Barry's Blog

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFER NOMME KAJU 0-2 CELTIC 0-7 agg SUPEME SHVD With Celtic playing slick, swift passing football, one such move brought about that opening goal. Olivier Ntcham, highly impressive in an advanced midfield position in the first half, found Johnston and the winger fired a tempting ball across goal. Griffiths was ready to pounce for his second in two games, but Kulinits intervened to nick the ball off the toe of the striker only to knock it into the net. Celtic began to turn the screw again in the closing stages, with both debutants passing up good opportunities - Christopher Jullien heading over from six yards out and then Shved, seconds after coming off the bench, seeing a side-footed effort turned round a post by Londak. Lewis Morgan and Scott Sinclair were also denied late on by excellent goalkeeping but he could do nothing to keep out Shved's powerful injury-time strike from the edge of the penalty area. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/...

  WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SWIMMING SAT WOMENS 50 METRE BUTTERFLY 1 Sarah Sjostrom Sweden 2 Ranomi Kromowidjogo Netherlands 3 Faria Osman Egypt MENS 50 METRE FREESTYLE 1 Caleb Remel Dresel USA 2 Kristan Gkolmeev Grease 3 Bruno Fratus Brazil NENS 100 METRE BUTERFLY 1 Caleb Remel Dresel USA 2 Andrei Minakov Russia 3 Chad Le Clos SA WOMENS 200 METRE BACKSTROKE 1 Reagan Elizabeth Smith USA 2 Kaylee Rochelle Mc Keown Australia 3 Kylie Masse Canada WOMENS 800 METRE FREESTYLE 1 Katie Ledecky USA 2 Simon Quadarellla Italy 3 Aidrne Titmus Australia MIXED 4X100 METRE RELAY 1 USA 2 Australia 3 France SUN MENS 50 METRE BACKSTROKE 1 Zane Waddell SA 2 Evgeny Ryloy Russia 3 Kllmet Koleni9kov Russia WOMS 50 METRE BREASTSTROKE 1 Lily King USA 2 Benedetta Pilato Italy 3 Yulya Efmiova Russia MENS 1500 FREESTYLE 1 Florin Wellbrock Germany 2 Mykhailo Romanchuk Ukraine 3 Gregorio Palrineri Italy WOMENS 50 METRE FREESTYLE 1 Simo...

PDC MATCHPLAY FINAL ROB CROSS 17-15 MICHEAL SMITH He began the contest with back-to-back 72 checkouts, and added an 81 combination for a 12-darter before punishing misses from Smith in three straight legs to pull clear. St Helens' Smith had missed nine doubles during the opening six legs of that spell, but finally found his range to take out 84 in two darts to win leg ten. Smith also won three of the next four to cut the gap, only for Cross to steady his nerve with finishes of 73 and 115 before punishing five misses from his rival to move 12-4 up. The 2018 World Championship finalist hit back superbly with legs of 12, 13 and 12 darts as he pulled back to 12-7, before a last-dart double 16 from Cross gave him the 20th leg. Smith, inspired by a capacity Winter Gardens crowd, claimed another three legs - including an 11-darter - as he pulled back to 13-10, and after Cross finished 110 the St Helens man came from 250 points behind to win the 25th leg on double 18. The ...

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP AUSTRILIA 16-10 ARGENTENA HAPPY HODGE Australia gain 25-30m before earning their first penalty. Again it’s Kerevi making the key yards. Lealiifano with his first look at points as a Wallaby. He slots it nicely! It hooked a little to the left, but still comfortably through the posts. The outcome of that poor lineout option is an error about 30m out, and the Pumas say: yes please. Sanchez with the successful shot at the sticks, and we’re all square, despite the Wallabies territorial dominance. Special stuff! Australia with the feed 10 inside the Puma’s half and from the set play it’s a fine set piece. Lealiifano with ball in hand, Koroibete with a great line, Kuridrani and Kerevi the decoys and they’ve bamboozled Argentina’s defence. Lealiifano with the conversion, fine strike from near the touchline. Great well-worked set piece - when’s the last time the Wallabies have successfully prosecuted one of those?   A quick chat with Michael Cheika, who...

