BASKETBALL
Ireland’s U17 men have been denied a place at the tournament finals of the FIBA U17 Skills Challenge 2020 after a heartbreaking defeat to Portugal in the final phase of European qualifying on Sunday.
Ireland posted their second-best time, but it wasn’t enough, as they fell to a 112-126 loss. A win would have seen Ireland compete against the world’s elite at a major finals, which are due to begin on Tuesday.
Ireland U17 head coach Paul Kelleher, made one change to his starting 5 for the crunch contest against Portugal, with Sean Pollmann-Daamen selected instead of Ben Burke.
Ruairi Cronin began Ireland’s challenge and he picked up three points along the way. He was followed by Tim Pollmann-Daamen (2 points), Daniel O’Sullivan (3 points), Sean Pollmann Daamen (1 point) and Killian Gribben (4 points). They finished with a time of 139 seconds, and their 13-point haul reduced their total to 126.
But their Portuguese opponents, who’d finished second in Group B of qualifying, completed the course in 132 seconds and picked up 20 points along the way, to finish with a score of 112.
Ireland’s U17 women were agonisingly eliminated from the FIBA U17 Women’s Skills Challenge 2020 on Friday, despite finishing joint-top of Group A in European qualifying, with three wins from their four qualifiers. They missed out on a count-back, after three sides in Group A each picked up three wins.
The Irish women, who began with wins over Israel and Belarus on Thursday, followed it with a comfortable 154-181 success over Gibraltar on Friday. A 130-142 defeat to Poland proved costly, as three wins proved not enough to progress.
The nine-person U17 women’s squad comprised of Hazel Finn, Sarah Hickey, Paris McCarthy, Kara McCleane, Shannon Cunningham, Maria Kealy, Rebecca Hynes, Aisling Marmion and Emily O’Dwyer, all of whom were named in Tommy O’Mahony’s Ireland U18 squad on Friday.
SOCCER
Former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has retired from playing football at the age of 34.
He'll now take over as boss of Belgian side Anderlecht.
Kompany originally joined Anderlecht in a player-manager role in May 2019.
He won four Premier League titles during his time at City.
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One of Kompany's former team-mates Joe Hart is having a medical ahead of a free transfer to Tottenham.
Hart was released by Burnley at the end of June after spending last season as back-up to Nick Pope at Turf Moor.
Hart will compete with Paulo Gazzaniga for Hugo Lloris' number 1 spot as goalkeeper in Jose Mourinho's squad.
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The second Europa League semi-final takes place in Dusseldorf tonight.
Serie A giants Inter take on Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk.
The winners of that clash will face five time winners Sevilla in the final.
That match kicks off at 8PM.
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There are also three games in the SSE Airtricity League First Division, including a top of the table clash
Leaders Cabinteely visit Longford Town.
Elsewhere, third placed Drogheda United host Galway United and UCD entertain Athlone Town.
All those matches kick-off at 7:45.
GAELIC GAMES
Meath club, Simonstown Gaels have become the latest club to suspend activity after a player tested positive for Covid-19.
The club released a statement to say they've suspended all GAA activities for 48 hours as a result of one adult panel member testing positive.
There have already been games in the Dublin Football Championship and Clare Hurling Championship game called off due to coronavirus.
RACING
There's a seven-race card taking place at Tipperary this afternoon.
The first one goes to post at 1PM.
DARTS
And Milton Keynes will remain the venue for the rest of the Premier League Darts group stage.
Nights in Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield have been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Those events have been moved behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena.
The PDC still hopes to hold the play-offs and final at the O2 in London in October.
