In front of a capacity crowd at the La Defense last night Sligo swimmer Mona McSharry set a new Irish record of 1:05.51 in the semi-final of the women’s 100m breaststroke as she qualified in style for tonight’s final ranked second on times.

Sallynoggin boxer Jack Marley secured the first win for the Irish boxers in Paris when he overcame Bereznicki of Poland in the last 16 of the heavyweight (92kg) division.

The Women’s Rugby Sevens team recorded an impressive 38-0 win over South Africa in their second game at the Stade de France this evening.

SWIMMING

Team Ireland’s Mona McSharry had the swim of her life in the 100m Breaststroke semi-final tonight recording a new Irish Record to book her place in Monday’s final. The now two-time Olympic finalist progresses as second seed.McSharry posted her second fastest time ever in this morning’s heats in 1:05.74 and went on to lower that to 1:05.51 this evening, which shaves four hundredths of a second off her own Irish Record of 1:05.55 from the 2023 World Championships.

Swimming in the second semi-final McSharry was out in 30.96, slower than this morning’s 30.82, but a back half 34.55 was quicker than the 34.92 split this morning. The Sligo woman was second in her semi-final behind South Africa’s Tatjana Smith (1:05.00) while 2024 World Champion China’s Qianting Tang won the first semi-final in 1:05.83. World Record holder Lily King was third behind McSharry in 1:05.64.

A delighted McSharry spoke after the race: “It was very good, I’m happy with that, progressing through the rounds, I can’t ask for anything better and I have a place in the final, that was really the only job of the semis – to progress, so yeah I’m happy with that.”

ROWING

The Women’s Pair (W2-) of Fiona Murtagh and Aifric Keogh got the job done on the water yesterday morning, moving through to the semi-final with a second-place finish in their heat. The Galway duo held a conservative start sitting in third place through the first 1500 meters, but really kicked into gear coming into the final sprint. They were finished in time to go and cheer on Galway in the All Ireland Football Final but with less success in that.

Fermanagh’s Nathan Timoney and Ross Corrigan impressed in what was perhaps the race of the day, in the first heat of the Men’s Pair (M2-). With just the fastest three crews making it straight through to the semi-final, it came right down to the last stroke line with four boats in a photo finish to decide the placings.

Afterwards Corrigan said: “Definitely there was a wee bit of a moment where we were waiting to see had we done it, I was fairly confident we had beat the Swiss anyway, and then you just never know what the surge is going to be like when it’s so close.”

A roar went up from the green contingent in the crowd as the Irish pair were announced as the third-place finishers, beating Switzerland; the World silver medallists, to the line by just .02 of a second. Timoney and Corrigan are up again on Tuesday in the semi-finals.

The Lightweight Women’s Double (LW2x) of Margaret Cremen and Aoife Casey just missed out on direct qualification to the semi-final, finishing third in their heat. Drawn against the Great Britain crew (unbeaten since Tokyo), Cremen and Casey fought to the line, gaining ground on the Greek double in second place, but it wasn’t enough to pick up the direct ticket to the semi-final. Instead they head into tomorrow’s Repechage where they face Argentina, Iran, Canada and China, with the fastest three making it to the semi-final.

Reigning Olympic Champions Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy opened their Paris campaign with another convincing win in the heats of the LM2x. Moving up into first place after 600 meters, there was no catching the Irish double as they increased their lead stroke by stroke. Cruising through the finish line, there was never a doubt on their progression to the next round. They take to the water next on Wednesday morning where they will need to be in the top three to make it to the final.

Speaking afterwards O’Donovan said: “There’s very nice conditions out there, very impressed with the facilities they have here in Paris; they’re putting on a good show, and all the Irish have come out to take the opportunity and it’s been incredible to hear that in the crowd, some great support from everyone.”

We’ve been really enjoying it out there and hopefully there’s more to come from us… all that matters is this week and the next few days. We’ve been preparing really hard out in Spain and back in Cork, we’re working on the fitness quite a bit.”

McCarthy added: “We feel way fitter, we’ve been training really really hard, if anything we’re probably a bit tired so we’ll get a bit of energy back in….and hopefully have a good peak for the semis and the finals then.”

In the Women’s Four (W4-) Emily Hegarty, Natalie Long, Eimear Lambe, and Imogen Magner finished in third place behind the crews from the Netherlands and Romania in their heat. Only the top two crews made it straight into the final of this event, so the Irish quartet will race again in Tuesday’s Repechage where they will have to place in the top two if they are to make the final.

BOXING

Dublin’s Jack Marley got Ireland’s first boxing victory in Paris 2024 by defeating Poland’s Mateusz Bereznicki in the last 16 of the 92kg division. His sensational start puts the Monkstown BC man straight into the quarter-finals and just one fight away from an Olympic medal.

