European Games – Ireland Athletics squad

Israel Olatunde (UCD AC Dublin/Louth) 100m (M), 4 x 100m (M) Relay

Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock AC) 200m (M), 4 x 100m (M) Relay

Jack Raftery (UCD A.C., Dublin) 400m (M), Mixed 4 x 400m Relay

James Ezeonu (Leevale AC) 100m H (M)

Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC/Waterford) 400m H (M), Mixed 4 x 400m Relay

Rocco Zaman-Browne (Dundrum South Dublin AC) 800m (M)

Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers, Dublin) 1500m (M)

Fearghal Curtin (Youghal A.C.) 5000m (M)

Finley Daly (Sligo A.C.) 3000m SC (M)

David Cussen (Old Abbey AC, Cork) High Jump (M)

Reece Ademola (Leevale AC) Long Jump (M)

Michael Bowler (Swinford AC, Mayo) Pole Vault (M)

Jai Benson (Lagan Valley AC) Triple Jump (M)

Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock A.C./Ballina – Grandmother) Shot Put (M)

Colin Quirke (Crusaders AC, Dublin) Discus Throw

Sean Mockler (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, Tipperary) Hammer Throw (M)

Conor Cusack (Lake District A.C., Mayo) Javelin

Oliver Swinney (Speed Development Project Track AC) 4 x 100m (M) Relay

Nelvin Appiah (Longford AC) 4 x 100m (M) Relay

Christopher Sibanda (Clonliffe Harriers, Dublin) 4 x 100m (M) Relay

Joseph Ojewumi (Tallaght AC) 4 x 100m (M) Relay

Callum Baird (Ballymena & Antrim AC) Mixed 4 x 400m Relay

Lauren Roy (City of Lisburn) 100m (F), 4 x 100m (F) Relay

Phil Healy (Bandon AC, Cork) 200m (F), 4 x 100m (F) Relay, Mixed 4 x 400m Relay

Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) 400m (F), Mixed 4 x 400m Relay

Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC/Limerick) 100m H (F), 4 x 100m (F) Relay

Kelly McGrory (Tir Chonall AC) 400m H (F), 4 x 400m (F) Relay

Louise Shanahan (Leevale AC) 800m (F)

Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC, Cork) 1500m (F)

Aoibhe Richardson (Kilkenny City Harriers) 5000m (F)

Ava O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers, Offaly) 3000m SC (F)

Ruby Millet (St. Abban’s AC, Co. Laois) Long Jump (F)

Saragh Buggy (St. Abban’s AC, Co. Laois) Triple Jump (F)

Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley AC) High Jump (F)

Ellie McCartney (City of Lisburn A.C., Antrim) Pole Vault (F)

Michaela Walsh (Swinford AC, Mayo) Shot Put (F)

Grace Casey (Clonliffe Harriers, Dublin) Javelin (F)

Niamh Fogarty (Raheny Shamrock AC) Discus Throw (F)

Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC/Cork) Hammer Throw (F)

Adeyemi Talabi (Longford AC) 4 x 100m (F) Relay

Joan Healy (Leevale AC) 4 x 100m (F) Relay

Sarah Leahy (Killarney Valley) 4 x 100m (F) Relay

Mollie O’Reilly (Dundrum South Dublin) 4 x 100m (F) Relay

Roisin Harrison (Emerald AC, Limerick) Mixed 4 x 400m Relay

World Para Athletics European Championships Results

Para athletics staged its first European Championships in 2003 in the Dutch town of Assen.

Since then, the sport has grown exponentially, with live TV coverage and regular features on the sport’s biggest stars.

Results from various World Para Athletics European Championships are here.

2003 Assen NED

2005 Espoo FIN

2012 Staadkanaal NED

2014 Swansea GBR

2016 Grossetto ITA

2018 Berlin GER

2021 Bydgoszcz POL

New Irish indoor 800m record for Nadia Power

Nadia Power’s tremendous athletics rise continues, with a new Irish record in the women’s 800m at the indoor meeting in Vienna – and Ciara Neville almost made it a double, instead recording the second-fastest Irish 60m ever.

