29-5-17 WEEKEND SPORT
CONNACHT FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP QUATERS
LONDON 0.16 3-1O LETRIM
KENNEDY DOUBLE
SECURES LETRIM WIN OVER LONDON
Without key forward Emlyn Mulligan, who has been ruled out
of the 2017 championship due to injury, Leitrim were challenged right to the
wire by a spirited London side. Former Tyrone star Owen Mulligan was named at
number 26, but started on the day.
It was tit-for-tat in the opening stages, but Darragh Rooney
slotted home after 22 minutes to give Leitrim a 1-5 to 0-3 lead.
Meanwhile, London looked dangerous on the attack. The
Leitrim defence were kept on their toes, but handled any potential threats
accordingly.
Liam Gavaghan and Conor Doran kept the hosts in touch with
points as the clock ran down, while they trailed by two heading in for the
break.
The Exiles hit the ground running on the restart — Rory
Mason splitting the posts, while Mulligan stood up to level matters.
Liam Gavaghan — who registered eight points overall — and
Mason pushed on to put two between the sides, but Kennedy then halted the home
side’s momentum with his double whammy to put Leitrim 3-7 to 0-12 up, and in
the driving seat.
With nine minutes on the clock, London attempted to claw
their way back into the game, and with several consecutive points, they reduced
the deficit to two again.
Leitrim played the ball around as they awaited the final
whistle, and tagged on another score to leave three points in the difference at
the end.
]
MY OPINION
I think this was London’s only
chance to get a win this year as they are not the best team and I feel that
neither they nor Leitrim are going to go far in the competition the day when
London could pick up a win could be over now.
MUNSTER FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERS
CLAIRE 1-13 1-12
LIMEICK
CLINICAL CLEARY PUTS
CLAIRE IN SEMIS
Clare were four points ahead in the second minute of injury
time when Limerick’s Seán O’Dea intercepted a Joe Hayes kick out. O’Dea placed
substitute Josh Ryan and his goal reduced the deficit to a single point.
Limerick had a chance to fashion an equaliser but Seán McSweeney’s shot went
high and wide, when a bit more patience might have been the better option.
Twelve minutes from time Clare led by six points, 1-11 to
0-8 and a Limerick comeback looked very unlikely. However that Ryan goal left
Clare clinging on in in injury time.
In a game which was played in front of an attendance of
2,968, the home team led 1-8 to 0-6 at half-time. Eoin Cleary put away their
goal in the ninth minute. He held off Limerick corner-back Daniel Daly,
collected a Jamie Malone long delivery and applied a right footed finish.
Keelan Sexton pointed two quality points for Clare in that
half, while Pearse Lillis also pointed, raiding from wing back. A feature of
the first half was the fact that while Limerick gave the ball away sixteen
times, Clare were much more efficient in this respect, turning over just five
first half possessions.
Both teams went short with most of their kick outs and the
game featured just one mark. In fact both struggled to retain their own kick
outs, on the rare occasions that they went long.
MY
OPINION
Limerick are a better side than
this but the closeness of the match could help Claire in their semi-final
against Kerry I feel that Kerry will have too much on the day as they are
leagues ahead of them
WATERFORD 1-11 1-12
CORK
KERRIGAN SAVES
DISMAL CORK
Cork were forced to dig deep to prevent a shock, loss but
the Rebels came good in the closing minutes to set up a semi-final date with
Tipperary. Cork played against the wind in the opening half and while they
struggled to deal with Waterford’s crowded defence, they were well on their way
to victory when they led by 1-4 to 0-4 at the interval.
Captain Paul Whyte then edged Waterford in front after 43
minutes with a point from the right to make it 1-5 to 1-4. Donie Breathnach
doubled that lead after 50 minutes before Cork hit back with points from
Donncha O’Connor and James Loughrey.
The sides then exchanged points twice before Cork, who lost
Alan O’Connor to a red card after 65 minutes, went two in front from Paul
Kerrigan and Donncha O’Connor. Waterford hit back in a frenetic finish and
levelled through Paul Whyte and the excellent Breathnach to tie them heading
into seven minutes of stoppage time.