Marley had beaten the same Polish opponent en route to his European U22 title in 2022 but he treated him with the ultimate respect and started like a train, landing an early right hook and a barrage of counter punches to win the first round 4-1.

Twenty-one year old Marley took an early right hand from his much taller opponent early in the second round but kept attacking at great pace and won the second round by the same 4-1 margin.
With just one round to go he played it slightly more evasive in the third but still landed some big punches and earned another 4-1 result, winning the fight on a majority 4-1 margin.

Afterwards Marley said: “It was my Olympic boxing debut, I knew I had to start as I mean to go on and that’s what I did. He was actually a different fighter than when I fought him last, he was much more on the back foot this time. Last time he was trying to meet me. He was using his distance this time so every step I took, he was taking two back so I had to adapt and that’s why I upped the pace, it worked well. I got told ‘have no regrets!’ about two minutes before I stepped into the ring and I’ll aways remember that.”

Asked about the pressure now of being within one win of making an Olympic podium Marley stressed: “I was one fight away this morning because if I lost I wasn’t getting anywhere near that podium. Each fight’s the same, it’s the same as an Olympic qualifier. If I lose I’m out.”

Marley’s victory puts him through to the quarter-finals next Thursday (Aug 1) where he will fight Daviat Boltaev (Tajikistan), the 2022 Asian Games’ champion. Jack is the first Irish heavyweight to qualify for the Olympics since Atlanta 1996 and the first Olympian from his Dublin club, making his victory a very special night for Monkstown BC.

There was huge disappointment for Offaly boxer Grainne Walsh whose Olympic debut ended in a 4-1 split decision defeat by Hungary’s Anna Luca Hamori in the preliminary round of the 66kg welterweight division.

The first round was close but the Hungarian nicked it on points 3-2. Walsh landed a big left hook at the start of the second and looked to have landed much more clean punches than her taller opponent who repeatedly clung on to her. The Hungarian even got an official warning for ‘holding’ in the second round yet the judges still gave that to her 5-0.

That left the Tullamore welterweight needing something dramatic in the third and despite giving it everything, right to the end, it was not to be. She was clearly frustrated by her opponent’s holding tactics, which she felt should have received more warnings.

Afterwards Walsh said: “I’m obviously bitterly disappointed. I just feel like I didn’t get a flow at all. I’m a fighter that relies very much on getting into my flow and using my reflexes and stuff. Anytime I got close she was leaning on me. I was trying to set my hands free. I’m not blaming her for it. She did what she had to do to win the fight. I’m just frustrated.”

“Obviously there was the points deduction in the second round but it didn’t really change much. Huge effort went into preparing for this. My coach has put in huge work with me and so much trust me. The Olympics comes around once every four years, so it’s a shame how it turned out but I’m very proud of myself for getting this far. I’m tremendously proud to be able to call myself an Olympian forever, just disappointed that I didn’t get to show the best version of myself.”

Aidan Walsh’s dream of winning a second Olympic boxing medal ended with a 4-0 defeat by France’s Mahan Traore in the preliminary round of the 71kg at the North Paris Arena. The Tokyo bronze medallist got off to a great start, winning the first round unanimously on a 5-0 score when the taller French man, literally, did not land a punch on him.

However, accompanied by a cacophony of support from the partisan crowd, Traore got in a big right hand early on the re-start and won the second round 4-1, leaving everything hinged on the final round. The Belfast man’s hopes of progressing were dealt a hammer blow early in the third when he got an official warning for ‘holding’, which automatically docked him by a point, resulting in victory for the home boxer on a 4-0 decision.

Afterwards Walsh said: “When you win the first round so clearly you just keep doing what you’re doing and it just usually goes for you. I know I got a warning in the third, I don’t really know why because I’ve been doing that all my career, hitting and holding. Usually you get a few cautions before you get a proper warning, but the referees seem to be clamping down on that in the last few months.

With characteristic grace he added: “I’m just incredibly grateful to be here, my aim isn’t always to medal, it’s to enjoy the process and I’ve really enjoyed my time here in the village, much more than my last experience in Tokyo and it’s just a privilege to be here.”

WOMEN’S RUGBY SEVENS

Ireland Women’s Sevens produced a brilliant performance in their second Pool B outing on Sunday evening, bouncing back from their earlier defeat to Great Britain to inject huge momentum into their Olympic campaign with a 38-0 victory over South Africa at Stade de France.

