Armagh ladies lose to Kerry in Division One Final
Armagh's hopes of back-to-back Ladies National Football League Division One titles were dashed in a 4-14 to 0-11 defeat by All-Ireland champions Kerry in the decider at Croke Park.Having lost out to Armagh in last year's top-tier decider – a few months before their All-Ireland triumph – the Kingdom emphatically reclaimed a trophy they had most recently won in 2023.Niamh Carmody hit Kerry's opening goal in the seventh minute with a shot that looped over Armagh keeper Anna Carr.Livewire corner-forward Danielle O'Leary notched Kerry's second major six minutes later after a Siofra O'Shea goal attempt had come back off the woodwork.After Kerry's lightning start, a Lauren McConville point finally got Armagh off the mark which was quickly added to by a brace of Eve Lavery points for the Ulster champions. As Niamh Henderson and Niamh Reel kicked further Armagh points, the Orchard County women seemed to be finally getting a foothold into the contest but they were then rocked by another Kerry goal just half-time as Jadyn Lucey netted.Trailing 3-4 to 0-5 at the break, an Armagh comeback looked a big ask.Aoife McCoy and Niamh Henderson went close to rattling the Kingdom net after the resumption but any small hopes they had of getting back into the contest were ended when a speculative shot by Lucey ended up in the Armagh net on 37 minutes.Kerry kept the scoreboard ticking over with four points without reply courtesy of Carmody, O'Shea, Niamh Ni Chonchuir and O'Leary.To Armagh's credit, they did persevere with their challenge during the closing quarter of the game with substitutes Caoimhe McNally and Kelly Mallon finding the target to supplement four additional points from Reel. But with O'Leary (two), O'Shea and Rachel Dwyer all firing over scores of their own, Kerry eased towards a deserved victory.
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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Caitlin Clark's new Wilson basketballs reveal who she is as a person
The colors, the patterns, the detailing -- all are the result of months-long conversations between Clark and Wilson's design team about who she is, what she likes and what messages she wants to send to young fans. "It was a really fun process for me to go through," Clark told USA TODAY Sports. "It's things that are super important to me and all very different things, too, throughout my life. So hopefully they can make an impact on whoever's going to pick the ball up." Clark joined Michael Jordan as the only athletes to be brand ambassadors for Wilson, signing a multiyear sponsorship deal in May 2024 with the official manufacturer of basketballs for the WNBA, NBA and NCAA. In part because of the short turnaround time before the release of her first signature ball last October, Clark's first line leaned heavily into history. The records she broke at Iowa. Her historic rookie season with the WNBA's Indiana Fever. But Clark and Wilson knew they wanted future lines to be more personal, reflecting who Clark is as a person as much as a player. "She's actually influencing this. It's not just people at Wilson picking the design," Hudson Vantrease, director of product design at Wilson, said. "We never wanted to just put her name on a ball and call it a day," he added. "We want to tell the most compelling story, and having her as part of that is a positive to it." Wilson invited USA TODAY Sports to attend the design team meeting in April where Clark saw the finished basketballs for the first time. The design team also gave USA TODAY Sports a behind-the-scenes look at the collaboration process with Clark for the latest collection, which will be released June 23. There are four balls in the collection, and they differ in both purpose (one is an indoor-only ball, one is outdoor-only and two can be used either indoors or outdoors) and price point. One, the Embrace, is an Evo NXT basketball, meaning it has the same construction as a regulation W ball and could be used in official games. "Awesome. Awesome, awesome, awesome," Clark said when she walked into the Indiana Fever's practice gym and saw the four new basketballs. "You guys killed it." The team responsible for developing Clark's line has about a dozen core members. They met with Clark at last year's All-Star Game and got her initial thoughts about the collection, including what a young Caitlin Clark would have wanted. "I think she said a blue ball," said Haley Reines, the product line manager at Wilson. Afterward, Reines and product designer Julia Muscarello sent Clark a detailed questionnaire, asking her everything from her favorite color (blue) to her hobbies outside of basketball (golf, being on the water) to what she'd be if she wasn't a basketball player (chef). They also monitored social media, taking note of Clark's clothes -- there's an Instagram account devoted to her fits -- and what she