HURLING SEMIS WEXFORD 3-20 1-28 TIP FANTASTI FORDE AND MIGHTY MC GRATH Paudie Foley hit the opening point from his own half after only 15 seconds, and though Ronan Maher replied instantly, Wexford could have had two goals in the opening five minutes. A shot from Chin fell short, Tipp keeper Brian Hogan uncertainly came off his line but the ball skipped away from Diarmuid O’Keeffe and Wexford had to settle for a point from Rory O’Connor. Wexford’s deep runners and quick offloads were causing havoc in the bewildered Tipperary defence and after Liam Ryan got forward to score, Shaun Murphy stepped inside John O’Dwyer but his goalbound shot was deflected wide by Ronan Maher. Chin converted the 65 and Wexford had a three point-lead. Surely this blockbuster pace couldn’t be maintained? Correct, it got even more intense. Michael Breen kicked the ball to the Wexford net but it was harshly ruled out for Jason Forde colliding with Matthew O’Hanlon in the build-up. In the 10th...

EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFING ROUND 2 LEG 1 CHIKHAURA 1-1 ABERDEEN COSGROVE CANCILS SCOTS WOES Giorgi Koripadze converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner. Penalty conceded by Davit Maisashvili with a hand ball in the penalty area. Sam Cosgrove converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner. https://www.skysports.com/football/chikhura-sach-vs-aberdeen/417007 MY OPINION This one is not over by a long way and the Scots should learn from this first leg match as they can as the second leg will definitely be a lot more difficult. The scots should have the quality to make the difference but quality sometimes means little in this game CONNAHS QUAY 0-1 PARTASAN BELGRADE SUPER SCEKIC . Aleksandar Scekic right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. https://www.skysports.com/football/connahs-quay-vs-partizan/416042 MY OPINION If the welsh side can get an early goal in this tie then there i...

Thursday July 25 (1900 BST) MATCHPLAY Quarter-Finals (Best of 31 legs) TV Channel: Sky Sports Michael Smith 16-11 Mervyn King Smith has shown his pedigree here in this match as he won a close enough match against a player who played in the BDO for a long time. I think that Smith might now be reaching the early stage of his top game and is ready for the next challenge Glen Durrant 16-7 James Wade This was a huge shock not for the result but from how much the game was won by as everyone would have seen him as slight favourite but Durrant has shown here that the MVG result was not a fluke and he can compete with the big boys

SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP THU WOMENS 200 METRE BUTRE BUTTERFLY 1 Boglrka Kapas Hungary 2 Hali Flicknger USA 3 Katie Drabot USA MENS 100 METRE FREESTYLE 1 Caleb Remel Dresel USA 2 Kyle Chalmers Australia 3 Vladislav Grinev Russia WOMENS 50 METRE BACKSTROKE 1 Olivia Smoliga USA 2 Etiene Mederos Brazil 3 Daria Vaskina Russia WOMENS 200 METRE IM 1 Diaya Seto Japan 2 Jeremy Desplanches Switzerland 3 Chase Kalisz USA WOMENS 4X200 METRES 1 Australia 2 USA 3 Canada FRIDAY WOMENS 100 METRE FREESTYLE 1 Simone Manuel USA 2 Cate Campbell Australia 3 Sarah Sjostrom Sweden WOMENS 200 METRE BREASTSTROKE 1 Yulya Eimova Russia 2 Tatjana Schoenmaker SA 3 Sydney Pickrem CanADA MENS 200 METRE BACKSTROKE 1 Evgeny Rvlov Russia 2 Ryan Fitsgerald Murphy USA 3 Luke Greenback GB MENS 200 METRE BREASTSTROKE 1 Anton Chukov Russia 2 Matthew Wilson Australia 3 Ipei Wattenebe Japan      

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFER ROUND 2 LEG 1 CELTIC 5-0 NOMME KALJU CHRISTEA CAPATALISES   Celtic created chances from the off. Simunovic had two sights of goal from early corners and the visiting goalkeeper made an unorthodox stop from Christie's swerving strike. Odsonne Edouard twice came close and Scott Brown forced a good save before the breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Ajer headed Christie's near-post free-kick in off the bar. Christie won a 44th-minute penalty when Reginald Mbu Alidor handled as he flicked the ball into the box, and the former Inverness man sent the keeper the wrong way. Griffiths had a shot diverted wide before finding the top corner with a curling effort, then punching the corner flag and sinking to his knees in celebration. The second half was a procession of Celtic chances. Christie and James Forrest both had two strikes saved and Johnston also threatened twice before Christie curled home his second from 18 yards in the 65th minut...