Colm O’Neill and Kerrigan saved Cork with points before they
endured a nervous finish when Breathnach cut the gap to the minimum, but
Waterford ran out of time after a brave effort.
MY
OPINION
If Cork are to be the outsiders
that we know they can be they have to play better than this as this was a horror show from them
it was like they had never played against a blanket defence before. I think
Cork have a lot to learn but Waterford could surprise a few people.
ULSTER FOOTBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERS
DERRY 0-11 0-22 TYRONE
SUPER SEAN SHOWS HE
STILL HAS TIME LEFT
Tyrone beat Derry in the championship last year and they
repeated the feat to set up a semi-final against Donegal.
Red Hands captain Sean Cavanagh fired over five frees to
help the visitors into a 0-10 to 0-5 lead at the break.
Derry narrowed the gap to three points before Tyrone surged
clear with Darren McCurry slotting over three points.
MY
OPINION
Are this team Champions I’m not
sure as I don’t really know how good they are yet but the main problem with
them was when they got a goal chance they could not score it. As for Derry
there are lessons to here both from the league and the Championship.
LEINSTER HURLING
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERS
GALWAY 2-28 1-17 DUBLIN
COONEY SCORE 1-3 BUT
DUBLIN NEVER IN IT
Goals from Jason Flynn and Conor Cooney secured the win
against Dublin.
They got a helping hand in Tullamore yesterday from Dublin
defender Cian O’Callaghan’s 41st minute dismissal.
The Cuala man was shown a controversial second yellow card
for tripping Joseph Cooney as he exited a ruck of players.
Dublin led briefly twice early on and took hope from a Ben
Quinn goal late in the first half.
All the forwards had scored by half-time and Conor Whelan
blasted 0-5 from play.
Galway took off in the second quarter and led by five after
Flynn’s 28th minute goal when he followed up on a save from Joseph Cooney.
MY
OPINION
Where were Dublin yesterday as I
felt that this would be a real gamer of hurling between 2 attacking sides but
after the Dubs got a man sent off it seemed to destroy them and they have to ask
why before the next match.
LAOIS 1-17 3-25 WEXFORD
MC DONALD 9 POINTS
PUT WEXFORD IN SEMI FINAL
Laois got the first three points of the game but Harry
Kehoe’s sixth-minute goal was the big score of the first half and Wexford went
in leading 1-11 to 0-09 at the interval.
But Wexford opened up in the second half and it all stemmed
from the Rathnure clubman and his presence in the full-forward line.
Aidan Nolan hit Wexford’s other goal, while Pat Purcell
scored the consolation goal for Laois, who had Charles Dwyer and Willie Dunphy
red-carded late on.
Laois began well with a slight breeze at their backs and
Stephen Maher scored a rallying point after three minutes.
By that stage Conor McDonald had missed with his first
attempt from a 65 after David Redmond’s goal-bound shot was cleared off the
line by Lee Cleere. And when Ross King tapped over Laois’ second and then their
third scores, they were in the ascendency.
MY
OPINION
Laois would have saw this match
as one they can win and it was a disappointment for Laois to how much they got
beat but this is no lesson here in how to play against Kilkenny as they are
completely different this is more a job done game over type of situation for
them
WMEATH 1-20 4-15
OFFALLY
SHANE DOOLEY SAVES
OFFALLY
Shane Dooley somehow saved Offaly in the fourth minute of
injury-time as his third goal sent his side into the Leinster hurling semi- final
against Galway or Dublin.
This game was in the balance until Dooley blocked a
clearance straight to the Westmeath net, but moments earlier Killian Doyle
looked to have sealed a draw for the home side with a stunning goal from a
tight angle.
But Dooley’s first-half penalty, Emmet Nolan’s second goal
six minutes from the end and Dooley’s scrambled second, means Offaly avenged
defeat to their neighbour in last years’ Championship.
With Allan Devine in great form, Westmeath were good value
for their 0-12 to 1-4 lead at the break, but a lethargic Offaly sprung to life
after the restart.
The introduction of Joe Bergin and Paddy Murphy at half-time
and Sean Ryan’s move back to wing-back had a real impact for Offaly as they
finally began to win the breaking ball and started to send quality ball into
their full-forward line.
