Whirl denies Kalpana in pulsating Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh
Whirl gained Epsom compensation when edging out Kalpana in an enthralling Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
The Group One event looked a match on paper between Andrew Balding's proven Group One performer Kalpana (5-6 favourite) and
Aidan O'Brien's
narrow Oaks second, and so it proved as the pair served up a Curragh classic.
Ryan Moore was quickly away, dictating terms aboard the 13-8 second-favourite, with Colin Keane never far away aboard the Juddmonte-owned Kalpana. He must have thought the race was his for the taking when Whirl was asked for maximum effort with two furlongs to run with Kalpana still travelling menacingly.
However, Whirl was not for giving in and after a titanic tussle the Wootton Bassett filly pulled out extra inside the final furlong to shade a length and a quarter verdict and deny Juddmonte back-to-back victories in the feature event after Bluestocking 12 months ago.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
36 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Dessie Farrell steps down as Dublin football manager
Dessie Farrell stepped down as manager of the Dublin footballers after his side's seven-point defeat to Tyrone in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final. Farrell took over as Dublin manager in late 2019 following the departure of Jim Gavin. He led Dublin two All-Ireland final victories in 2020 and 2023. Farrell revealed to GAA+ after the game that he had told the Dublin county board earlier this year that this would be his final season in charge no matter what happened. He added that he had also just informed the Dublin players that he would be departing. More to follow...
The 42
37 minutes ago
- The 42
Waterford to face Clare and Tipperary v Kilkenny in All-Ireland camogie quarter-finals
WATERFORD WILL TAKE on Clare, while Tipperary will play neighbours Kilkenny in the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-finals next weekend. The composition of the knockout ties, which will be played along with the All-Ireland senior hurling semi-finals in mouth-watering double-headers at Croke Park on Saturday (2.30pm) and Sunday (1.30pm) respectively, was determined after the final round of action today. Champions Cork and last year's runners-up Galway have qualified directly to the semi-finals as a result of winning their groups, while at the other end of the scale, Wexford will play Derry with senior status on the line. Galway came on strong down the stretch with the last five points to see off Waterford by 0-16 to 0-11 at Kenny Park. Advertisement The sides were level on 0-7 apiece after a keenly contested opening half where Niamh Rockett and Carrie Dolan did most of the scoring. The Galway skipper got the scoreboard moving with a sixth minute free and she was responsible for six of her side's first-half points – she finished with nine – with Niamh Mallon's minor after 20 minutes the hosts' only score from play in that period. They led by two points on a few occasions but as Rockett brought her tally to four (one from play) and Annie Fitzgerald began to really enjoy herself with three points, it was all to play for at the break. Once more, it was Cathal Murray's players that got off to the quicker start, with Mallon's influence growing significantly. The All-Star grabbed three more points from play as her side established a 0-11 to 0-8 advantage at the three-quarter mark. Waterford bridged that gap in the next ten minutes thanks to Rockett (free), Beth Carton and Eimear O'Neill but Mick Boland's charges didn't score again, while Galway moved up another gear with five straight points, including a brace each from Dolan and Aoife Donohue, to secure the spoils and inflict a first defeat of the campaign on Waterford. Tipperary continued their rehabilitation after a chastening opening round defeat to Cork by defeating fellow Group 1 qualifiers Clare to the tune of 4-17 to 0-10 at FBD Semple Stadium. It was done and dusted at the change of ends, as the home side blitzed the Banner girls early on and three first-half goals ensured a 13-point advantage at half-time, 3-9 to 0-5. Róisín Begley opened the scoring for Clare but Mary Burke grabbed the first of her two goals after 11 minutes. Casey Hennessy raised a green flag before Burke posted her second and it was a cruise for Denis Kelly's outfit from there, Hennessy also notching up a second goal. Grace O'Brien lofted eight points into the bargain, while Clare lacked any real scoring threat, Ziyan Spillane proving their top scorer with three points. In the day's other two games, champions Cork continued on their merry way against a Wexford side already certain of being involved in the relegation final at Chadwicks Wexford Park, racking up a 5-21 to 0-11 triumph in a merciless performance. A run of a goal and eight points consecutively broke the back of proceedings, the goal coming from Amy O'Connor. Saoirse McCarthy shuddered the net and it was 2-12 to 0-3 at the break, Chloe Cashe registering the Yellowbellies' scores. Clodagh Finn grabbed a deserved goal in the second half, having been denied twice by excellent saves from Keeva Steadmond and though Wexford offered more after the resumption, O'Connor racked up her hat-trick of goals with two clinical finishes. Related Reads 'That fear factor is probably diminishing' - the impact of Limerick's shock All-Ireland exit 'Everyone always writes us off every single year, we thrive on that' - Dublin stun Limerick Incredible Dublin dump Limerick out of All-Ireland hurling championship Dublin recorded their first win of the Championship and it was a dominant and important one, their 7-19 to 1-11 success cementing their future as a senior squad, while Derry have one more chance to survive against Wexford. 2025 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Senior Championship Quarter-Finals: Waterford vs Clare, 2:30pm Saturday 5 July (followed by Cork vs Dublin in hurling at 5pm) (followed by Cork vs Dublin in hurling at 5pm) Tipperary vs Kilkenny, 1:30pm Sunday 6 July (followed by Kilkenny vs Tipperary in hurling at 4pm) Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