Power, bronze-medallist over the same distance at the European Under-23 Championships two years ago in Sweden, clocked 2:02.44 in finishing second to Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson.

The Dublin City Harriers star lopped a whopping three seconds off her previous indoor best, edging Siofra Cleirigh-Buttner’s 2018 record of 2:02.46 by a slender two-hundredths of a second, despite describing the result on Instagram as “a tactically bad race”.

Happy to start my season with a big indoor PB and new National Indoor Record of 2.02.44 today☘️Excited for more racing opportunities over the next few weeks, next up i’m racing in Metz, France on the 6th of Feb pic.twitter.com/lXwT0zVkrc

— Nadia Power (@NadiaPower6) January 30, 2021

Hodgkinson on her part set a new junior (U20) world record of 1:59.03 – itself a world lead for 2021 – with Power easing out Italy’s Irene Baldessari into third, on 2:02.71.

The British athlete and Power took over at the halfway point when the pacemaker dropped out, with Power taking a brief lead before Hodgkinson dominated the final 300 metres.

The Vienna meeting – usually held on a Sunday afternoon but moved to a Saturday night in front of an empty stadium due to the covid crisis – has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for young Irish stars, with Phil Healy and Kelly Proper setting records in the Austrian capital over the past decade.

Power set an outdoor Irish U23 record of 2:01.01 last September in the Quercia meeting in Roverto, Italy, before winning the following week at the prestigious Continental Tour Gold event in Zagreb, one level below the Diamond League.

But after competing abroad last summer, Power fell foul of stringent Athletics Ireland protocols and was controversially barred from the National Championships, along with three-times European medallist Mark English.

https://twitter.com/WillDowningComm/status/1355635672187592711?s=20

Neville equalled her lifetime best of 7.30 seconds in winning the 60m in Vienna, matching her performance in Athlone from four years ago.

Only Amy Foster has run faster, 7.27 seconds in winning the National indoors title in 2018.

Marcus Lawler finished second in Vienna in his 200m heat, clocking 21.24 seconds in finishing second behind Slovakia’s Jan Volko.

Meanwhile, this year’s National Indoors have been cancelled due to Ireland’s current Level 5 situation, but the European Indoors in the Polish city of Torun are still going ahead – for now – on March 5-7 under major covid protocols.

The World Indoors in Nanjing, China have already been postponed for a second time to 2023.

Lockdown Football: Gerry Armstrong’s World Cup winner against Spain

On June 25th 1982, Northern Ireland scored their famous victory over Spain at the World Cup in Valencia.

38 years on to the day, Gerry Armstrong reflects on the famous night on the Med, Northern Ireland’s run to the second phase, his playing days at the top of the First Division with Watford and in Spain with Real Mallorca, plus the La Liga greats he commentated on with Sky Sports.

With Will Downing, Mark Rodden and Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай)

French biography casts spotlight on Conor McGregor’s background

Conor McGregor is the subject of a new biography just released in France.

“Conor McGregor: Obsessions” is written by Irish-based French journalist Charles Thiallier, who has previously reported on McGregor for L’Equipe.

On the eve of the announcement of McGregor’s third retirement, Thallier has been speaking to Will Downing about how the project came about, the many interviews performed for the book, and what picture emerges of the man himself.

Lockdown Football: Curtis Fleming new boss at Punjab FC

Former Middlesbrough, St Patrick’s Athletic and Ireland defender Curtis Fleming has been appointed manager of Indian I-League side Punjab FC.

The former FA Cup and League Cup finalist takes charge after holding first-team coaching duties last season, as well as managing the reserves.

Next season sees the I-League lose its status as India’s top league, as it becomes a SkyBet Championship equivalent underneath the newer Indian Super League.

Curtis has been giving his reaction to Will Downing, Stephane Jauny and Mark Rodden on Lockdown Football. 

Lockdown Football: La Liga’s big kick-off, Talking Turkey, Pep signs a genius

On the brand new Lockdown Football, all the news that’s fit to print as La Liga’s back and so is Turkey…

We discuss former Forest boss Philippe Montanier’s new Standards, and we hear all about Pep Guardiola’s new Manchester City assistant Juanma Lillo, regarded as one of the best technical football coaches in the world.

