but given their 2023 season also saw them being crowned champions of the Atlantic Coast Conference, Mike Norvell’s side will be confident heading into their opening fixture of 2024 in Dublin.

Posted in American Football | Comments Off on Aer Lingus College Football Classic Preview: Georgia Tech V Florida Tech – The Irish Examiner – August 24 2024

Paralympics Build-Up Piece: Eve McCrystal & Josephine Healion – The Irish Examiner – August 24 2024

Posted on August 24, 2024 by admin

Eve McCrystal ‘passionate’ as ever about delivering Paralympics success for Team Ireland

“I’m as passionate to win as I was 10 years ago. That has never left me. I really hope that I can do our tandem proud and I am definitely focused to try and do that.”
DAIRE WALSH

It may well prove to be her swansong on the big stage, but as she prepares to compete at a third summer games in Paris in the coming days, cyclist Eve McCrystal says she remains as passionate as ever about delivering Paralympics success for Team Ireland.

Over the course of the past decade, McCrystal has forged a formidable partnership with Katie-George Dunlevy – serving as her sighted pilot across a whole host of major championships. At their first Paralympics together in Rio eight years ago, the pair secured a gold medal in the women’s B road time trial as well as silver in the women’s B road race.

Fast forward five years to the delayed Paralympic Games in Tokyo and in addition to claiming gold in the above categories, Dunlevy and McCrystal also came away with silver medals in the women’s B individual pursuit.

Despite already being the veteran of two Paralympic games and several World Championships, McCrystal admits she still experiences nerves ahead of big races.

Yet this is something she views as a positive and with the likelihood being that this will be her final Paralympics, Louth native McCrystal is hopeful of replicating those past feats in the French capital.

“This is my third Paralympic Games. It’s not easy, we’re training full-time. I’m a Mum of two kids. I have to kind of figure out what is happening after this. I still love it though,” acknowledged McCrystal, who is also a member of An Garda Siochana.

“I get nervous at a local race, so never mind going to the Paralympic Games! I think if you don’t have nerves, there is something wrong. The nerves drive me on. It means I want it, I’m passionate.

“I’m as passionate to win as I was 10 years ago. That has never left me. I really hope that I can do our tandem proud and I am definitely focused to try and do that.”

That triumvirate of podium finishes from Dunlevy and McCrystal helped to ensure that Ireland left the Tokyo Games in 2021 with a total of seven medals to their name.

Team Ireland came away with the same haul at this year’s Paris Olympics and there is plenty of inspiration Paralympic athletes can take from the likes of Daniel Wiffen, Rhys McClenaghan and Kellie Harrington.

However, even though their ninth place finish saw them just missing out on progression from a qualifying round, McCrystal takes plenty of encouragement from the performances produced by the cycling quartet of Mia Griffin, Alice Sharpe, Kelly Murphy and Lara Gillespie in the women’s team pursuit at the Olympics.

“I think when you watch the team pursuit, the Irish girls, and the massive performance that they put in… we’re a small nation, we’ve no velodrome. For them to do what they did, it just puts fire in your belly to strive to do that ourselves,” McCrystal added.

Amongst those who are set to join Dunlevy and McCrystal in competing at the cycling in the Paralympics (which begins with track events from August 29 to September 1, before the road events take over September 4-7) will be first-time Paralympians Josephine Healion and pilot Linda Kelly.

Incidentally, while Offaly native Healion has been partnered by Kelly for international track competitions in recent times, she has also paired up with McCrystal in international road competitions.

Given she has only seriously committed to competitive racing in the past three years, Healion is thrilled to have progressed to the point where being part of the Paralympic Games has become a reality.

Suffice to say, now that she finds herself in Paris, her sights are set on becoming the latest cyclist on these shores to achieve a Paralympics podium finish.

“I suppose that’s the dream really, isn’t it? Always aim high is definitely what I’ve learnt. Never let anything stand in the way. Once I put out my best performance, I’ll be happy,” Healion said.

“I had no idea really how to get into competitive cycling. I was watching it from afar, but to think now that I’m training with the girls is crazy. I wouldn’t have believed it probably four years ago if someone said it to me, but it’s phenomenal.”