Allan Temple-Jones’ side scored six tries during a blistering display in front of another packed out crowd in Saint Denis, clinching their first ever Olympic victory. Galway’s Béibhinn Parsons scored a try in each half, while Stacey Flood, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, and Eve Higgins also crossed to leave Ireland third in Pool B heading into tomorrow’s clash with Australia at 1.30pm.

Following this afternoon’s 21-12 loss to Great Britain in their Paris 2024 opener, it was imperative Ireland bounced back and they did so impressively, dominating possession against South Africa and eventually turning their territory into points, as Parsons, Flood and replacements Elmes Kinlan and Higgins all scored their first Olympic tries.

It leaves Pool B delicately poised heading into Monday’s action, with the top two teams and the two best third placed teams advancing through to the quarter-finals. Earlier Australia impressed massively in beating Great Britain 38-5 in their second Pool encounter.

Speaking afterwards, winger Parsons said: “We were extremely disappointed with our result against Great Britain so we needed to come together and find a response against a tough South African team. There was a big focus on accuracy for us in this game and we were able to execute at key moments, presenting us with try-scoring opportunities that we took. It was really pleasing to build up a big score too as we know it will be a tight fight for the quarter-finals, so every point will matter tomorrow.”

SAILING

Sailors Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove contested the first three of twelve races in the Skiff finishing first, fourth and third respectively in each, and sitting in second place overall.

The Dublin crew impressed on the water off the coast of Marseille, despite dealing with significant weather delays.

Their standout performance was in the third and final race where they finished first as conditions improved and the breeze strengthened. Dickson and Waddilove, who are competing in their second Olympic Games, had finished fourth in the second race and ninth in their opening race.

Reflecting on their first day on the water James O’Callaghan, Performance Director of Sailing Ireland said: “It was a tough but good day. The wind was light for the first two races which made it challenging. It picked up for the final race, so they changed the course. It’s difficult to be consistent with the changing conditions but the guys were, and it reflects in the result. We couldn’t ask for a much better start, but we aren’t getting ahead of ourselves.”

Dickson and Waddilove return to action today where they will have three more races.

EQUESTRIAN

Sarah Ennis got the Irish team off to an almost perfect start on Eventing day two in Versailles. After a slightly disappointing score in her dressage test yesterday, Ennis and Action Lady M came home on a score of 41.2 after a clear round with just 3.2 time penalties to bring the Irish back into contention with Susie Berry and Austin O’Connor to come later. Pathfinder Ennis set off fourth of all competitors and superbly navigated the track coming home just outside the allowed time.

“She was incredible – where the crowds didn’t help in the dressage ring, they actually helped out there today. I’ve never seen so many people! She can be a little spooky and she actually backed away from the crowds, and I could ride around the turns. I stuck to the plan, and she was on it all the way. The ground hasn’t dried overnight and I nearly slipped in the woods but that was the only real scare. She actually lost a couple of shoes out on the track so fair dues to her – it really was a brilliant performance.”

Unfortunately, Sarah Ennis’ horse picked up a minor injury in the course of her round and has had to be replaced for today’s show jumping leg by Aoife Clarke and Sportsfield Freelance.

Susie Berry followed up with another clear round on board Wellfields Lincoln, finishing with 15.2 time penalties.After a score of 33.0 in dressage yesterday, Berry moves to 48.2 after day two and, with the complexion of the competition ever changing with eliminations and retirements to riders from fancied nations, the Irish remain optimistic.

“Lincoln was brilliant, he kept answering every question, jumped great and was full of running at the end. I had to do a long route at the end, which definitely wasn’t plan A, but he landed a little more left then I needed at the first log. I probably could have done the time – if I was doing it for myself – but as a team, you just need everyone to get home. We’re so competitive by nature, and I probably could have just been a bit quicker but it was a matter of getting around and putting a clear in.”

Cork’s Austin O’Connor delivered a foot-perfect clear cross country round within the time on board Colorado Blue to lie 14th individually in the Eventing.O’Connor and his dashing grey came home one second under the limit to remain on his dressage score of 31.7 – leaving Ireland on a team total of 121.10 in eighth place. O’Connor was delighted and relieved in equal measure with his performance.

“He was electric, even with his reputation on the cross country it’s a massive mighty relief to have it behind us. He was super the whole the whole way around. He was quick, he was good, he did what he’s good at – clear inside the time for the second time at an Olympics. He’s just phenomenal, and I’m beginning to hope he stays around forever. He’s an incredible horse, whatever he does from here on, he’s been the horse of a lifetime for me and he’s feeling as good as ever.”

With over 40,000 lining the track, O’Connor felt uplifted by the crowd, and joked that he didn’t want to let them down by making any mistakes: “I’ve never never ridden in an atmosphere like this, it’s incredible, unbelievable – from the get-go to the finish. It gives you a bit of a lift when you see them, and then the main thing is not to not to screw up in front of all of the fans. It makes you a little bit more determined, and I’m really glad it all turned out well.”