Will Downing, Mark Rodden, Dmytro Dzhulai and Stephane Jauny are on duty as usual.

Lockdown Football: Con Murphy on the Greatest League in the World, and Portugal

Con Murphy reflects on the first action back in the Portuguese Primeira Liga as Porto lost and both Benfica and Sporting drew in their opening games back.

A long-term broadcaster on the League of Ireland, Con also ponders the future of Irish clubs in the League of Ireland including his beloved Shamrock Rovers, and recalls the dynamic early-90s FM radio football coverage of Century Radio and Capital Gold, that featured Jonathan Pearce, Steve Wilson, Julian Waters, Bobby Moore and Frank McLintock.

And there’s a look at the first few weeks back of Poland’s Ekstraklasa too.

With Will Downing, Mark Rodden, Stephane Jauny and Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай).

Lockdown Football – Eric Molloy: Poles apart…. Markus Poom: From Derby to Tallinn derbies

This week, we hear from Eric Molloy and Markus Poom on their footballing adventures in Poland and Estonia, as Stomil Olsztyn push for promotion to Poland’s Ekstraklasa and Flora Tallinn look to retain their title in a top-flight where half the teams are from the capital.

Eric Molloy grew up in Carlow, and after spells at home with FC Carlow, Arklow Town and Wexford FC, won the OFC Champions League and played in the FIFA Club World Cup with Team Wellington, before this season’s move to Poland.

Born in Derby, Markus Poom followed his legendary goalkeeping father Mart Poom while playing at the Rams, Sunderland, Watford and Arsenal. Now 21, the next gen Poom has already won the Estonian League crown twice with Flora, and is a full international.

Both speak about how the coronavirus crisis has upset their season.

With Will Downing, Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай), Mark Rodden and Stephane Jauny.

On all good podcast services

Apple-iTunes – https://apple.co/3cAolWo

ACast – https://play.acast.com/s/lockdown-football-commentators

Google Podcast – https://bit.ly/3h0GccK

iHeart – https://ihr.fm/2MsQVyu

PlayerFM – https://bit.ly/2z6090x

Podbean – https://bit.ly/2Y0DScQ

Spotify – https://spoti.fi/377rX0X

TuneIn – https://tunein.com/podcasts/Sports–Recreation-Podcasts/Lockdown-Football-Commentators-p1312421/

Euro Champs 2022 – FRI 19/8 Ciara Mageean SILVER – Lockdown Football Commentators

Ciara Mageean's third European Championships medal has been roundly celebrated today, and rightly so. For the Portaferry athlete, success in Munich follows her glory from Amsterdam in 2016 and Glasgow in 2019. Will Downing's lookback on the big night begins with the closing stages of Mageean's 1500 metres final:

1. Euro Champs 2022 – FRI 19/8 Ciara Mageean SILVER 01:11
2. Euro Champs 2022 – WED 17/8 Rhasidat Adeleke 02:31
3. Euro Champs 2022 – TUES 16/8 Darragh McElhinney 03:04
4. Euro Champs 2022 – TUES 16/8 Brian Fay 02:53
5. Euro Champs 2022 – WED 17/8 Thomas Barr 03:34

Lockdown Football: Portu-Goals, Liverpool take a knee, Neymar’s cousin joins Lyon (but not that Lyon), Shakhtar trump Dynamo

With the Portuguese Primeira about to resume with a tight title race, Lisbon-based Tom Kundert of PortuGOAL.net joins us to look forward to the concluding rounds, and why Portuguese sides have slipped in Europe recently.

And Dmytro Dzhulai (reluctantly) recalls Shakhtar Donetsk’s weekend win over Dynamo Kyiv to go 16 points clear in Ukraine, their ninth title in 11 seasons within grasp.

With Will Downing, Mark Rodden, Stephane Jauny and Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай).

Available at the following podcast players….

