Try machine Eilís Cahill wins AIL title for UL Bohemian in dramatic fashion with last-gasp try
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RTÉ News
4 days ago
- RTÉ News
Double try-scorer Anna McGann relishing Ireland competition
Anna McGann had three international tries to her name before yesterday, all coming in a hat-trick performance in the Six Nations win over Italy in March. Try number four for the Athlone woman came in the second half of the 47-26 defeat to Canada as Ireland mounted a comeback of sorts in Belfast. It was a trademark winger's finish, picking up possession ten yards out and beating a defender to touch down in the corner. It was her fifth try that stood out, however. The 27-year-old came off her wing, took a pop pass from Claire Boles in midfield before bursting through four defenders to score under the posts. "To be honest, I only remember dotting it down," she said modestly before reflecting on her progress since the Six Nations "If you look at Dannah [O'Brien] putting us in the right part of the pitch and that was just building in the second half. "I think it was just me dotting it down at the end of the day. It was more of a team effort. "I definitely took a bit of confidence from the Six Nations, but that was four months ago now. "We're onto a new challenge and we're constantly wanting to get better as a squad as well. "I definitely took a bit of confidence from that, but I know that this ceiling is a lot higher and I've more to grow." McGann will be included in Ireland's World Cup squad to be named tomorrow but despite an impressive recent record, knows she faces stiff competition from Béibhinn Parsons (above), who helped herself to a brace against the Canadians, as well as Amee-Leigh Costigan, an a number of other back-three options, to secure a starting spot. "I think if you look at the squad, we're probably at the most competitive that we've ever been, which is quite reflective of what a good place we're in," said the Railway Union back. "I think having the best players surrounding me is only going to drive you on more. "It has been really good to have Béibhinn back in and to have Amee-Leigh Costigan, to have her as well. "They're two massive players for our squad and two players that I strive to be more like. It makes it more competitive, but it makes it better as well. "If you take Leigh into consideration as well there's a healthy rivalry between the three of us." While the squad has been named internally, head coach Scott Bemand said there are always moving parts between the announcement and when the action starts, for Ireland, against Japan in two weeks' time. "The girls are always giving us something to think about," said Bemand. "It's a really competitive squad. "We spoke about two years ago when I first started and you're looking at competition for places across the group. And there was some but it wasn't particularly deep. "We'll name our squad outwardly on Monday and there'll be some really good players that don't make that squad. "That's the reality of competing, the reality of having a consistency of our game that you can keep getting your best performances out there."
Irish Examiner
07-08-2025
- Irish Examiner
Bemand makes 10 changes for Ireland's final World Cup warm-up clash against Canada
Head coach Scott Bemand has named his Ireland squad for their last Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Canada in Affidea Stadium (formerly Kingspan Stadium) on Saturday, August 9 (kick-off, 12pm). Bemand has made 10 changes to the starting line-up from the win over Scotland last weekend. Neve Jones will co-captain the side with Sam Monaghan, who starts this week on the bench. In the pack, Niamh O'Dowd and Linda Djougang join Jones in the front-row. Fiona Tuite and Ruth Campbell make up the engine room, and last week's back-row of Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati and Brittany Hogan is retained. In the backs, Aoibheann Reilly partners Dannah O'Brien again in the half-backs. Enya Breen accompanies Aoife Dalton in the centre with Anna McGann, Béibhinn Parsons and Stacey Flood in the backfield. Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon, Monaghan and Claire Boles are the forwards available to Bemand and his Coaching Team on a strong bench, with backs Emily Lane and Eve Higgins completing Ireland's 23. Bemand said: "Having another opportunity to test ourselves is essential in the run up to the Rugby World Cup and we know Canada will provide us with a really strong test. "Last week we fought back hard from conceding early tries and we know we will need to start stronger this week. There is a lot at stake with the squad for the Rugby World Cup being announced early next week." Ireland: S Flood (Railway Union RFC / Leinster); B Parsons (Blackrock College / Connacht), A Dalton (Old Belvedere / Leinster), E Breen (Blackrock College / Munster), A McGann (Railway Union / Connacht); D O'Brien (Old Belvedere / Leinster), A Reilly (Blackrock College / Connacht); N O'Dowd (Old Belvedere / Leinster), N Jones (Gloucester Hartpury), L Djougang (Old Belvedere / Leinster); R Campbell (Old Belvedere / Leinster), F Tuite (Old Belvedere / Ulster); G Moore (Trailfinders / IQ Rugby), I Kiripati (Creggs / Connacht), B Hogan (Old Belvedere / Ulster). Replacements: C Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), E Perry (Gloucester Hartpury / IQ Rugby), S McGrath (Cooke / Ulster), E Corri Fallon (Blackrock College / Leinster), S Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury / IQ Rugby), C Boles (Railway Union / Ulster), E Lane (Blackrock College / Ulster), E Higgins (Railway Union / Leinster).
Irish Independent
05-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Former Munster and Irish Rugby Sevens player looking for ‘dominant woman' with ‘dark eyes' set to enter Love Island Villa
Conor Phillips (25), a former Munster Rugby and Irish Rugby Sevens player will enter the villa for the 12th season of the show, starting next week. He follows in the footsteps of Limerick man and former Rugby Sevens player Greg O'Shea, who won the fifth season of Love Island in 2019. When asked what type of person he is looking for, Phillips said: 'Someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic." 'I like dark eyes and I don't mind a dominant woman,' he said. He continued: 'I don't like to answer to anyone else. I like to do my own thing. It's something I'm working on for a relationship. Hopefully I've improved.' Phillips joins another Irish contestant, Dublin actor and panto actress Megan Forte Clarke, who will also take part in the summer series. Having debuted for Munster in 2022, he received the news shortly after that the province would not be offering him a contract, having come up through Young Munster. 'You're in Munster and you think you are going to play rugby until you're 35 and then go on TV and all this stuff,' Phillips told the Irish Independent. 'I never thought about a job but my mom always made sure that I got my degree in health and exercise fitness in UL, I just finished that last year,' he said in 2024. Following this, he moved to Dublin to play with Terenure, playing a key role in his team making it to the Energia All-Ireland League final against Cork Con. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more At the time, while working in tech sales, he lived with Conán O'Donnell (former Connacht prop), who was in the same position as he had just come back from the Toronto Arrows. He said: 'We were on the dole together. It was very tough. I don't think we appreciated how tough it was. We just got on with it. 'Looking back on it now, it's humbling because if you had any bit of an ego, thinking you were above anyone because you played rugby, you definitely aren't when you're going into the post office every week trying to get money. 'That was quite tough. There were thoughts going through my head, 'will I go back to Limerick just to be with my mom? I'm comfortable there. Will I just pack it in and go play abroad?' The Limerick native said his biggest 'ick' in someone is being needy, or needing to do everything together. "I like someone to be independent and do their own thing and then we come together and do our thing,' he said. When asked about his claim to fame, he replied: 'I play professional rugby. I'm a winger.' When asked if he were the CEO of anything, what would it be, he replied: 'Mischief. I'm the class clown type vibe. Being in big teams and groups all the time, I'm always mixing things up, stirring the pot.' On how he likes to fIirt, he said: 'I ask girls if they want to go halves on a baby. It doesn't work, but it gets them laughing. It's an ice-breaker, not a serious question of course.' 'I'd be keeping my head above water… I'm doing nicely as a single person, but I need a relationship, I need to settle down and invest in some stocks,' he added. He listed singing as one of his hidden talents. 'My go to is Mario's 'Let Me Love You'. I've sang in front of a lot of people before,' he said. 'If it's your first rugby match you have to get on the bus and sing -they loved it.'
