
Three players that stood out in Ireland's comeback win over Scotland
There were plenty of positives to take from the match, especially the displays from debutants Ivana Kiripati, Nancy McGillivray and Ailish Quinn. McGillivray got a try on debut to boot as well as Scott Bemand is building quite the depth chart ahead of the World Cup.
A lot of players put their hand up today for a World Cup spot as Bemand has big calls to make on August 11. IRFU Committee Member Tony O'Beirne presents Grace Moore with the Player of the Match Award. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady
Grace Moore
She won Player of the Match and rightfully so. The flanker was at the heart of everything positive for Ireland throughout. When Ireland struggled in attack in the first half, her carries got them over the gain line.
With so many injuries in the back row one can be forgiven for thinking Ireland may be heading into the World Cup light in that position but in Grace Moore, Ireland have a canny operator. Eve Higgins. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady
Eve Higgins
So often Higgins was handed the ball on the back foot and the centre would make something of it. She broke the line many times and seems to always run at 100%, she doesn't have another speed.
She was the perfect partner to have alongside debutant McGillivray as she sucked in so many defenders it gave McGillivray space to work with and ultimately cross over on debut. Higgins also showed off a cultured kicking game at points. Ireland have a plethora of great options at centre now and that depth will help out greatly at the RWC. Niamh O'Dowd of Ireland celebrates after scoring her side's fourth try. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Niamh O'Dowd
O'Dowd may have only been on as a substitute but she made every minute she was on for count. She had one of the best engines on the pitch for any player, let alone a loosehead prop.
You also have to commend O'Dowd for her exciting playstyle. Like a certain Sonny Bill Williams, O'Dowd always manages to get her hands free in contact and looks to throw an offload. They don't always come off but when they do they're so effective.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Josh Honohan delighted Shamrock Rovers have hit a big game fixture pile-up
Josh Honohan loves the biggest occasions and so is relishing the jam-packed schedule facing Shamrock Rovers at this vital stage of the season. The Premier Division table-toppers travel to the Brandywell to face third placed Derry City this evening (7pm), then make the trip to Kosovo for Thursday's Europa Conference League third qualifying round first leg against FC Ballkani. Between last Thursday's second qualifying round second leg in Tallaght against St Joseph's and the FAI Cup third round clash with Longford Town on August 17, the Hoops are pencilled in for six games in 18 days. READ MORE: Keith Andrew picks his Brentford captain - and it's good news for Ireland fans READ MORE: Tottenham captain Son Heung-min announces final game for the club "Yes, we'll be busy," he said. "If we do well over the next couple of weeks we'll have the cup, we'll have the league and hopefully have a good European campaign. "That's why you want to come to this club, though. You want to be busy. If you're not busy you're not probably doing well. We're used to it now over the last couple of years and there's a good bit of experience in that dressing room. We'll be ready for it. "It's just more focus on one game at a time. Derry are up towards the top of the table, they're a really good team, they're always challenging. They don't just have a really good team, they have a really good squad. Josh Honohan at Ireland training in June (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) "Sunday's a big game but it's the same aim - whatever game we play we go out there to get three points and there'll be no difference on that." Honohan's performances last season as Rovers made history by becoming the first Irish side to qualify for the knock-out stages of a European tournament earned him an Ireland squad call-up. The 24-year-old is hungry for Stephen Bradley's side to get back to the big stage. "You want to do that as a footballer," he said. "It's a big reason why I wanted to come here. It's an opportunity that we'll hopefully get. Obviously, we'll have a couple of rounds to win to get to that stage that we did last year. "That's a big reason why you want to play when you're younger, to go to Vienna, to go to Sparta Prague, to go to Chelsea - those experiences are really, really positive. I'll probably reflect on it more when my career is finished. "Every game is a big game but obviously the European games are big games, we're playing against top opposition. I want to do well in every game that I play. "The European games, they're really good teams and if we do well in the next couple of games we'll be playing against some top opposition like we did last year. I set a standard and it's up to me to meet that standard, no matter what game it is." Bradley made a host of changes for the second leg against St Joseph's on Thursday after the Hoops cantered to a 4-0 victory in Gibraltar. Honohan insists that the stalemate at home won't affect his team's momentum. Josh Honohan (Image: ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne) "It's probably just one of those games where sometimes we were just looking for that goal," he said. "I definitely thought we were a much better team on the night. It will be full focus on Sunday. "It was actually a tough enough game. A good bit of credit has to go to them, they dug in and they defended really well. The main aim before the tie started was to go through and we've done that." On a lighter note, he is delighted that another Corkman has been added to the house he is sharing with Rory Gaffney, Lee Grace, John McGovern, Matt Healy and Ed McGinty. Even more so because the new arrival is his 19-year-old brother, Callum. "Yeah, it's good now," he smiled. "We haven't been fighting too much! I told him to bring up the PlayStation, so we're not fighting. "He's settled in really well. I'm full of faith that he'll be a really big player for the club in the future. He's a really good player now but he's got a lot of potential. That's a big reason why he came up here, to fulfil that potential." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .


The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Bayern Munich legend and World Cup winner Uli Hoeness rushed to hospital after falling ill at charity golf tournament
BAYERN MUNICH legend and honorary president Uli Hoeness was rushed to hospital after falling ill during a charity golf event earlier today. Hoeness, 73, required medical attention after reportedly bursting a vein on course. 1 Uli Hoeness is Bayern Munich's honorary president Credit: AFP Hoeness is said to be doing well following his health scare. According to striker was able to leave hospital earlier this evening. Hoeness had been taking part in an event at Miel Castle, around 270 miles from Munich. The charity golf day was put on by Timotheus Hottges, the CEO of Telekom. READ MORE IN SPORT Telekom is a key sponsor of Vincent Kompany's side are said to receive more than £50million per year from the sponsorship. In addition to Hoeness, Bayern club president Herbert Hainer was also in attendance. Hoeness played 329 matches for Bayern between 1970 and 1979. Most read in Football During this time, the forward helped his side win three Bundesliga titles and a trio of European Cups. While in 1974 he also helped West Germany to World Cup glory. After hanging up his boots in 1979, Hoeness immediately moved into an executive role. The Bayern icon spent 30 years as the club's general manager before being elected its president in 2009. Following 10 years in that role, Hoeness retired into a new role as honorary president, with Hainer being elected as his successor. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at


The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Ireland rally to down Scotland as Scott Bemand hails calm comeback after World Cup warm-up
SCOTT BEMAND was pleased Ireland kept calm to win their first World Cup warm-up match. Scotland led 14-0 in Cork but Sadhbh McGrath and Meabh Deely hit back to 2 Ireland came from behind to see off Scotland in their World Cup warm up clash in Cork 2 Head coach Scott Bemand hailed his side's resolve after the victory The hosts — who start the World Cup against Japan on August 24 — completed the turnaround within six minutes of the restart when Nancy McGillivray dived over. Centre Emma Orr briefly put Scotland back in front before replacement prop Niamh O'Dowd gave Ireland a 22-21 lead by barging over at the other end. Ireland sealed the victory three minutes from time when Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird crossed. And read more on rugby IRELAND 27-21 SCOTLAND SCORERS — Ireland: Tries, McGrath, Deely, McGillivray, O'Dowd, Nic A Bhaird; cons, O'Brien. Scotland: Tries, Thomson, Scott, Orr; cons, Thomson 3. Australia and Lions rugby stars are forced off the pitch mid-game due to threat of lightning