Hulk Hogan hailed as Irish rowing duo Donagh Claffey and Martin O'Grady claim bronze medal at World U23 Championships
The University of Galway men did the business early and late in the edgy contest. They led by over a length in the second quarter, but Portugal and Italy passed them in the second half of the race.
As the other crews upped their pace, Ireland looked set to lose out completely on a podium place. But in an exciting finish, they performed brilliantly.
Italy clung on to their lead and it was Portugal who got caught, with Germany pipping Ireland for silver by one hundredth of a second.
'It was a very quick race,' Claffey said. 'Before we knew it, it was over – and we had our nose in the right spot on the line!'
O'Grady said he called a push in the third quarter, usually their weakest 500 metres. 'It stung a lot. But when you're in that position you can push yourself to further limits than you think you are capable of. Donagh's a strong guy and we left it all out there. We just held on.'
Claffey's moustache and beard excited comment. 'I followed wrestling a lot growing up. It was probably the wrestling gods shining down. And Hulk Hogan passing the same time as the racing, it's probably just the way the world works,' he said.
Meanwhile, Sophia Monahan took fifth in her A Final of the lightweight single. She was drawn in lane five, beside Italy's Melissa Schincariol, who blasted off the start.
As the Italian built a lead which would bring her gold, Monahan struggled. The 20-year-old Irish woman came back into the race. In the third quarter she gained on Germany's Aysa Guenduez in lane six. The German then found form and accelerated on to take bronze. South Africa took silver.
Ireland have another chance of a medal on Sunday, as Holly Davis competes in the women's single at 11.26 Irish time.
Davis, a Cork woman who is a scholarship student at the University of Texas at Austin, has a strong chance of giving Ireland a second podium finish.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Nancy McGillivray takes a road less travelled to Ireland honours
Ireland 27 Scotland 21 Planning for one World Cup should be plenty for anyone's plate. Not Scott Bemand's. If first priority for the Ireland head coach is the upcoming tournament in England then Australia's hosting in 2029 never seems far from his thoughts. It was the global gathering in four years' time that was uppermost in the Englishman's mind when he took over the girls in green, and he has referenced the tournament more than once in recent weeks even as England 2025 gets more real with every passing day. So, while Saturday's five-try, six-point warm-up defeat of Scotland in Cork served an obvious and immediate purpose, it also fed into that longer-term goal with Ivana Kiripati, Nancy McGivillray and Ailish Quinn all making their debuts. The first two are 22, Quinn is still a teenager at 19. For McGivillray, this was the peak point to date on a rugby journey that began as an eight-year old in Hong Kong and playing for the Discovery Bay Pirates. It was only when she was 18 and left for uni in England that XVs became a thing. Her potential led to Exeter Chiefs and a transition contract with England's RFU that concluded at the end of June. That allowed the centre to make the switch to Ireland and make a debut which peaked with a try shortly after half-time. So, why Ireland? 'Well, my dad [Raymond] is Irish so start off there,' said a player once labelled as a 'huge talent' by England legend Emily Scarratt. 'I'm not actually English at all. I just have an English passport. So a big part of it was also family and culture. Ireland debutant Nancy McGillivray scores her side's third try. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile. 'I was in and around England, but I kind of had two years to figure out what I want, and I think, for me, that's to put on the green jersey. And a big part was family. My granddad would dream about that all the time, and he's not here today, but that's a big part.' Her granddad is Donald McGivillray, from Balbriggan in Dublin. Ireland's new recruit, whose mum Phatcharin is Thai, spent plenty of summers in Cong as a child. Other disparate strands played their part in this story too. Ireland head coach Scott Bemand was still an assistant with England when McGivillray was coming through that system and the player had gone through the Irish union's IQ pathway system when she first moved to the UK. All those lines were kept open. What impact she, or the other rookies, can make in the here and now remains to be seen. Back row is an area of serious depth, even with injury absentees, while Aoife Dalton excelled in the 13 shirt in the Six Nations and played every single minute. 'They're going to be big hitters for not just this World Cup but the one after,' said Bemand. Every shoulder is welcome against this wheel. Ireland, without Erin King and Dorothy Wall in their pack for the World Cup, and with Aoife Wafer n onlooker here and a doubt for at least some of the tournament, will have been thrilled to come through this first prep match unscathed. Captain Sam Monaghan, Eimear Corri-Fallon and Beibhinn Parsons all made reappearances in Irish shirts after long-term injuries and the manner in which a much-changed and relatively inexperienced Irish team recovered from 14-0 down bodes well. Only four of this starting side had been named to kick off their last game, the round five Six Nations trip to Scotland, and that had been over three months previously. Early rust was no surprise, but they largely bossed the Scots for long periods after it. The hope will be that more impressive auditions are the order of the day when Ireland play their second and last warm-up next week against Canada before the squad is named two days later and a World Cup opener against Japan on August 24th. For McGivillray it will also be an opportunity to catch up with Florence Symonds who was a teammate growing up with the Pirates and is now on the Canadian XVs squad having won a silver medal in sevens at last year's Olympics. 