Apple-iTunes – https://apple.co/3dup5xB

Google Podcast – https://bit.ly/3cqmRy1

iHeart – https://ihr.fm/3cq8ucX

PlayerFM – https://player.fm/series/lockdown-football-commentators-2656283

Podbean – https://bit.ly/3087U0O

Spotify –                 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ANd69vn20nsDyfQG9CYjG

TuneIn – https://tunein.com/podcasts/Sports–Recreation-Podcasts/Lockdown-Football-Commentators-p1312421/

Lockdown Football: Lisa Fallon’s the new Manageress, the Irishwomen in the Bundesliga, the Irishmen in Poland, Aarhus’ fans go Zoom

Lisa Fallon reacts after being named the new manager of London City Lionesses…. Ireland international Claire O’Riordan is hoping to keep MSV Duisburg up in the Frauen Bundesliga, while fellow ex-Wexford clubmate Eric Molloy is looking for promotion in Poland with Stomil Olsztyn…. And we hear from Søren Højlund Carlsen about how AGF Aarhus brought thousands of virtual fans into their empty stadium as football resumes in Denmark.

With Will Downing, Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай), Mark Rodden and Stephane Jauny.

The full 45-minute interview with Eric Molloy will run next week.

Available on all good podcast services.

Apple/iTunes     – https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/lockdown-football-15-manageress-lisa-fallon-eric-molloy/id1506521113?i=1000476240636

Google Podcast – https://bit.ly/3ewC7KZ

iHeart                    – https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-lockdown-football-commenta-62266985/

PlayerFM             – https://player.fm/series/lockdown-football-commentators-2656283

Podbean              – https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/hxm84-c8bb3/Lockdown-Football-Commentators-Podcast

Spotify                  – https://open.spotify.com/episode/3jv179SZMIhJ2YZ3STOV9Y

TuneIn                  – https://tunein.com/podcasts/Sports–Recreation-Podcasts/Lockdown-Football-Commentators-p1312421/

Lockdown Football: The real Jaap Stam stands up, getting Estonian football back on TV, Matt Spiro’s French lockdown, Rob Palmer on his commentary career

Jaap Stam kicks off a busy show to speak to us about his new challenge at MLS side FC Cincinnati…. Aet Süvari of ETV explains the new precautions needed to cover the Estonian Preimum Liiga… Ligue 1 commentator Matt Spiro reflects on French football’s lockdown… Rob Palmer of Sky Sports on his commentary career and his 90s breakfasts with Alex Ferguson.

With Will Downing, Dmytro Dzhulai (Дмитро Джулай) and Stephane Jauny.

Lockdown Football – Mick OUT, Kenny IN

Stephen Kenny’s appointment as Ireland manager has been brought forward by shock news tonight that Mick McCarthy is stepping down after 18 months in charge.

The move has been accelerated by the halt to European football caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Ireland were due to visit the Czech Republic last week for their Euro 2020 play-off semi-final, with the final away to Northern Ireland or Bosnia – but this has been bumped to the summer at the earliest.

We have reaction to the news from football commentators Will Downing (Virgin Media Sport, Premier Sports, ESPN Africa), Mark Rodden (Premier Sports, ESPN Africa), former Shelbourne and Dundalk midfielder Stephane Jauny (ESPN Africa, Fox Sports Africa), and Dmytro Dzhulai (Setanta Ukraine and Eurasia) in our first Lockdown Football podcast.

Irish team of 65 named for Minsk European Games

The Olympic Federation of Ireland has named a squad of 65 athletes from nine sports to compete in the second edition of the European Games in Minsk, Belarus next month. Competition runs from June 21 – 30 and will feature 15 sports, eight of which are part of the Road to Tokyo 2020 qualification process. Team Ireland will field teams in Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Canoe Sprint, Cycling, Gymnastics, Judo and Shooting.

The European Games in Minsk will see over 4000 athletes from 50 countries compete across 200 events. Irish athletes will be competing in five of the eight sports that are part of the Tokyo 2020 Qualification process; archery, athletics, badminton, cycling road, judo and shooting.

Announcing the team, Olympic Federation of Ireland Chef de Mission, Tricia Heberle said: “Minsk will provide an exciting opportunity for Team Ireland to come together in a multi-sport environment to compete against some of the best talent in Europe, providing a measure to gauge where they stand. As an athlete you don’t get many chances to compete for your country in multi-sport events so it will be a good learning experience for many of the team as we prepare for Tokyo 2020.”