TODAY’S ACTION

Team Ireland will be in action across nine sports today.

The Men’s Hockey team get day three of Paris 2024 underway when they play Australia in their second pool game.

In Equestrian the Eventing team of Susie Berry and Austin O’Connor with Aoife Clarke now replacing Sarah Ennis, will contest the third and final element of their competition when they go in the show jumping at the Palace of Versailles. They lie eighth overall in the team event.

O’Connor lies in 14th place, individually, on his dressage score of 31.7 after his impressive cross country test.Tomorrow’s final day will feature the team show jumping phase in the morning, followed by a second round of jumping for the top 25 combinations, after which the individual medals will be decided. The Cork man is within striking distance of a top 10 finish.

One Irish rowing crew will be back on the water; women’s lightweight double Mags Cremen and Aoife Casey race in the repechages of their event, and must finish in the top three to advance to the semi-finals.

In the morning swimming session at the La Defense three Irish swimmers will feature.

Dubliner Ellen Walshe will contest the heats of her favoured event; the women’s 400m Individual Medley, in which she swam a new Irish record of 4:37.18 last month. Danielle Hill will race afterwards in the heats of the women’s 100m backstroke; an event in which she became the first Irishwoman to break the minute mark in last May. Reigning world champion Daniel Wiffen will make his first appearance at these Games when he lines up in the heats of the men’s 800m freestyle; he is the third fastest entrant on a time of 7:39.19.

In Sailing, after their impressive win in race three on Sunday, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove return to the water in Marseilles for races four, five and six of the men’s Skiff.

Off the back of their win against South Africa the women’s rugby Sevens team return to the Stade de France to face Australia in their final Pool game. Australia impressed hugely beating Great Britain 38-5 in their second Pool game on Sunday.

In Canoe Slalom double Olympian Liam Jegou returns to action when he goes in the semi-final of the men’s C1 at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium. 16 paddlers will each get just one run down the 250m course with the top 12 gaining a spot in the Olympic final. Clare man Jegou, who qualified in 16th place will be the first to take on the course and try and post a strong time when the event starts at 2.30pm.

Next into the boxing ring tomorrow afternoon for Team Ireland is defending Olympic lightweight champion Kellie Harrington who faces Italy’s Alessia Mesiano in the last 16. Mesiano was a lightweight world bronze medallist in 2022 and comes into the fight with one victory already under her belt in Paris; a 4-1 victory over a Turkish boxer in the preliminary round. The duo have met once before, in an Ireland v Italy international in Belfast in 2021 which Harrington won 5-0.

Following his brilliant win in his opening game on Saturday Badminton double Olympian Nhat Nguyen will face Prince Dehal of Nepal in his second group game this evening.

Then at 20:25 Mona MacSharry will swim for Gold in the final of the Women’s 100 Metre Breastroke.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE

09:00 Men’s Hockey, Pool B, Ireland v Australia
09:30 start Equestrian – Eventing Show-jumping – team and individual, Aoife Clarke, Susie Berry, Austin O’Connor
10:00 Rowing, Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls (LW2x), Margaret Cremen & Aoife Casey, repechage 1/2 – first three in rep will qualify for semi-finals
10:06 Swimming, Women’s 400m IM, Ellen Walshe (heat 2/2)
10:19 Swimming, Women’s 100m Backstroke, Danielle Hill (heat3/5)
10:58 Swimming, Men’s 800m Freestyle, Daniel Wiffen, (heat 4/4)
11:05 Sailing, Men’s Skiff, race 4, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove
11:57 Sailing, Men’s Skiff, race 5, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove
12:49 Sailing, Men’s Skiff, race 5, Robert Dickson and Seán Waddilove
14:30 Women’s Rugby Sevens, Pool B, Ireland V Australia
14:30 Canoe Slalom, Men’s C1 semi-final, Liam Jegou
14:46 Boxing, Women’s 60kg, Round of 16, Kellie Harrington V Allesia Mesiano (ITA)
19:00 Women’s Rugby Sevens, Placing & knockout matches
19:30 Swimming, Women’s 400m IM final, Ellen Walshe, *dependent on progression
19:57 Swimming, Women’s 100m Backstroke semi-final, Danielle Hill, *dependent on progression
20:10 or later Badminton, Men’s Singles, Group P, Nhat Nguyen V Prince Dehal (NEP)
20:25 Swimming, Women’s 100m Breaststroke final, Mona McSharry

With thanks to the media service being delivered from Paris by Sport for Business member the Olympic Federation of Ireland

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