Five of the first six scores of the half went to Offaly as
Dooley and Emmet Nolan pointed from play, while Oisin Kelly also added a point
in the 44th minute although a goal was certainly up for grabs as raced in on
goal.
But the goals finally came for Offaly six minutes from time
when Nolan hit the net and then two minutes from time Dooley poked the ball
over the line for a third Offaly goal.
Killian Doyle looked to have earned a replay when he goaled
in the third minute of added time, but Dooley’s block clinched the win a minute
later.
MY
OPINION
I think that Offaly now are in a
bit of trouble and going through the qualifiers might have helped them more as
again they face a big side and they have
not done that well against big sides in recent seasons.
PRO 12 FINAL
MUNSTER 22-46 SCARLETS
VAN DER MERVE LEAVES
SCARLETS IN STYLE
Liam Williams, in his final Scarlets game before moving to
Saracens, caught a pinpoint cross-field kick from Rhys Patchell before diving
in for the opening try.
Patchell missed the conversion but he added a penalty and
then the extras after Steff Evans exchanged passes with Jonathan Davies before
going in at the corner.
Bleyendaal gave Munster hope on the stroke of half-time,
running in close to the posts and scoring the conversion with the last kick of
the first half.
Munster failed to build on that try on the restart as
Patchell increased the gap with a penalty after 44 minutes.
Gareth Davies spilled a pass four yards from the Munster
line but he made amends minutes later when he sprinted in from a Scott Williams
pass - the TMO adjudged the pass was not forward.
The fourth try came from Bernie, who twisted over and
touched down from a scrum move before Patchell chalked up his third conversion.
MY OPINION
This match shows that form is
more important than class as Munster did not show the style that they had shown
in recent weeks to go top of the table. I think that there must be a lot for
Irish rugby to learn from Scarlets. I felt that this game was to be a lot
closer than it was.
WASPS 20-23 EXETER
STEENSON BOOT GETS
EXETER
Jack Nowell finished in the corner, and Chiefs led 14-3
after Phil Dollman battled his way over.
Jimmy Gopperth grabbed a try and Elliot Daly got another as
Wasps rallied either side of half time, but Gareth Steenson kicked a
last-minute penalty to make it 20-20 at full time.
Steenson then slotted the winning kick with three extra-time
minutes left.
MY
OPINION
I think that matches like this
are what will sell rugby to a foreign market and that is what the Pre3miership
is tr4ying to do. I think that this was a win that both sides will feel that they
have got a right to win. I think for Exeter a good season next would be a
quarter final at least in the Champions Cup.
FRENCH TOP 14 SEMIS
CLERMOUNT 37-31 RACING
CLERMOUNT 37-31 RACING
FRITZ LEE SECURES
CLERMOUNT PLACE IN FINAL
Despite being reduced to 14 men after Flip van der Merwe was
sent off after 41 minutes for a dangerous tackle, Clermont held on to avenge
their elimination in last year's semi-finals by the Parisians.
Four tries laid the groundwork for victory with Camille
Lopez (27, 47) touching down twice with Damian Penaud (18) and Fritz Lee (64)
also going over.
Racing scored three late tries with a Chris Masoe double on
70 and 77 minutes followed by Ben Tameifuna on 81.
MY
OPINION
Clermont have definitely been
the best team in French Rugby this season and they are showing that they have
more to come. I cannot understand how they will not be a force in the final
even after their European exploits this could be a new era for French Rugby
LA ROCHELLE15 –18 TOLOUN
BELLEAU DROP KICKS
TOLOUN TO FINAL
Centre Pierre Aguillon was red carded for a dangerous tackle
on Toulon's James O'Connor which left the Australian star falling head first
into the turf.
Welsh full-back Leigh Halfpenny, who scored 15 of his team's
points in a tense game where neither side managed a try, slotted over three
quick penalties to level the semi-final at 15-15.
Toulon seized their chance and after a series of gruelling
forward charges which inched towards the La Rochelle line, 21-year-old Belleau
kept his nerve to pop over the winning drop kick after the hooter had sounded.
http://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/16616/10894313/toulon-pip-la-rochelle-to-reach-top14-final
MY
OPINION
There were not too many people
who were not surprised to see La Rochelle play as well as they did but when it
came down to it for me it was to do with match experience and who had played in
this situation before and Toulon had more players like that.