The 42
37 minutes ago
- The 42
Waterford crowned All-Ireland minor hurling champions for first time since 2013
Waterford 1-17 Clare 0-10 Páraic McMahon reports from FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles WATERFORD ARE ALL-IRELAND minor hurling champions for the fourth time after producing an impressive display to overcome Clare for the second time this year. A first All-Ireland minor title since 2013 is the reward for James O'Connor's Déise who emerged as deserving winners on Saturday evening. 12 years ago their side included Stephen Bennett, Tom Devine, Austin Gleeson, Patrick Curran and Shane Bennett but the class of 2025 were led by marksman Cormac Spain, Tommy Kennedy, Shane Power and Darragh Keane to ensure goalkeeper James Comerford received The Irish Press Cup from GAA President, Jarlath Burns. Burns in his presentation speech noted that victorious manager O'Connor was in the third year in charge, a tenure which began without recording a championship victory in year one, the journey included one win in year two but the destination arrived at is the promised land for his third year at the helm. Played in front of an attendance of 16,411, Waterford had the wind at their backs in the opening half of the Electric Ireland minor final. They had a dream start when wing forward Pierce Quann goaled inside the first minute as the Clare defence were caught napping. Points from Cormac Spain and Shane Power followed as they built up a five point advantage. By the 13th minute, Clare had made it a one score game with only three points between the sides. However, Waterford produced a very strong second quarter which included an unanswered tally of five points to close out the half and hold a 1-12 0-5 interval lead. Advertisement Waterford's Eanna McHugh with Clare's Evan Cleary and Dara Kennedy. Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO Tom O'Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO Ger O'Connell's Clare needed to start with a bang in the second half and they had three scores on the bounce via John Barry on the double and one from Ian O'Brien. That was as good as it got for the Banner who only hit two points for the remainder of the game. Ballygunner ace Cormac Spain continued to be the scorer in chief over the hour, finishing with eleven points to his name, he picked some off excellent efforts and it was made all the more impressive as he was visibly carrying a knee injury but persevered. Waterford stayed resolute despite holding a comfortable lead and through Spain and Shane Power they kept their account ticking over to run out as deserving winners by a margin of ten points, an increase on their six point victory when the sides met in the Munster championship at the beginning of May. Dara Kennedy and Zak Phelan impressed for Clare who found that their attacking threat was well nullified on the day. Spain was player of the game excelling at full forward with Shane Power effective in the air and when given the time to shoot. Tommy Kennedy, Gearoid O'Shea, Bradley Penkert and Darragh Keane also stood out for the All-Ireland champions. Scorers for Waterford: C Spain (0-11 6f), P Quann (1-0), S Power (0-3), G O'Shea (0-2), E McHugh (0-1), T Kennedy (0-1) Scorers for Clare: J Barry (0-3 3f), P Rodgers (0-2 1f 1SC), L Murphy (0-2), B Talty (0-1), I O'Brien (0-1), D Murrihy (0-1). Waterford 1. James Comerford (Ballygunner); 3. Darragh Murphy (St Mary's East), 4. Darragh Keane (De La Salle), 2. Conor Lynch (Geraldines) 5. Bradley Penkert (Mount Sion), 6. Hugo Quann (Lismore), 7. Tommy Kennedy (Mount Sion) 8. Éanna McHugh (Roanmore), 9. Gearóid O'Shea (St Molleran's) 12. Shane Power (De La Salle), 11. Jack Power (Ballygunner), 10. Pierce Quinn (Dungarvan) 13. Dylan Murphy (Roanmore), 14. Cormac Spain (Ballygunner), 15. Jamie Shanahan (Erins Own). Subs Clare 1. Leon Talty (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield) 3. Jack O'Halloran (Sixmilebridge), 2. Niall Doyle (Éire Óg), 4. Zak Phelan (Sixmilebridge); 5. Evan Crimmins (Newmarket-on-Fergus), 6. Dara Kennedy (Ballyea), 7. Colm Daly (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield); 8. Graham Ball (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield), 9. Evan Cleary (Ballyea); 13. Ian O'Brien (Cratloe), 10. Rory Ralph (Clarecastle), 11. James O'Donnell (Broadford); 14. Paul Rodgers (Scariff), 15. Liam Murphy (O'Callaghans Mills), 12. Ben Talty (St Joseph's Doora/Barefield). Subs 20. John Barry (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Ralph (28) 21. Gavin Marshall (Parteen/Meelick) for B Talty (45) 17. Darragh Murrihy (Inagh/Kilnamona) for Cleary (51) 24. Jake Gibbons (Whitegate) for O'Donnell (60) 22. Donncha Mahon (Clooney/Quin) for Murphy (63) Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)