Posted in Paralympics | Comments Off on Paralympics Build-Up Piece: Eve McCrystal & Josephine Healion – The Irish Examiner – August 24 2024

Post-Match Reaction: SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division – Finn Harps Manager Darren Murphy – Donegal Live – August 24 2024

Posted on August 24, 2024 by admin

UCD took their chances, Finn Harps didn’t – Darren Murphy 

Goals either side of the half-time break from Harry Curtis and Michael Raggett at Belfield resulted in Finn Harps suffering a sixth straight defeat

By Daire Walsh

In the wake of his side’s 2-0 defeat away to UCD in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division on Friday, Finn Harps manager Darren Murphy admitted their opponents possessed a greater clinical edge in front of goal.

Supplementing a Harry Curtis opener deep into first half stoppage-time, Michael Raggett followed up with a second UCD goal just under three minutes after the resumption.

Former Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk footballer Ronan Finn provided the assists for both of these finishes and while Harps had opportunities of their own throughout the contest, they couldn’t find the net and ultimately fell to a fifth successive league defeat.

“It’s a poor goal from our part – the opening goal. It’s a free header inside the six-yard box. We were trying to identify it from the sideline and unfortunately the message doesn’t get across.

“It’s a great ball into the box, but it’s a free header and you expect him to score,” Murphy remarked after the game.

“Then you come out the second half and you shoot yourself in the foot. You’re 2-0 down and then it’s an uphill task against a very good UCD side.

“The difference between the two teams is that UCD took their chances when they came along. We had enough chances in the game and we didn’t take any.

“That’s unfortunate, but I’m not going to be hard on the players. That’s just the way it is. Sometimes the ball bounces for you and sometimes it doesn’t. Unfortunately this evening, it didn’t bounce for us.”

Posted in League Of Ireland | Comments Off on Post-Match Reaction: SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division – Finn Harps Manager Darren Murphy – Donegal Live – August 24 2024

The Big Interview: Joanne Doonan (Fermanagh/Kinawley Brian Borus) – Media West Ireland – August 24 2024

Posted on August 24, 2024 by admin

Fermanagh star Joanne Doonan reflects on returning home and a third All-Ireland

Joanne Doonan is one of the Fermanagh players with three All-Ireland medals. She returned from Australia and has been busy both on and off the field in a new business venture. Daire Walsh writes…

WHILE it isn’t the main reason she found herself back on home soil, Joanne Doonan is glad she decided to make a return to the Fermanagh fold this year following an extended stint in the southern hemisphere.

Having previously lined out for Carlton during an AFL Women’s season that was ultimately not finished due to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Doonan moved back to Australia in early 2022 after she was snapped up by Essendon.

Yet in addition to being delisted by Essendon at the end of their 2023 campaign in the AFLW, personal circumstances led to Doonan and her partner James McMahon – who has also played football for Fermanagh – returning to the Erne County.

Despite not having played for Fermanagh since their TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship relegation play-off defeat to Longford in August 2021, Doonan subsequently resumed her intercounty career in a Lidl NFL Division 4 clash with Wicklow in Donagh on January 28 of this year.

Although the league campaign ended in a semi-final reversal to Carlow, Doonan had a pivotal role at centre half-forward when the Erne women claimed an All-Ireland junior title at the expense of Louth in Croke Park earlier this month.

“It’s different circumstances that we ended up cutting our time in Australia short,” she said.

“My mother-in-law, we found out she was sick, so we ended up coming home. It’s probably one of those things, she ended up passing away earlier in this year and that is why I missed the Ulster final.

“Sometimes you just look at football and whenever I came home it was definitely an outlet. Something that is consistent in your life and really positive for you in your life. I think I definitely had nearly a perspective shift in that it really is an honour.

“I think in a weird way it has just been a massive year, to be able to come home and have something positive about coming home as well too.

“It has just been really, really special and a special group of girls to get us through all this year as well. It’s not just me, there’s a lot of girls on the team that have things going on in their life this year that we’re doing it for.”

Courtesy of that 1-11 to 0-12 victory against the Wee County earlier this month, Doonan is now amongst a select group of Fermanagh players to have won three All-Ireland junior ladies football championship crowns.

More specifically, Doonan and Derrygonnelly Harps attacker Eimear Smyth are the only ones in the current Erne set-up to have started their previous successes in 2017 and 2020 as well as the most recent triumph.

Yet what was interesting about those earlier wins is that neither of them were secured in Croke Park. A Doonan goal helped Fermanagh to overcome Derry in a replayed encounter at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones in 2017, while their 2020 victory over Wicklow took place behind closed doors at Dublin’s Parnell Park towards the end of the calendar year.

