July 20, 2023 is going to be a historic day in Irish soccer. That’s the day the Republic of Ireland women’s play their first-ever game in a World Cup final when they meet co-hosts Australia in Sydney. Vera Pauw’s team’s second game is on the other side of the country as they play Olympic champions Cananda in Perth on July 26 and their final group game will be against Nigeria in Brisbane on July 31.The Republic of Ireland, currently ranked 26th in the world, were in Pot 3 when the draw was made in Auckland on Saturday morning. Ireland beat Australia 3-2 in a friendly in Dublin just over a year ago. Canada are ranked seventh in the world and are, on paper, the best team in the group, while Nigeria are one of the strongest sides the Girls in Green could have been paired with from Pot 4. Irish manager Vera Pauw admitted that ‘it’s not realistic’ to expert Ireland to win their group, but she said they will give it a real go. She said ‘‘How good is it that you can play the opening game against the host nation in a full stadium, in a country where half of the country has Irish backgrounds. It’s really the most exciting draw that you could get. On the other hand, we also have the Olympic champions in our group, Canada, and the best team from Pot 4, Nigeria. They should have been higher ranked but they don’t get the ranking points because they don’t play higher-ranked teams. So it is challenging, everybody can steal points from each other. We don’t fear anyone. We will be well prepared and we will have our game plan ready.’’
Each country will have its own team Base Camp, special sites that will include pitches and accommodation. FIFA will make a final decision on where exactly these bases will be before the end of the year, but it’s good news for the huge number of Irish people living and working in Australia that the women’s three games are all in Australia.
WINGERS OUT
FOR NOV. GAMES
Irish Rugby coach Andy Farrell will be without wingers James Lowe, Keith Earls and Andrew Conway for the opening game of the November series against South Africa after losing their battles to be fit to make the Irish squad. Jacob Stockdale is a surprise inclusion as the Ulster winger is currently side-lined with an ankle problem. Stockdale is one of the many players who are nursing injuries who have been named in the squad, but his provincial captain Iain Henderson hasn’t made the cut as he recovers from knee and hand surgery. Hugo Keenan and Jamison Gibson-Park are both named despite not playing a minute for Leinster yet this season, while James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey, Kieran Treadwell, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier and Munster newcomer Calvin Nash, one of six uncapped players named, are all currently recovering from injuries. Ireland play three Tests at the Aviva next month: South Africa on Nov. 5, Fiji on Nov. 12 and Australia on Nov. 19.
INDIA TAPS DUNNE
Bernard Dunne has been named as the new high performance director at the Boxing Federation of India, six months after resigning from a similar role with the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA). Dunne stepped down from the IABA in an acrimonious resignation after he lodged a complaint against two volunteers back in October 2021 when an unsigned analysis document critical of his performance was circulated at board level prior to the Tokyo Games. Irish boxers went on to deliver a gold via Kellie Harrington and a bronze by Aidan Walsh in Tokyo. Harrington has been a major supporter of Dunne and his work She said: ‘‘Ireland’s loss is India’s gain. I am disappointed that we have lost him and that we could not do our best to keep him is an understatement.’’ The news comes as a further blow for the IABA, who have seen their funding cut since August when they voted to reject proposed governance reforms at their EGM. An independent review in the wake of Dunne’s resignation recommended major restructuring of the IABA board. Dunne oversaw a difficult transitional period in Irish amateur boxing, with stalwarts like Katie Taylor, Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes having turned professional after failing to win medals at the Rio Olympics.
Kellie Harrington and High Performance Director Bernard Dunne celebrated with her Olympic gold medal in 2021. Inpho/James Crombie
CAHILL LEAVES
‘SUNDAY GAME’
There will be a new presenter of RTE’s evening GAA program “The Sunday Game” next year after Des Cahill announced his departure from the role last week. Cahill, who presented the long-running programme for 15 seasons, will now host both “Saturday Sport” and “Sunday Sport” on RTÉ Radio. Joanne Cantwell will continue to host “The Sunday Game Live” on television. Cahill said: ‘‘The reason I want a change is very straightforward, I want to go to live games again. It has been a privilege to host ‘The Sunday Game’ for the past 15 seasons, but I miss the sense of fun and anticipation as you make your way to a match, the feeling of tension and excitement, the roar of the crowd. I used enjoy making ‘The Sunday Game’ a hell of a lot more. You could have the craic, a bit of a laugh. We miss laughter on the programme, a little spontaneity. I miss it. The programme just doesn’t have room to breathe in my opinion. We were we’re showing up to 15 games. How do you get 15 games into 106 or 108 minutes? You can’t.’’ The early favourites to replace Cahill are: Jacqui Hurley, Evanne Ni Chuilinn, Damien Lawlor and Dara Moloney.
POSSIBLE JOINT
BID BY IRELANDS
Ireland, both the Republic and the North, is considering making a joint bid to host the opening stages of the Tour de France. Catherine Martin, Minister for Tourism and Sport, met with Gordon Lyons, Stormont’s Economy Minister last week to discuss a potential joint bid to be part of the world-famous cycle race. Ms Martin and Mr Lyons have submitted an expression of interest in the formal bidding process to the Tour organisers. Officials in both departments will work together to investigate the potential to host the event in either 2026 or 2027. The Republic hosted Le Grand Depart in 1998, while Northern Ireland hosted a stage of the Giro d’Italia in 2014.
The Giro d’Italia peloton passing through Russell Street in Armagh in 2014.
Inpho/Presseye/Darren Kidd
CHILE GAME
FREE FOR FANS
Leinster Rugby will play a friendly against Chile on Friday Nov. 18 in Donnybrook. Chile, who are coached by Uruguayan Pablo Lemoine, will make their Rugby World Cup debut at France 2023 after qualifying with a one-point win against USA. The game against Leinster will kick-off at 2pm and admission will be free.
LIMERICK’S
RYAN OUT
New Limerick senior football manager Ray Dempsey will have to plan without star forward Josh Ryan for a lengthy spell after he suffered a serious leg injury in a recent club game. Ryan, who plays his club football for Oola, plays his hurling for Doon. He suffered a broken tibia in the Leinster senior hurling championship semi-final defeat to Kilmallock two weeks back. Ryan was a key member of the Limerick football team that won promotion to Division Two of the National Football League earlier this year.