FA CUP FINAL
ARSENAL 2-1 CHELSEA
RAVNESS RAMSAY
RELEASES GUNNERS
Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal the lead in contentious fashion
after only four minutes, when referee Anthony Taylor overruled his assistant
after he had flagged for offside against Aaron Ramsey.
The Premier League champions also claimed Sanchez handled in
the build-up. And their task became even harder when Victor Moses was correctly
sent off by Taylor in the second half after receiving a second yellow card for
diving.
Diego Costa revived Chelsea's hopes of a repeat of their
league and FA Cup double in 2010 when Arsenal keeper David Ospina failed to
keep out his deflected shot with 14 minutes left.
Arsenal, outstanding throughout, refused to be denied and
were back in front inside three minutes when Ramsey, who scored the FA Cup
final winner against Hull City in 2014, did it again with a header from
substitute Olivier Giroud's cross.
MY
OPINION
I think the fact that Arsenal won
the cup will help Arsene as I think the fans are too harsh on him at this time.
I think that he does need to get out but if he feels he needs 5 or 10 years to
get something in place then that’s fine as he has been there for so long.
Arsenal should be a developing club but I don’t see that as an automatic so
maybe he should go.
LEAGUE 2 PLAY OFF
FINAL
BLACKPOOL 2-1 CARLILE
CULLEN BECOMES A
HERO BUT NO ONE WANTS TO SEE
With the game's first attack, Potts found the the bottom
corner after Cullen's classy touch and flick.
Ollie Watkins was denied by Sam Slocombe before David
Wheeler lobbed the keeper to deservedly put Exeter level.
Blackpool had numerous chances before Cullen prodded in
Potts' low cross.
MY
OPINION
I think that the fans should
always go to a playoff final no matter the circumstances. I think that
Blackpool can improve on this still and can be playing Championship football in
the next 2 seasons
FRENCH OPEN
SUNDAY TENNIS RESULTS MENS
SUNDAY TENNIS RESULTS MENS
Dimitrov from Russia beat Robert
from France 3-0
Poulle from France beat Benetau from
France 3-2
Zeballos from Argentena beat
Mannarino from France 3-0
Thiem from Austria beat Tomicd
from Australia 3-0
Trungeliti from Argentina beat
Hayles from France 3-2
Bonzi from France beat Medevev
from Russia 3-2
Roberto from Spain beat Evens
from Great Brittan 3-1
Ramos Vilonas from Spain beat
Copi from Romania 3-2
Karlovic from Croatia beat
Titsitas from Greece 3-1
Daniel from Japan beat Janw3icz
from Poland 3-0
Careno Busta from Spain beat
Mayer from Germany 3-0
Hasse from the Netherlands beat
De Mineaur from Australia 3-0
|Kukushin from Afghanastan beat
Sandgren from the USA 3-0
Bellucci from Brazil beat
Lajovic from Croatia 3-1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/results
WOMEN TENNIS
Petra Kvitova from the Czech
Republic beat Boserup from the USA 2-0
Makarova from Frissia beat
Kerber from Germany 2-0
Kuznetsova from Russia beat Mc
Hale from the USA 2-0
Venus from USA beat Wang from
China 2-0
Cibullkova from Croatia beat
Arruabarrena from Spain 2-0
Godin from France beat Gorgi
from Italy 2-0
Puig from Barbados Vinci from
Italy 2-1
Sasnovich from China beat
Golubic from Switzerland 2-1
Buyukakcay from Turkey beat
Lucic Baroni from Croatia
Mattick Sands from the USA beat
Rodina from Russia 2-0
Ostapenko from Serbia beat
Chirico from the USA 2-1
Naro from Japan beat Asimova from the USA 2-1
Brengle from the USA beat
Georges from Germany 2-1
Tsurenko from Ukrane beat fellow
country person Kozlova 2-0
Bascinszky from Switzerland beat
Sorribes Tormo from Spain 2-0
Rogers from the USA beat Erakovic
from Australia 2-0
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/results
Comments
Post a Comment