In fact with four All-Ireland final defeats (two in junior and two in intermediate) supplementing drawn junior deciders in 2017 and 2022, the Fermanagh ladies were still searching for a maiden win at Croker heading into their showdown with Louth.

However, with Smyth amassing a superb personal tally of 1-9, the Erne side finally tasted victory in GAA HQ.

“As much as people say it’s just a field, there’s definitely something special about playing in Croke Park,” Doonan explains.

“To get that first win in Croke Park, just to break that idea that we can’t win in Croke Park, I think we were just delighted.

“I think everybody that plays Gaelic football, and especially anyone that gets up to county, that is all you dream of. To climb the steps in Croke Park and it was just phenomenal. It was just amazing to be able to do that.”

While the Fermanagh players hadn’t personally sampled that winning feeling in Croke Park, their manager CJ McGourty had some happy memories in the ground to call upon prior to the first weekend in August.

As well as securing an All-Ireland senior club football title with St Gall’s in 2010, noted dual star McGourty also had success there in the small ball code in the colours of his adopted Tyrone just two years ago in a Nickey Rackard Cup final against Roscommon.

The Belfast native had used his past experiences as a reference point in the lead-up to their meeting with Louth and Doonan – who was previously coached by McGourty in Queen’s University – feels this helped to put some of the Fermanagh squad at ease.

“He did speak about the experience and I just think you nearly respect him more when he knows the feeling you’re all having,” she outlines.

“He’s able to say ‘look it, you will be nervous tomorrow, there will be mistakes’ things like that and it gives you that wee bit of reassurance that it’s normal to feel this way as well.

“It is definitely easier to take it from someone that has been there themselves. Even as a forward, he’s very good and he’s very specific.

“You can learn a lot from him in the forward line too. It has been great to have him to be able to coach us for that as well. He has been a great addition, I have to say.”

Although Doonan will be busy in the coming weeks on the club front with Kinawley Brian Borus – she is one of nine players from the Moher Road outfit that were on the Fermanagh panel this year – she is also being kept busy away from the football pitch.

March of this year saw Doonan opening a fitness centre with the aforementioned McMahon named The Stables Roslea, which is located close to where the couple have been based since their return from Australia.

“That has been our project since we came home from Australia and thankfully it’s going really well now,” she said.

“That has been what is keeping us busy. It’s great to have that now and we’re part of the community that we’re living in now, which is really nice to do.”

Posted in Ladies GAA | Comments Off on The Big Interview: Joanne Doonan (Fermanagh/Kinawley Brian Borus) – Media West Ireland – August 24 2024

SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division: Shelbourne V Athlone Town – The Westmeath Independent – August 24 2024

Posted on August 23, 2024 by admin

SOCCER: SSE AIRTRICITY WOMEN’S PREMIER DIVISION

Athlone go clear at the summit despite Singleton injury blow

Shelbourne 1 

Athlone Town 2

DAIRE WALSH

In the aftermath of his side’s potentially crucial victory over Shelbourne in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division at Tolka Park last Saturday, the wellbeing of Chloe Singleton was at the forefront of Ciaran Kilduff’s mind.

Despite falling behind to a 32nd-minute Jemma Quinn goal in the Drumcondra venue, Brenda Ebika Tabe and Kerryanne Brown subsequently found the net in either half to move Athlone three points clear of Shels at the summit of the Premier Division table.

The Midlanders showed considerable character in overcoming the challenge of the north Dubliners as they had also lost Chloe Singleton to a serious injury just before Quinn broke the deadlock.

This left Kilduff with a somewhat bittersweet feeling when the dust settled on an often fiery encounter, but the Athlone manager was glad his troops were able to get the job done in the absence of Singleton.

“We knew it was a massive game, it’s a top of the table clash. The good feeling probably gets spoiled with Chloe’s injury in the first half. We were kind of doing it for her and I’m glad we did,” Kilduff remarked afterwards.

Kilduff felt it was an attritional contest, describing as “one of those games where you need a Chloe Singleton on the pitch.

“To do it without her I think speaks volumes for what the girls feel about her and for what we feel about her. She’s going to have a big role this season, even though it mightn’t be on the pitch. She’s such a character, such a leader. I’m gutted for her to be honest, but I’m obviously delighted for the girls that they were able to get a positive result for her.”

Athlone had already been minus the services of Casey Howe coming into this contest, after she was withdrawn early on in their 5-1 win at home to Sligo Rovers on the previous weekend. Yet Ebika Tabe (a recent recruit who has represented Cameroon at a number of age grades) bagged her maiden goal for the club upon replacing Howe in the Sligo game and she offered a potent threat up front on her first start for the Town.

