
Fast start fires Leinster to United Rugby Championship title
June 14 (Reuters) - Three early tries helped Irish side Leinster to a comprehensive 32-7 victory over South Africa's Bulls in the United Rugby Championship (URC) final in Dublin on Saturday and a record-extending ninth title.
The hosts were clinical with their early burst as the rain poured down, with number eight Jack Conan, centre Jordie Barrett and flanker Josh van der Flier crossing the line, before Fintan Gunne's late try finished off an outstanding display.
The Pretoria-based Bulls have now lost three of the last four URC finals in another major disappointment, even if they were underdogs against a team packed with players in the British & Irish Lions squad travelling to Australia this month.
Hooker Akker van der Merwe scored the visitors' only try as Leinster made up in part for their recent shock home semi-final defeat by Northampton Saints in the European Champions Cup.
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Times
2 hours ago
- Times
Galway pull victory out of fire on wild, dramatic night
For the past few weeks, the sudden stagger in Galway's strut through the summer has evoked memories of other teams who also found themselves hanging in for the break to revive their season. When a qualifier game against Longford suddenly became a career-defining examination for Kerry in 2006, throwing Kieran Donaghy into full-forward was the Hail Mary move that opened their way to an All-Ireland title. Same again in 2009 after Diarmuid Murphy's penalty save spared Kerry again against Sligo. Dessie Dolan dragging a goal chance wide for Westmeath in a qualifier did the same trick for Tyrone the year before, saving them and pointing them on the road to ultimate redemption. Could Tomas McCormack's foul on Paul Conroy that handed Shane Walsh the kick to win the game and get Galway into the last 12 end up being remembered as the moment they needed? Maybe that will always be the pilfering of a draw from Derry the other week when all seemed lost. Either way, Galway have had enough breaks now to make something better of themselves. In the end it was a victory for the crowd who simply needed it more. Armagh were magnificent for 35 minutes and left Galway looking completely goosed by half-time. Galway's furious reaction with their season on the line wasn't a huge shock — another non-performance in the second half would have ended careers — but their character in holding on when Armagh pushed hard midway through the second half showed again Galway's potential if they can regain their consistency. John Maher was outstanding in the second half followed closely by Cein Darcy and Paul Conroy off the bench. The game also ended up condensing all the blockbuster melodrama of Shane Walsh's entire career. At times he was spellbinding. Other times he made some bewildering shot choices. There were spells when Galway couldn't get him into the game and periods when Walsh was totally unmarkable. He drew a penalty and kicked three crucial scores in the first half with Galway in the absolute horrors, then kicked the free kick that won the game. Wild and gloriously crazy. Much like the game itself. Although Armagh marched out of another group of death as winners regardless of last night's results they might find it difficult to make sense of this one. They started without their three leading scorers but still soared past 20 points for the sixth championship game in a row. Ethan Rafferty was sensational, saving a penalty and kicking seven points while arrowing some terrific kickouts outfield, but Armagh also struggled with them at key moments when Galway really roared at them. While Armagh's attacking play was ebullient all evening, Galway also opened their defence up for two goals and butchered a couple of penalties. Stretching their squad while taking Galway to the wire was a significant expression of strength, and Armagh have every last element necessary to win back-to-back All-Irelands. But yesterday evening showed again how fine the margins remain. None of that was relevant in the opening half-hour. Armagh played with the freedom of a golfer without a scorecard in their back pocket, attacking Galway from all angles at devastating speed while enjoying the liberty to leave a few points behind them and still make half time with a commanding lead. It was 0-15 to 0-7 by then, Armagh's dominance so pronounced that conceding two penalties to Galway didn't seem that much of a big deal. Galway managed only a point from them anyway: Matthew Tierney's penalty easily saved by Ethan Rafferty after seven minutes; Rob Finnerty ballooning his shot over the bar after 29 minutes. It epitomised the utter desolation at the heart of Galway's performance. Their leaders were largely missing. Having replaced Connor Gleeson in goals with Conor Flaherty their kickout was totally ransacked, Armagh finding oceans of space in front of Galway's goal once they got moving. There wasn't anything too scientific about how Galway eventually ripped into Armagh but the primal reaction to their season disappearing in front of their eyes demolished most of Armagh's lead inside 15 minutes. Maher palmed a goal to the net after 38 minutes after good work from Dylan McHugh and Finnerty and Galway had accumulated 1-3 by the time Armagh got their first score of the second point from Finnerty had them ahead for the first time with 20 minutes left and Galway didn't trail again after his goal six minutes later bounced them back in front. It left them both edging along the tightrope together towards the knockout football of the coming weeks. All safety nets now removed. Star man Shane Walsh (Galway) Armagh Rafferty (0-7, 1 2P 2 2PF); P Burns (McCabe h/t), McCambridge (McCormack 19mins), McGrane (0-1); McQuillan (0-3), Kelly (0-1), J Og Burns (0-1); Duffy (0-1) (Campbell (0-1) 52mins), Grimley (0-3, 1 2P) (Mackin 58mins); McMullan (0-2P), O'Neill (0-1), McElroy; McConville (0-3) (McPartlan (0-1) 64mins), Murnin (0-1), Turbitt (0-1). Galway Flaherty; McGrath, Fitzgerald (Hernon 40mins), Glynn; McHugh (Sweeney (0-1) 53mins), Kelly, Silke (O'Flaherty h/t); Cooke (0-3, 1 2P) (Tierney 58mins), Maher (1-0); McDaid (0-2) (Heaney 67mins), Finnerty (1-4, 0-1pen), Darcy (0-1); Tierney (0-1) (Conroy (0-1) 32mins), Walsh (0-9, 1 2PF, 1f), Thompson. Referee N Mooney (Cavan).


BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Kelleher leaves Colchester for Cork
Colchester United defender Fiacre Kelleher has joined League Of Ireland side Cork City after turning down a contract 29-year-old has agreed what Cork say is a "long-term" deal after making 32 appearances for Colchester last season and scoring three began his career with Scottish giants Celtic and also had spells at Oxford United, Macclesfield, Wrexham, Bradford City, before joining Colchester in January is Kelleher's home city and he told the club website: "It's been a few weeks in the pipeline, so it's nice to get something sorted."The deal will take effect on 1 July when his contract with Colchester expires.


BBC News
3 hours ago
- BBC News
Wales held to draw despite Pritchard treble
Wales had to settle for a 4-4 draw against South Africa in their FIH Nations Cup opener in Malaysia despite a first-half hat-trick from Jack looked on course for victory after Pritchard's treble and a further goal from Jolyon Morgan put them 4-0 up at the halfway South Africa then turned the contest on its head, making it 4-2 in the third quarter thanks to goals from Trevor de lora and Angelo Walstroom and then completing a spectacular fightback through a penalty stroke from Samuel Mvimbi and a late effort from Calvin draw means Wales have won only once in 11 meetings with South Newcombe's Wales side play Korea next on Monday before completing their pool fixtures against France on women are also in action this week. They take on Italy in the FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup 2 in Poland on Monday before games against Czech Republic on Tuesday and France on Thursday.