The first of the Team Ireland athletes will travel to Minsk on June 19. The Opening Ceremony takes place on June 21. At the team preparation day on June 7 official Olympic Federation of Ireland sponsor FBD will announce the flagbearer.

Peter Sherrard, Olympic Federation of Ireland CEO added: “With just over three weeks to go, anticipation among the team and support staff is building after months of preparation, investment and planning. I would like to thank all of the OFI staff, led by our Chef de Mission, Tricia Heberle, who have worked so hard in partnership with the Team Managers and Performance Directors from our National Governing Bodies to prepare. The partnership approach has been enhanced thanks to the performance support agreement for the Games with Sport Ireland Institute, which will help us to deliver for the athletes and their performances.”

Broadcast Coverage

Eir Sport will be providing full coverage of the European Games, with live footage as well as highlight packages.

TEAM IRELAND

Archery (1)

• Maeve Reidy (Recurve)

Athletics (15)

Men (7)

• Nelvin Appiah-Konadu (High Jump),
• Brandon Arrey (4 x 400m),
• Stephen Gaffney (100m),
• Conall Kirk (Pursuit),
• Andrew Mellon (4 x 400m),
• Gerard O’Donnell (110m H),
• Paul White (Pursuit).

Women (8)

• Grace Casey (Javelin),
• Ciara Deely (4 x 400m),
• Sinead Denny (4 x 400m),
• Victoria Harris (Pursuit Race),
• Sarah Lavin (100m Hurdles),
• Sophie Meredith (Long Jump),
• Amy O’Donoghue (Pursuit Race),
• Niamh Whelan (100m),

*Reserves (6): Paul Byrne, Luke Lennon-Ford, Kelly McGrory, Catherine McManus, Lily-Ann O’Hora, Moromoluwa Olusa

Badminton (6)

Singles (2)

• Rachael Darragh (Singles),
• Nhat Nguyen (Singles),

Doubles (4)

• Chloe Magee (Mixed Doubles), Samuel Magee (Mixed Doubles),
• Joshua Magee (Men’s Doubles), Paul Reynolds (Men’s Doubles).

Boxing (13)

Men (9)

• Anthony Browne (Men’s Heavy -91kg),
• Regan Daly (Men’s Light Fly -49kg),
• Dean Gardiner (Men’s Super Heavy +91kg),
• Brendan Irvine (Men’s Fly -52kg),
• James McGivern (Men’s Light Welter -69kg),
• Kieran Molloy (Men’s Welter -69kg),
• Michael Nevin (Men’s Middle -75kg),
• Kurt Walker (Men’s Bantam -56kg),
• Joseph Ward (Men’s Light Heavy -81kg).

Women (4)

• Kellie Harrington (Women’s Light -60kg),
• Aoife O’Rourke (Women’s Middle -75kg),
• Grainne Walsh (Women’s Welter -69kg),
• Michaela Walsh (Women’s Feather -57kg).

Canoe Sprint (2)

• Jenny Egan (Women’s K1 200, 500, 5000)
• Ronan Hughes (Men’s K1 200, 500, 5000)

Cycling (16)

Road Men (5)

• Mark Downey,
• Conor Dunne,
• Robert Jon McCarthy,
• Ryan Mullen,
• Michael O’Loughlin

Road Women (1)

• Alice Sharpe

Track Men (5)

• Mark Downey,
• Felix English,
• JB Murphy,
• Marc Potts,
• Fintan Ryan

Track Women (6)

• Lydia Boylan,
• Mia Griffin,
• Lydia Gurley,
• Shannon McCurley,
• Robyn Stewart,
• Orla Walsh

Gymnastics (2)

• Emma Slevin (Women’s All-Around)
• Adam Steele (Men’s All-Around)

Judo (3)

• Nathon Burns (Men’s Half-light weight -66kg)
• Ben Fletcher (Men’s Half-heavy weight -100kg)
• Megan Fletcher (Women’s Middle weight -70kg)

Shooting (1)

• Aoife Gormally (Women’s Shotgun Trap)