Rowing - Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls
The Lightweight Women’s Double of Margaret Cremen and Aoife Casey recorded a convincing win in their repechage this morning.
Through the second quarter of the race, Ireland settled into their rhythm, moving efficiently in the water, increasing their lead as they went.
Getting cleanly off the start, Ireland held a good position moving to the front ahead of the Canadian double, crossing the line three lengths ahead of the Canadian double, who finished fourth at last year’s World Championships.
Afterwards Cremen has this reaction: “It was our goal today to just feel in control and execute our plan. I think we did that, and I think we just wanted to be with the pack as long as we could and then have confidence in ourselves so that we can push through then with the fitness we have.”
Cremen and Casey head into the semi-finals on Wednesday (July 31st) with the fastest time of the two repechages.
Equestrian, Eventing Show-jumping – team and individual
Ireland finished ninth overall in the Team Equestrian Show-jumping, with Austin O’Connor securing a place in the Individual Show Jumping Final.
Aoife Clark kicked off the final day of the team eventing competition with just a single pole down, coming home inside the time for four faults on board Sportsfield Freelance.
Clark replaced Sarah Ennis in the team for the show jumping phase after Ennis’s mare Action Lady M had picked up an injury on the cross country track yesterday.
Commenting on the round Clark said: “I was gutted for Sarah and her mare after they had put in such a good performance on the cross country. Thankfully it’s just a small injury and she’ll be fine. I love, love, love this little mare – she’s such a trier.”
Soon after Susie Berry completed her first Olympics with Wellfields Lincoln after an excellent round of show jumping, adding four penalties to end on a score of 52.2 and finish in 31st place.
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On the whole, Berry was happy with her performance over the three days, although she was left to rue the fence dropped in the arena this afternoon.
Speaking at the arena she said: “What an incredible opportunity and experience it’s been. I’m a little bit gutted he had a fence down, to be honest. It’s a clever track, and that line to the double is tricky.”
“It’s tight up to the end of the arena and it comes up quite quickly so there isn’t much time to adjust. It’s big in there and well designed - it’s a technical and tricky, but it needs to be for my lad to drop one, and I’m so proud of him.”
Austin O’Connor was the last of the Irish trio in action with Colorado Blue but was disappointed to have the last two fences down for eight faults. The Cork man did however manage to sneak into the Individual Show Jumping Final where he secured a 17th place finish with a score of 39.70.
Olympics Hockey Men’s Tournament - Pool B
Australia vs Ireland 2-1
Ireland Men’s Hockey team impressed with a strong performance despite going down 2-1 to world number three side Australia in their second pool match this morning.
Ireland produced a battling performance in their second outing, following a 2-0 defeat to Belgium last weekend.
They pushed FIH Pro League champions Australia all the way in this morning’s Pool B clash at Yves-du-Manoir Stadium before ultimately conceding to a marginal 2-1 defeat.
Australia’s Corey Weyer gave his team an early lead before a strong response from Ireland as Dublin’s Lee Cole slammed home into the bottom corner following a well-worked Irish penalty corner.
Cole’s goal was Ireland’s first of their Olympics campaign which sparked celebrations among the green army inside Yves-du-Manoir Stadium.
Mark Tumilty’s side defended fiercely throughout their sharply contested match with the world’s third-ranked team in an encouraging display in Paris.
Shutting down Australia’s lethal attacking threat at one end, goalkeeper David Harte once again totemic between the posts, Ireland pushed forward repeatedly with intent and accuracy during an intense contest.
Australia regained the lead moments before half-time as Blake Covers converted a penalty stroke despite Harte’s best efforts.
Ireland’s dangerous attacking duo of Matthew Nelson and Ben Walker would eagerly search for an equaliser in the final quarter but they fell just short.
Despite the loss, Tumilty and his players will take many positives into tomorrow’s third Pool outing against India. Four of the six teams in each pool will progress to the quarter-finals.
Following the defeat, Irish captain Seán Murray gave his assessment: “I think it was a fantastic performance from the guys, we went out there with a confidence and a belief to try and get a result against one of the top sides in the world and credit to Australia.”
“Australia are a renowned team to run you off the park and you could see at the end of the game, some of those guys were on their knees so I think physically and also technically we matched them,” he said.
“We have three games to go, we’re living the dream out here and we want to get those two results we’re chasing to reach a quarter-final.”
Team reserve Jonny Lynch made his Olympic debut when he was drafted into the team ahead of today’s game to replace Nick Page, who suffered a wrist injury in the opening game, but will hopefully be fit enough to return later in the week.
RESULTS DAY 3 - MONDAY 29th July 2024
Equestrian, Eventing Show-jumping – team and individual, Aoife Clark, team finished 9th overall
Equestrian, Eventing Show-jumping – team and individual, Susie Berry on score of 52.20 31st overall in individual, team finished 9th overall
Equestrian, Eventing Show-jumping – team and individual, Austin O’Connor, on a score of 39.70, team finished 9th overall, went through to the Individual Show Jumping final where he finished 17th on a score of 39.70.
Rowing, Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls (LW2x), Margaret Cremen & Aoife Casey, won repechage in 7:11.38, into semi-finals on Wednesday 31st July
Swimming, Women’s 400m IM, Ellen Walshe, 4th in heat in 4:39.97, into final tonight
Swimming, Women’s 100m Backstroke, Danielle Hill 4th in heat in 1:00.40, qualified for semi-final tonight
Swimming, Men’s 800m Freestyle, Daniel Wiffen, won heat in 7:41.53, through to final tomorrow night (30th July)
Sailing, Men’s Skiff, race 4, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove finish 4th.
Sailing, Men’s Skiff, race 5, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove finish 2nd
Boxing, Women’s 60kg, Round of 16, Kellie Harrington def Allesia Mesiano (ITA)
Women’s Rugby Sevens, Pool B, Australia 19 def Ireland 14
Canoe Slalom, Men’s C1 final, Liam Jegou finishes 7th on a score of 98.52
REMAINING SCHEDULE DAY 3 – MONDAY 29th JULY 2024
7pm start Women’s Rugby Sevens, Placing & knockout matches
7.30pm Swimming, Women’s 400m IM final, Ellen Walshe
7.57pm Swimming, Women’s 100m Backstroke semi-final, Danielle Hill
8.10pm or later Badminton, Men’s Singles, Group P, Nhat Nguyen V Prince Dehal (NEP)
8.25pm Swimming, Women’s 100m Breaststroke final, Mona McSharry
