Category Archives: Sports

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The Irish men’s lacrosse team faced their toughest challenge yet when they faced off against a Haka-pumped (above) New Zealand side in Thursday’s action at the World Lacrosse Championships in Denver.

Tom writes:

“New Zealand controlled the first face-off and went straight to goal, but the shot was saved by Sweeney, who quickly cleared the ball back up field to Kris Prior who then buried a shot to put Ireland on the scoreboard first, 1-0. New Zealand quickly equalised however when the long-pole #10 headed straight down-field and scored to make it 1-1. A ding-dong ensued, first Tom Riley scored for Ireland to make it 2-2, followed by a New Zealand equaliser, then Mike McTernan scored his first goal of the day on a spinning jumpshot to make it 3-2. Ireland would then go on to score two more goals to make it 5-2 at the end of the first quarter. The Irish team continued to build on its small margin throughout the game, leading 8-3 at half-time and 11-6 at the end of the third quarter. But New Zealand are a team that plays to the final whistle, and they worked hard in the fourth quarter to reduce the deficit to just two goals (11-9) with just over 2 minutes left in the game. Ireland hung on and ran out 12-10 winners

Ireland will face the [gulp]  Germans in their final game of the tourney tonight. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 here at MIDNIGHT (Irish time).

Ireland Lacrosse

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A lengthy weather delayed start failed to dampen the Irish march over the Czech Republic at the Lacrosse World Championships in Denver last night.

Tom writes:

It was the Czechs who got their noses in front, scoring the first three goals of the game. The Irish team rallied and halfway through the second quarter had it all tied at 4, but the Czechs nudged ahead again and were up 6-4 at half-time. The weather once again wreaked havoc on the game and there was a second delay at half-time, but, once the game started again, the Czechs scored within the first couple of seconds to make it 7-4. The Irish team dug deep.. The third quarter ended 10-7 in favour of the Czechs, but the Irish team went on to score 5 unanswered goals in a spirited comeback to win the game 12-10

Ireland will face Switzerland today after defeating a fancied Wales team in the other ranking game.

Ireland Lacrosse

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Bill O’Herlihy signed off last night from RTÉ Sport.

He’ll leave it there so, live.

Meanwhile….

Bill O’Herlihy defends role as lobbyist for tobacco industry (Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times June 11 2014)

2012-07-29-13.35.52-768x1024[Alisha following her attack]

In 2012, Alisha Jordan, then aged 18, from Co Meath arrived in New York to play Gaelic football for the Cavan Ladies of New York…

At the peak of her fitness and hard work after the championship Alisha looked forward to getting ready for the next season…Walking home from a night out in New York Alisha was horrifically attacked by a male stranger who smashed her in the face with a concrete slab.
Alisha had to undergo two reconstructive surgeries, the first, an eight hour surgery to insert 10 metal plates and twenty-two screws to re-build her fractured skull. She then had reconstructive surgery to her nose to build it again.

Regaining her sight, walking and then running, against all of the odds and the doctors requests, Alisha worked every day at rebuilding her strength and friends, family and her team mates stood by her all the way….

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Alisha (holding trophy) with the Cavan Ladies of New York following a championship win.

Alisha continues to play for Cavan in New York and she also plays for the New York team who are due to play the Junior Championship in Ireland this August.
“I love the sport now more than ever and it will always be a vital part of my life. Since I was young and playing with my home club Skryne [Co Meath] I fell in love with the amazing support system that surrounds being part of a team…Above all, the whole attack made me not realise the bad that’s in the world that could hurt me, but the unbelievable good that’s in our everyday life. I’m very happy the latter outweighs the first”

Alisha Jordan – The Sport That Saved My Life (Kelly McGill, WomanSportsJournal)

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The Green machine is rolling.

Ireland’s preparations for the World Lacrosse Championships continued with a FULL exhibition game against Austria in Denver, Colorado.

Ireland won with a positively Germanic 14-4 scoreline.

Tom writes:

“The Irish attack line to work together to create plenty of chances. Kris Prior, Brian Gillis and Tom Riley all notched goals from that position, while Cillian Murphy also made a notable contribution to Ireland’s dominant offense…”

The opening ceremony of the tournament will take place on Thursday evening, followed by Ireland’s opening game of the tournament on Friday against Uganda.

More to folly.

Lacrosse Ireland