'Someone like her, it's an inspiration just to see one of my best mates go to Olympics and now she's in the World Cup squad as well. We grew up playing rugby together.' And look at them now. Ireland: M Deely; B Parsons, N McGillivray, E Higgins, A-L Costigan; D O'Brien, M Scuffil-McCabe; S McCarthy, C Moloney-MacDonald, S McGrath; E Corri-Fallon, S Monaghan (capt); G Moore, I Kiripati, B Hogan. Replacements: D Nic a Bhaird for Moore (3-14) and for Hogan (60); F Tuite for Monaghan (36); L Djougang for McGrath and N O'Dowd for McCarthy (both 50); E Lane for Scuffil-McCabe and E Breen for O'Brien (both 60); A Quinn for Kiripati and N Jones for Moloney-MacDonald (both 70). Scotland: C Rollie; R Lloyd, E Orr, L Thomson, L Scott; H Ramsay, C Mattinson; A Young, L Skeldon, E Clarke; E Wassell, R Malcolm; R McLachlan, A Stewart, E Gallagher. Replacements: E Martin for Skeldon (32); L Bartlett for Young (HT); L Brebner-Holden for Mattinson (51); M Poolan for Clarke (55); B Blacklock for Ramsey (57); A Ferrie for Wassell and E Donaldson for Malcolm (both 65); C Grant for Brebner-Holden (71). Referee: C Munarini (FIR).
Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Bundee Aki's baby born in car just before test kick-off
Connacht rugby star Bundee Aki has become a father again after his wife Kayla gave birth to their fifth child in a car on her way to the hospital before the first Test of the series. The rugby international has been based in Australia in recent weeks as he lined out for the British & Irish Lions while his wife and their children were in their native of New Zealand. As a couple of the Irish lads decided to stay in Oz for some rest and relaxation, Bundee was straight over to New Zealand to meet his fifth child. Bundee Aki. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Earlier this year, Bundee and his wife Kayla announced they were expecting baby number five, with the couple already having three girls and one son. Speaking following the end of the test series against Australia, Bundee revealed his child had arrived with Kayla giving birth in the car on the way to the hospital. He said: 'The missus calls me and she's like, 'Water hasn't broke but I'm going to the hospital, I'm feeling contractions.' She goes to the hospital, we're getting ready for the team meeting pre-match, and then she calls me and says she's on the way to the hospital. Bundee Aki with his family. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan 'Five minutes later, she sends a photo, her water broke. This is like 30 or 40 minutes away from the hospital. Ten minutes later, she video calls me. 'I saw a baby on the video call, so she had it in the car on the way to the hospital.' Bundee then had to play in the opening Test against Australia in Brisbane with Andy Farrell's side winning 27-19. The father-of-five admitted he 'knew' the match would be successful. Pic: Bundee Aki/ Instagram Bundee and Kayla named their newest arrival, Aine, keeping with the theme of their children's names starting with A. The couple also share Armani-Jade, Adrianna, Ailbhe and Adronicus.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Franco Baresi, 65, undergoes surgery as AC Milan release health update on legendary defender
There has been a flood of messages of support for the icon AC MILAN legend Franco Baresi has undergone surgery on his lungs after being diagnosed with a pulmonary nodulation. The club revealed in a statement that Baresi, 65, had a successful operation but will need more treatment. Advertisement 1 AC Milan legend Franco Baresi has undergone surgery on his lungs Credit: Getty A statement posted on Instagram read: "AC Milan announces that, following routine medical checks, our Honorary Vice President Franco Baresi was found to have a pulmonary nodule. "It was decided that the best course of action was to remove it with a minimally invasive surgical procedure. "The operation went well, and his recovery has been free of complications. " Franco has since been assessed by an oncology specialist, who recommended a consolidative course of immunotherapy. Advertisement "The entire Board of Directors, Club Management, employees and staff, the coaching team, and all the men's and women's players at AC Milan send Franco their heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery. "Captain, we are all with you!" Baresi updated fans with a short statement of his own as part of the post. He said: "Dear fans, I just want to let you know that it will take a little time to get back to full strength. Advertisement "Thank you to AC Milan and to all of you for your support. A big hug, with affection." Baresi is a legend in Milan having made over 700 appearances for AC Milan as a one-club man. The defender captained the side for 15 of his 20 years at the San Siro, and helped the club win six league titles and three Champions League's and European Cups. He has held the position of honorary vice president at AC Milan since 2020 and was even voted as the 'Milanista of the Century" by fans during a celebration of the club's 100th birthday in 1999. Advertisement On an international level, Baresi earned 81 caps for the Italian national side. He was part of the Italian's World Cup winning side in 1982, as well as captaining the country to the 1994 World Cup final where they heartbreakingly lost to Brazil on penalties. MORE TO FOLLOW... THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. Advertisement The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
