Ireland through to World Cup
The Republic of Ireland's WNT qualified for the FIFA World Cup after a historic 1-0 victory over Scotland in Hampden Park on Tuesday. After scoring the key goal Donegal's Amber Barrett kissed the black armband she wore to commemorate the Creeslough victims and later dedicated her goal to them. Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan was another star, saving a penalty kick from Caroline Weir. Coach Vera Pauw credited the win to the team's determination to reach the World Cup, born out of the defeat to Ukraine earlier this year which prevented Ireland from reaching the playoffs of the European Championships.
This is the first time in history that Ireland's WNT has qualified for a major tournament.
Women's National League- Top 4 All Win
The WNL remains tight as the top four teams all won their matches this weekend. Wexford Youths defeated Sligo Rovers 5-2 with the help of a hat-trick from Kylie Murphy and two goals from Ciara Rossiter; both Sligo goals were scored by Emma Doherty. Shelbourne defeated DLR Waves 2-1, with Abbie Larkin and Jessie Stapleton scoring for Shelbourne and Kate Mooney scoring for DLR waves (her seventh goal of the season). Athlone Town won over Treaty United 7-0, with two goals scored by Scarlett Herron and 5 from Emily Corbet, and Peamount United won over Cork City 5-0 with goals from Stephanie Roche, Alannah McEvoy, and Jess Fitzgerald and two goals from Aine O'Gorman. All these victors are still in contention for the title. Galway WFC also defeated Bohemians 2-1, with Katie Lovely scoring for the Bohemians and Elle O'Flaherty scoring for Galway in the last 15 minutes, followed by a penalty kicked for Galway by Jenna Slattery.
IABA Reverses Boycott Decision
The Irish Youth team will now be allowed to travel to Spain for the World Youth Championships next month after the Irish Athletic Boxing Association reversed their decision to boycott the championships. The original decision to boycott was made after the International Boxing Association affirmed the eligibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes for the tournament; the reversal followed the Spanish government's exclusion of those teams.
Energia AIL Round 5
Wicklow enjoyed their first Energia AIL victory in a 27-10 win over the Suttonians. Elsewhere, Blackrock College defeated UL Bohemians 63-7, Railway Union defeated Cooke 88-0, and Old Belvedere defeated Galwegians 24-0.
Track World Championships
Ireland finished ninth in the Women's Team Pursuit at the Track World Championships in Paris, missing out on qualification for the next round by just 0.815 seconds. Their 4.19.934 time is still good enough to qualify the team for the 2024 Olympics, however.
Lara Gillespie also finished 17th in the 10km Women's Scratch Race. She was among the leading riders for most of the race but was forced to backpedal as the battle for position intensified in the last few laps of the race.
World Rowing Coastal Championships
The Irish women's crew — Eileen Whooley, Ella Cialis, Jack Calnan, Karen Hickey and Orla Hayes — won bronze in the Coastal Women's Quadruple Sculls. Ireland's Monika Dukarska and Rhiannon O'Donoghue picked up silver in the Double Sculls. Dukarska and Patrick Boomer also won bronze in the Mixed Double Sculls.
W Series Curtailed
The last three races of the all-female racing championship W series were cancelled after financial difficulties, ensuring a third win for driver Jamie Chadwick.
The W series was founded with the explicit mission of creating opportunities for women to compete in motorsport, but has struggled with finances since its creation, partly because it doesn't require drivers to bring in sponsorship. Fans have expressed concern on social media that the series won't return, though CEO Catherine Bond Muir has been adamant it will.
Ireland Eliminated from Europe World Netball Cup Qualifiers
Ireland was eliminated from the Europe World Netball Cup Qualifiers after losing to Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and the Isle of Man, but managed a consolation win against Gibraltar in their last match of the round-robin style tournament. Wales and Scotland will go to the World Cup.