Wednesday July 24 (1900 BST) world matchplay Second Round (best of 21 legs) TV Channel: Sky Sports Daryl Gurney 11-9 Keegan Brown Gurney here showed that he is up for a battle and Brown has shown that they have real potential to win the big events. These are possibly the 2 best players not to have won a World Championships. I think that Gurney has real potential Stephen Bunting 14-12 Ian White Steven Bunting showed here that he is ready to make his mark in the PDC as he is getting into his form and he is learning from the better players how to win a close match Rob Cross 11-5 Krzysztof Ratajski# Cross is showing here that he is one of the best players in th3e world and that he has the consistency to be here for a long time Peter Wright 11-2 Simon Whitlock Where was Whitlock last night and I thought this match deserved to be a lot closer than it was as both players have the natural ability to destroy a player now Snakebite will have a real ch...

SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIIONSHIP WED MENS 800 METRE FREESTYLE 1 Gregerio Paltrineri Italy 2 Henrik Christransern Norway David Aubry France WOMEMENS 200 METRES FREESTYLE 1 Fedrica Pellegini Italy 2 Ariane Titmus Australia 3 Sarah Sjostrom Sweden MENS 200 METRE BUTTERFLY 1 Kristof Milak Netherlands 2 Diaya Seto Japan 3 Chad Le Clos South Africa MENS 50 METRE BREASTSTROKE 1 Adam Peety GB 2 Filipe Lima Brazil 3 Joao Gomes Jr Brazil MIXED 4X100 METRE RELAY 1 Austrilia 2 USA 3 GB

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SECCOND QUALIFING ROUND TNS 0-2 FC COPENHAGEN SAMBA SOTIRIOU Pieros Sotiriou gave the Danish side the lead, turning in Karlo Bartolec's low cross into the near post. Sotiriou was involved for the visitors' second goal after being brought down for a penalty by Keston Davies, with Robert Skov converting the spot kick. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49058823 MY OPINION For the Welsh side to get past the first round must be deemed a success but not now they are in with a lot bigger sides and they are learning how it is that they play their football. They may be able to make a push in the next few years   EUROPA LEAGUE SECCOND ROUND QUALIFER TORSHAVAN 2-2 LINFIELD PETERSON PULLS IN PRIDE Chris Casement was the provider as the defender put in a good cross and Waterworth finished confidently. The pressure was telling though and HB Torshavn drew level eight minutes before the interval as Justinussen converted from the penalty spot....

Tuesday July 23 (1900 BST) world match play last 16 Second Round (best of 21 legs) TV Channel: Sky Sports Michael Smith 12-10 Max Hopp Smith is showing that he has got some real potential in the game with this type of win against a similar type of player strong in the youth circuit but not so much when he competes with the big boys James Wade 13-11 Mensur Suljovic This was a battle that I felt could have went either could have won this match and both players deserved to. Even the classlessness of seeding could not have predicted the thriller that would have come here Gary Anderson 8-11 Mervyn King Anderson has to get over his problems and to do that he will probably have to go far in a good few smaller events but King has had the experience that makes me say he will be up for the next one. Anderson must develop fast as the oters are so far ahead Michael Van Gerwen 11-13 Glen Durrant This was the shock of the tournament by a distance as if MV...