does off the court. "I don't want to say borderline stalking, but yeah," Muscarello said with a laugh. "I was trying to stay on the Caitlin pulse." Those answers and details drove the design process, which involved "hundreds" of hours. Christopher Rickert, the senior director of global production at Wilson, said the team began with 50 design ideas and whittled them down. Sometimes the color wasn't right. Sometimes the pattern didn't work. Sometimes what seemed like a great idea on paper didn't quite translate into reality. When the team had 10 ideas, they sent the designs to Clark for her thoughts. There were further tweaks, and prototypes were made to make sure the designs looked the same on an actual basketball as they did in drawings. The four designs ultimately chosen for this year's line all have very different looks, but there's a commonality to all of them. Clark. "Whenever I do something, I want to make it the best product possible for people. But also I feel like this is an easy way for me to connect with my fans," Clark said of being so involved in the design process. "I want it to feel very personal for them, too. They can connect with me, not just by watching me on TV or coming and buying a ticket to a game." Take the Oasis ball, which can be used indoors and outdoors. Clark told Reines and Muscarello that her favorite color is blue, she likes pastels and her happy places are the water and golf course. So the panels of the Oasis ball are white and light blue, and the light blue panels have what looks like pink and green splashes of paint but is actually an abstract drawing of a golf course. Clark picked up on it right away when she saw the ball. "That looks like a hole on a golf course!" she exclaimed. Light blue is also the shade used for the pattern on the Envision, an outdoor ball. At first glance, it looks like a maze, but it's really the words "DREAM BIG." That phrase is also on the Aspire, an indoor/outdoor ball that at first appears to be white or grey. Put it in the sunlight, however, and the phrases "Dream Big," "Keep Going" and "You're Going to Be Amazing Because You Are Amazing" emerge in bold, Fever-red letters. That last phrase is what Clark says to Boston before every game. "See, she loves it!" Clark said, pointing to a picture of her and Boston on the bench that was on the design team's planning whiteboard. "We'll get her a free basketball. She'll love it. I'm going to put it in her locker." Because the Embrace is an official basketball, it cannot have any obvious detailing. Look closely, though, and you can see a pattern -- again, light blue -- within the Wilson logo and in what looks like a sunburst around the airhole. Both are the visual representation of the decibel level at a Fever game; the Wilson team took an audio file of the sound and made a graphic out of it. "Fans really admire how she just plays so well under pressure," Muscarello said. "Sometimes it's OK to embrace the noise." Though Clark had been involved in every step of the design process, seeing the basketballs on a computer screen is very different than holding the finished product. Clark picked up each of the basketballs and examined it, taking note of the different details. She spun each ball and shifted it from one hand to the other. She also studied the design team's white boards, pointing to some of the notes and photos. Though she initially seemed most taken by the Oasis ball, she was fascinated with the Envision's UV technology and said she'd have loved to have had a basketball that revealed "secret" messages when she was a kid. She also was impressed that Wilson's design team was able to turn a decibel meter reading into a design. "They're all unique in their own way. They all have different things I love about them," Clark said. "I think they each serve their own purpose and are different. "So I guess you have to buy 'em all!" she added, laughing. While there will be some fans who buy the whole collection, whether to use or keep as memorabilia, Clark was conscious of not pricing any fans out of the new line. Two of the balls are less than $50, with the outdoor Envision ball costing $27.95 and the Oasis indoor ball priced at $49.95, while the Aspire outdoor ball is $54.95. The Embrace, which is Wilson's premium Evo NXT basketball, costs $124.95. All the balls will be available on Wilson's website and at retail sporting goods stores. Last year's collection sold out almost immediately and, given the appetite for all things Clark, it's a good bet this one will, too. "It's kind of cool to see how the balls came back and they feel very `me,'" Clark told USA TODAY Sports. "That's what I love about it. I feel like I'm sharing part of my life and my journey with people. "I could have never dreamed (as a child) to have something like this," she added. "It's pretty special." Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
BBC News
9 hours ago