Singleton was also causing problems for the host side with some intelligent runs into the box and she was desperately unfortunate not to open the scoring on 23 minutes when her flicked effort from a long Kayleigh Shine rebounded off the crossbar. The woodwork also came to Shelbourne’s rescue from a goal-bound header by Athlone left-black Shauna Brennan, before a lively game was delayed for several minutes to allow treatment for Singleton.

The Athlone native was eventually taken off the pitch on a stretcher with Emily Burke stepping forward to take her spot in the team. Still trying to settle in the wake of a devastating blow, the visitors fell behind when Quinn unleashed a powerful right-footed strike that shook the underside of the bar before drifting over the line.

This presented Shels with the upper hand heading towards the interval, but Athlone dug deep to get themselves back on level terms. In the first of five additional minutes that were announced – six ended up being played following another brief stoppage – Ebika Tabe capitalised on a defensive error from Reds defender Pearl Slattery and proceeded to nip in ahead of opposition netminder Amanda McQuillan before ultimately firing into the net.

It seemed fitting for a top-of-the-table clash that there was so little to separate the teams and it remained a close-run affair when the action resumed. Although Shels were launching a lot of balls into the area from out wide, Athlone custodian Katie Keane was coping admirably with everything that was thrown at her.

Nevertheless, Shels kept their opponents on the back-foot for large stretches and the travelling Town faithful breathed a sigh of relief when Quinn headed against the upright just shy of the third-quarter mark. While Ebika Tabe had a number of opportunities to add to her tally in the second period, Keane produced an excellent double save from wing-back Leah Doyle on the stroke of 80 minutes – albeit an offside flag was raised prior to her second effort.

It looked at this point like both sides were going to settle for a share of the spoils, which would have kept Athlone just behind Shels on score difference at the top of the table. However, there was to be a final twist when referee Claire Purcell awarded a penalty to Athlone after she adjudged McQuillan to have fouled Shauna Brennan inside the box.

This wasn’t a popular decision with the home team or their supporters, but Brown (who combined to telling effect with skipper Laurie Ryan in the Athlone midfield) displayed impressive composure in dispatching the 87th minute spot kick into the bottom right-hand corner.

Even though Athlone had to negotiate another extended spell of injury-time, they held firm to emerge with the three points on offer. There were some heated exchanges upon the final whistle in the capital, but this just served to highlight the growing rivalry between these sides and how tense their respective title bids are becoming with just six games left for both teams in 2024.

SHELBOURNE: Amanda McQuillan; Jessica Gargan, Pearl Slattery, Keeva Keenan; Christie Gray, Maggie Pierce, Alex Kavanagh, Leah Doyle; Roma McLaughlin, Hannah Healy; Jemma Quinn. Subs: Megan Smyth-Lynch for Healy (half-time), Eabha O’Mahony for Quinn, Kate Mooney for Gray (both 68), Noelle Murray for Doyle (82). 

ATHLONE TOWN: Katie Keane; Kellie Brennan, Kayleigh Shine, Jesi Lynne Rossman, Shauna Brennan; Laurie Ryan, Kerryanne Brown; Roisin Molloy, Chloe Singleton, Madison Gibson; Brenda Ebika Tabe. Subs: Emily Burke for Singleton (31), Hazel Donegan for Ebika Tabe (91), Isabel Ryan for Molloy (94). 

Referee: Claire Purcell (Waterford).

 

In A Nutshell

Player of the Match

Laurie Ryan (Athlone Town). There were a number of strong performers on the day for Athlone, with Brenda Ebika Tabe, Jesi Lynne Rossman and Kerryanne Brown all producing fine shifts throughout. Yet Laurie Ryan once again had a major impact in the away side’s engine room as she cut out a number of Shels attacks while also distributing the ball to good effect in the middle third.

Key Moment

Had Athlone come away with a 1-1 draw, then Ebika Tabe’s equaliser in first-half stoppage-time would have likely emerged as the major moment in the game. Instead, the awarding of a penalty to Ciaran Kilduff’s side in the closing minutes of normal time offered Kerryanne Brown an opportunity to put her name up in lights and the dynamic midfielder duly obliged.

Posted in League Of Ireland, Women's Soccer | Comments Off on SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division: Shelbourne V Athlone Town – The Westmeath Independent – August 24 2024