A round-up of today's other sports news in brief
Irish pair make Badminton debut
EQUESTRIAN:Ireland has two riders competing in the Mitsubishi Badminton horse trials which start today with Elizabeth Power and Sam Watson both making their debuts at the famed four-star venue which celebrates its 60th anniversary, writes Margie McLoone.
Power (24), whose dressage test is scheduled for 12.06pm, partners Dermot O’Rourke’s thoroughbred Kilpatrick River on which she finished second last year in the Under 25 CCI*** at Bramham.
Watson, a year younger than Power, rides the Irish Sport Horse gelding Horseware Bushman and this partnership will enter the dressage arena at 4.12pm this afternoon; they finished fourth in the under 25 class at Bramham.
Meanwhile, yesterday, Horse Sport Ireland unveiled a three-year strategic plan for the equestrian industry which it claims is worth over €400 million to the economy.
Joe Walsh, chairman of HSI, said that there was a number of challenges facing the sector including the need to adjust the country’s breeding policy to take into account current competition requirements.
“While Irish-bred event horses are top of the world rankings, we had only one Irish-bred show jumper in the top 200 in the world last year,” revealed Walsh. This is a dreadful decline and we must act now to turn the tide. The sooner we make a start with the right breeding decisions, the earlier we will see the benefits of a good breeding policy . .
“This is a new era of competition with indoor arenas needing a different, more athletic type of horse than we used to produce.”
Stirling named in squad for Twenty20 World Cup
CRICKET:Paul Stirling and Jeremy Bray were the big winners as Ireland coach Phil Simmons named his 15-man squad for next month's Twenty20 World Cup in England, writes Emmet Riordan.
Stirling’s innings of 80 in Ireland’s Friends Provident Trophy game against Leicestershire on Monday was enough for the 18-year-old Belfast student to book his spot as a replacement for Eoin Morgan, who has been named in England’s squad for the event.
“Paul has been in such good form in the Friends Provident Trophy, with two exceptional knocks. It’s not just been the fact that he’s scored runs, but the manner in which he has played. He’s been confident, powerful and dominant,” said Simmons. Opening batsman Bray made a recent return to the Ireland set-up after a two-year absence, with his experience at the 2007 World Cup seeing him preferred to Reinhardt Strydom.
The others to lose out are Andrew Poynter and Phil Eaglestone. Andre Botha will undergo a late fitness test on an ankle injury, although Simmons admits the North County player has no chance of bowling in the tournament.
“Andre will undergo rigorous testing on his ankle in two to three weeks time, and we’ll make a final decision then. He definitely won’t bowl in the tournament, but I’d be very confident he can play a major role with the bat,” added Simmons.
St Joseph’s claim All-Ireland title
SOCCER:For a couple of decades before being appointed principal of St Joseph's in Galway Jimmy Brennan kept football alive in the Nuns Island School.
Yesterday, at Terryland Park, Brennan cut a satisfied figure as St Joseph’s beat Sexton Street CBS, Limerick, 1-0, in the All-Ireland Schools Senior soccer final.
Jason Hughes, already on the books of Limerick FC, was keen to make an impact, demonstrating his midfield promise, but the important goal arrived in the 34th-minute.
Ronan Conlon’s cross wasn’t gathered by Sexton Street custodian Steven McNamara, and schools international Brian Gaffney reacted smartly to head the ball home.
ST JOSEPH'S:Hanley; Curran, Fadden, O'Donoghue, R Lynskey; Evans, Conlon, McCabe, Kelly; Gaffney, Olajide (Keady, 82).
Sexton Street CBS: S McNamara; O’Meara (J McNamara, 87), Griffin, Molineaux, McMarlow; Crowe (O’Connor, 80), Byrnes, Hughes, O’Donovan; Hanrahan, Hanlon.
Referee:A Lynch (Offaly).
O’Halloran and Dee grab late victory for Waterford
HURLING:Two goals in the final minutes gave Waterford a dramatic 4-8 to 1-14 win over Limerick in the Munster MHC semi-final play-off in Limerick last night.
Brian O’Halloran blasted to the net with three minutes to go and then John Dee scored a goal from a sideline from 60 metres, which went all the way to the Limerick net.
LIMERICK: A Murphy. B Cleary, N Foley, N Buckley; P Ahern, D Hannon (0-2, frees), T O’Callaghan; N Kennedy (0-1), L O’Shea; S Dowling (0-2), M Ranahan (0-1), K Downes (0-1); M Ryan, C McNamara (1-1), W Griffin (0-6, 2 frees). Subs: B Mullins for O’Shea (26 mins); M Barry for Dowling (44 mins).
WATERFORD: S O’Keeffe, L Egan, T Costelloe, M Wyse; J Dee (1-0), P Mahony, D Fives; K Moore, K Murphy; J Prendergast, B O’Halloran (1-0), P Mahony (0-6, 5 frees); M O’Neill, J Dillon (0-2), P Prendergast (1-0). Subs: F Murray (1-0) for K Murphy (half-time); F Murray for J Prendergast (39 mins).