- BBC News
Brentford will have a plan if Frank departs
Brentford defender Nathan Collins said that he hopes Thomas Frank remains in charge of the Bees but that the club will have a "plan" if the Dane have opened talks with Brentford for Frank to take over as Ange Postecoglu's successor after the Australian was sacked on who played every minute of Brentford's Premier League campaign, says he is aware of the speculation surrounding Frank, but has been focussing on the Republic of Ireland's friendly against Luxembourg on Tuesday."Every time I turn on the TV, I see it. I can't get away from it, unfortunately, but I have my own problems with the game [against Luxembourg], staying fit and looking after myself. I haven't taken too much of an interest," he said."Brentford is a good club that whatever happens, they will have a plan. There are good people in the backroom, so there will be a plan."If he stays, even better. We can only see what happens." Collins 'looking forward' to playing with Kelleher at Brentford Irrespective of who is in charge of Brentford next season, the Republic of Ireland captain will be joined at the Gtech Community Stadium by international teammate Caoimhin has made the switch from Liverpool to West London and Collins is delighted to have the chance to play with the goalkeeper for club and country."I am looking forward to it. I get on really well with him here. He shows his qualities, but it will be even better when we can train together every day and build our relationship a bit more, on and off the field, to help Brentford and Ireland as well," Colling continued."I am buzzing for him. It's a great move for him and he deserves to be a number one at a club."Friday night's 1-1 friendly draw with Senegal at the Aviva Stadium extended the Republic's unbeaten run to four games under Heimir run has come off the back of a 5-0 drubbing by England at Wembley in November and Collins believes his side have grown since that defeat and will want to continue on an upward trajectory by beating an ever-improving Luxembourg."The hurt in the dressing room after [the England game], it was not a nice place. For me, it created a new hunger."It did definitely reset me to want to do better and improve for the next camp. It might work in a good way for us."
The Independent
9 hours ago
- The Independent
Nathan Collins hopes Thomas Frank remains at Brentford after international break
Nathan Collins will return to Brentford from Republic of Ireland duty hoping Thomas Frank is still in charge amid speculation he is set to be appointed Tottenham boss. The PA news agency understands Spurs are closing in on the Dane to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou, after former manager Mauricio Pochettino ruled himself out of the running. Bees defender Collins admitted it had been difficult to avoid the rumours as he and his international team-mates prepared for Tuesday night's friendly in Luxembourg. The 24-year-old said: 'Every time I turn on the TV, I see it. I can't get away from it, unfortunately. 'But I have my own problems with the game tomorrow, staying fit and looking after myself. I haven't taken too much of an interest.' Since the squad first assembled in Dublin ahead of Friday night's friendly draw with Senegal, Collins has been joined at the Gtech Community Stadium by Ireland colleague Caoimhin Kelleher after the keeper completed an £18million move from Liverpool. The pair have joked about the possibility of the man who signed him leaving within days, but even if that does happen, the defender is confident the club will have a plan. He said: 'Yes, we have been joking about it. But he is all right. Brentford is a good club that whatever happens, they will have a plan. There are good people in the back room plan, so there will be a plan. 'If he stays, even better. We can only see what happens.' Whatever happens, 26-year-old Kelleher will be lining up in a Brentford shirt next season and his new club-mate cannot wait to play in front of him. Collins said: 'I am looking forward to it. I get on really well with him here. 'He shows his qualities as a keeper as well, but it will be even better when we can train together every day and build our relationship a bit more, on and off the field, to help Brentford and Ireland as well. 'I am buzzing for him. It's a great move for him and he deserves to be a number one at a club.' In the meantime, the pair will hope to help extend Ireland's unbeaten run to four games since they were beaten 5-0 by England in the Nations League at Wembley in November when they run out at the Stade de Luxembourg. That was a painful evening for Collins and his team-mates, but one he believes served a purpose. He said: 'The hurt in the dressing room after, it was not a nice place. For me, it created a new hunger. It did definitely reset me to want to do better and improve for the next camp. 'It might work in a good way for us.'