WORLD SWINNING CHAMPIONSHIP SUN MENS 400 METR FREESTYLE 1 Yang Sun China 2 Mark Horton Australia 3 Gabriele Detti Italy WOMENS 400 METRE FREESTYLR 1 Ariane Titmus Australia 2 Katie Ledecky USA 3 Leah Smith USA MENS 4X100 METRE RELAY 1 USA 2 Russia 3 Australia   WOMENS 4X100 METRE RELAY 1 Australia 2 USA 3 Canada MON MENS 100 METRE BREASTSTROKE 1 Adam Peaty GB 2 James Wilby GB 3 Zibei Yan China WOMENS 100 METRE BUTTERFLY 1 Margret Mc Neil Canada 2 Sarah Sjostrom Sweden 3 Emma Mc Keown Australia MENS 50 METRE BUTTERFLY 1 Caleb Ressel Dersel USA 2 Oleg Kostin Russia 3 Nicdolas Saantos Brazil WOMENS 200 METER IM 1 Katinka Hosseu Netherlands 2 Shiwen Ye China 3 Sydnery Rickrem Canada TUE MENS 200 METRE FREESTYLE 1 Yang Sun China 2 Katusiro Masumoto Japan 3 Martin Malyutin Russia WOMENS 1500 METRE FREESTYLE 1 Samona Quadarella Italy 2 Sarah Kohler Germany 3 Janjahe Wang China WOMENS 100 METRE BACKS...

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS ALGERIA 1-0 SENEGAL BOUNEDJHA BAFFELS SENEGALESE It was an unusual goal that ultimately sealed the title as Bounedjah's shot pinged off Salif Sane's leg before looping into the back of the net, with Senegal goalkeeper Alfred Gomis left stranded. But Senegal's defeat was not through lack of trying. They had 62.2 per cent of possession and some superb second-half chances, as well as a withdrawn penalty after a VAR review. https://www.skysports.com/football/senegal-vs-algeria/412698 MY OPINION This game had been won and lost by a stroke of luck by the Algerians but the Senegalese players could not get back into this match by any cost and I think that that the fact the goal was scored so early was what made the difference

WORLD MATCHPLAY ROUND 1 (1) Michael van Gerwen 10-6 Steve Beaton (16) Adrian Lewis 4-10 Glen Durrant (8) James Wade 13-12 Jeffrey de Zwaan (9) Mensur Suljovic 10-1 Jermaine Wattimena (5) Michael Smith 10-7 Jamie Hughes (12) Dave Chisnall 9-11 Max Hopp (4) Gary Anderson 10-6 Danny Noppert (13) Nathan Aspinall 5-10 Mervyn King (2) Rob Cross 10-3 Chris Dobey (15) Darren Webster 5-10 Krzysztof Ratajski (7) Gerwyn Price 12-13 Stephen Bunting (10) Ian White 10-0 Joe Cullen (6) Peter Wright 10-5 Vincent van der Voort (11) Simon Whitlock 10-8 John Henderson (3) Daryl Gurney 10-7 Ricky Evans (14) Jonny Clayton 8-10 Keegan Brown MY OPINION Lewis seems to be going out of the top 16 which I consider a shock as I thought he was one of the best young bloods when he came out he really does need to up his form. Chizzy lost a tight game but it is unfair to beat him up for that. Former top BDO player...

WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS Men’s 400m Freestyle Gold: Sun Yang (CHN) — 3:42.44 Silver: Mack Horton (AUS) — 3:43.17 Bronze: Gabriele Detti (ITA) — 3:43.23 Women’s 400m Freestyle Gold: Ariarne Titmus (AUS) — 3:58.76  Silver: Katie Ledecky (USA) — 3:59.97  Bronze: Leah Smith (USA) — 4:01.29 Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Gold: U.S. — 3:09.06  Silver: Russia — 3:09.97  Bronze: Australia — 3:11.22 Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Gold: Australia — 3:30.21  Silver: U.S. — 3:31.02  Bronze: Canada — 3:31.78 Men’s 100m Breaststroke Gold: Adam Peaty (GBR) — 57.14  Silver: James Wilby (GBR) — 58.46  Bronze: Yan Zibei (CHN) — 58.63 Women’s 100m Butterfly Gold: Maggie MacNeil (CAN) — 55.83  Silver: Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) — 56.22  Bronze: Emma McKeon (AUS) — 56.61 Men’s 50m Butterfly Gold: Caeleb Dressel (USA) — 22.35 Silver: Oleg Kostin (RUS) — 22.70 Bronze: Nicholas Santos (BRA) — 22.79 Women’s 200m Individ...

