Each weekend we review the best of the Irish sporting action from around the world through the medium of numbers…
1 – Rory McIlroy’s World Ranking
The Open Champion continued his rich vein of form by taking victory in the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational event and, with Adam Scott finishing outside the top 5, reclaiming his place as World Number One. At the time of his mega million contract with Nike it was felt he would be very much the second string to Tiger Woods. How times can change in sport. Woods withdrew from the event mid way through his final round citing a back injury and is now likely to miss this week’s final major of the season, the US PGA.
9 – NI Boxing Medals
Northern Ireland gathered a total of 13 medals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, nine of them coming in Boxing. Paddy Barnes and Michael Conlon both secured Gold at their respective weights while Michaela Walsh emerged as a genuine Gold medal prospect for Rio 2012 after her wafer thin defeat in the Gold Medal bout to reigning Olympic Champion, England’s Nicola Adams. Joe Fitzpatrick claimed the other Silver medal with five boxers coming home with Bronze.
43 – Irish Women’s Rugby
Friday’s 23-17 victory at the Women’s Rugby World Cup over the United States showed just how far the Ireland team has come in the last four years. At the 2010 tournament, the US won 40-3. Today the team face tournament favourites New Zealand in their second group game, knowing that victory would secure a semi final spot and that even a bonus point in defeat could be enough to edge through as the best runner up across the three competing groups. The match will be shown line on TG4 and Sky Sports at 5pm.
2011 – GAA Football Championship Revisited
Mayo’s victory over Cork was a repeat of their victory at the same stage in 2011. That year they went on to play Kerry in the semi-final, just as they will on August 24th. Kerry won that encounter by nine points. On the other side of the draw Dublin and Donegal go into their respective Quarter Finals next weekend as strong favourites. Victory for both would set up another repeat of the 2011 Championship at the semi final stage. They do say that history is the best guide to the future…
7,500 – Rock ‘n Roll Runners
The second annual Rock ‘n Roll Marathon exceeded the success of last year’s inaugural run, despite there being no ‘Gathering’ Boost as there was in 2013. 7,500 runners piled through the Phoenix Park to the beating pulse of Rock bands playing at each mile stage along the route. Next year will present a challenge to organisers and Dublin City Council with Dublin’s first Ironman 70.3 Race rumoured to be targeting the same August Bank Holiday weekend.
All the images used on Sport for Business are courtesy of our photography partners Inpho.ie.
