Subscriber OnlySport

Ireland secure first Olympic berth in rugby; Leona Maguire finishes second in Michigan

The Morning Sports Briefing: Keep ahead of the game with ‘The Irish Times’ sports team

The Ireland team and staff celebrate qualifying for Tokyo 2020. Photograph: Manuel Blondeau/Inpho
The Ireland team and staff celebrate qualifying for Tokyo 2020. Photograph: Manuel Blondeau/Inpho
Mon Jun 21 2021 - 06:57

The Ireland Sevens team has secured qualification for this summer's Olympic Games in Tokyo after defeating France 28-19. Terry Kennedy's try gave Ireland an early lead in Sunday's final qualifier, before scores from Stephen Perez and Paulin Riva put France ahead. Ireland responded through Jordan Conroy, who scored a pair of second-half tries, while Harry McNulty added a fourth as they booked their ticket for the Tokyo Games. The Irish side were unbeaten across six matches and two days to achieve a momentous first; not bad for a programme that was only reconstituted in 2015.

Fifteen days after his preparations were seemingly thrown into disarray, Jon Rahm produced a grandstand finish to claim his first major title in the 121st US Open while Rory McIlroy's challenge faded on the back nine. Leona Maguire had to settle for solo runner-up to world number four Nelly Korda at the LPGA Meijer Classic in Grand Rapids, despite hardly putting a foot wrong in her quest to capture a breakthrough tour win. She'll receive a runners-up payday of $214,010 (€180,464) and move up from 20th to 13th on the updated LPGA Tour order of merit.

Wales are into the last 16 of Euro 2020, after holding on to second spot in Group A despite losing 1-0 to Italy in Rome, finishing above Switzerland — who beat Turkey 3-1 in Baku — on goal difference. With the impressive return of Marco Verratti, Italy are the team to fear heading into the knockout stages. In his column this morning, Ken Early reflects on being blindsided by a glorious day of Euros football on Saturday: "It's been a humbling weekend for those of us who spent the build-up to the European Championships warning of dull football and exhausted, half-interested players. Saturday was a glorious technicolour day of tournament football – probably the best day of football played anywhere in the world this year."

Meanwhile, Kilkenny hit Galway with a goal and five points straight after half time to add the Camogie League Division 1 title to the All-Ireland they banked against the same opposition last winter. In racing, Aidan O'Brien completed a career clean sweep of Europe's major Classics when Joan Of Arc finally delivered her trainer a French Oaks success on Sunday.