NETBALL WORLD CUP The final was tense throughout and came down to the dying seconds and just one goal, as the Kiwis prevailed 52-51. It was the Silver Ferns' fifth world title but their first since 2003 as they finally ended the Diamonds' dominance. England clinched bronze  with a 58-42 victory  over South Africa in their play-off match earlier on Sunday. The Roses' win was routine compared with the drama which followed between the Trans-Tasman rivals who were competing against each other for the sixth consecutive World Cup final. In a final that was evenly poised at half-time, New Zealand came out firing in the third quarter as they powered into a seven-goal lead with the 8,000-strong crowd behind them. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/netball/49065919 MY OPINION The final was an epic match and de4served to go down to the wire but England have shown in this campaign that they can compete with the right people behind them. I don’t think the final deserved to h...

GAA SUPER 8S KERRY 1-20 1-20 DINEGAL MURPHY MAKES ANYTHING HAPPEN Patton’s kick-outs were on the money, while Shane Ryan struggled with his restarts at the other end, but for all that, it was Kerry who eased into a two points lead at the start of the second quarter, thanks to the dash and finishing of Stephen O’Brien (0-2) and Paul Geaney (0-3). But the Ulster champions were never found wanting when it came to posting a response, with Murphy providing the assist for a couple of McHugh scores, and powering through for a brilliant point himself as he traded passes with McBrearty. McBrearty brought the sides level for a seventh time, but Geaney and O’Shea restored the two points cushion, and late in the half, both sides lost players to black cards, Kerry’s White and Donegal attacker Niall O’Donnell ordered from the field. A hugely entertaining first half ended with O’Shea converting his third free for a slender 0-10 to 0-09. Hugh McFadden had been providing valuable prote...

THE OPEN FINAL Lowry held his nerve in the wind and rain to shoot a one-over 72, with Tommy Fleetwood second on nine under. England's Fleetwood briefly threatened but a double bogey on the 14th effectively ended his challenge as he finished with a three-over 74. "I can't wait to wake up on Monday morning and find out what it's going to feel like then. It's just going to be incredible," added Lowry who was mobbed before he reached the green on the last hole L.owry was 6 shots ahead of second placed Fleetwood https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/49064754 MY OPINION I think that Lowry winning the open is one of the things that could bring it back here very soon and I hope that it does and it moves across many NI grounds over the next 20 years as an Irish winner should put this in their heads when discussing venues

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SOUTH AFRICA 35-17 AUSTRILIA JUMP JANTJIES  Oh wow, what a superb passage of play for the Springboks! Australia were attacking just over halfway, but number eight Louw comes up with the turnover and sets in motion an attack which sees Sbu Nkosi go streaking away down the right wing before passing inside for debutant scurm-half Jantjies to finish off.  The Springboks hammer away at the line and are rewarded when Lood de Jager burrows his way over to score.  From one side of the pitch to the other as the Wallabies work the numbers out wide on the right for Banks to send winger Haylett-Petty over in the corner. Australia can't hold out for long though and, playing with a penalty advantage, the Springboks work the space as Etzebeth offloads to Gelant, who in turn passes wide for Nkosi for him to score. What a debut for Herschel Jantjies is having. A space opens up wide on the left after Australia over-commit to a breakdown, and the scrum-ha...

EUROPA LEAGUE QUALIFERS ROUND 1 LEG 2 RANGERS 6-0 ST JOSEPHS agg 10-0 DEADLY DEFOE The entire St Joseph's defence was caught cold as Greg Docherty slid a cute reverse pass in behind for the former Charlton midfielder to bury low into the net. The Ibrox support had turned up expecting a goal-fest but Gerrard did not look too perturbed as a series of chances went begging, knowing his men are not yet up to full sharpness. Stewart looked rusty as failed to finish a close-range header while Morelos carelessly wandered offside on 27 minutes as he collected a Docherty pass, with the flag already up by the time Hastie stuck the Colombian's cross into the net. Andy Halliday clipped a free-kick just past the far post, while Hastie got his feet all wrong as he skewed another golden chance wide. But the second did arrive just before the interval. Hastie fired a corner to Goldson at the corner of the six-yard box and the defender's flick fell perfectly for Morelos to ...