SPORT - The Scoop's Sports Round-up
Lauren McCann
Horse Racing
Irish rider Rachael Blackmore has become the first female jockey to win the Grand National after victory on Minella Times at Aintree. Blackmore had already created her own bit of history last month at the Cheltenham Festival, when she became the first woman to be the meeting’s leading jockey. She would go one better on Merseyside at the weekend, expertly guiding Minella Times round the 30 fences and over four miles to secure victory by six and a half lengths.
Northern Ireland Women
Kenny Shiels’ side are on the cusp of creating history after they beat Ukraine 2-1 away from home in the first leg of their Euro 2022 play-off game last Friday night. On what was the biggest game of their history, Northern Ireland raced into an early lead through Liverpool midfielder Rachel Furness. She then hobbled off before half time and is a major doubt for the return leg in Belfast.
Some sloppy defending allowed the hosts to equalise through Apanashchenko before the break. Everton striker Simone Magill then scored the winner just before the hour mark with a superb, lobbed finish. Northern Ireland, who had dominated the game, held on for the victory and have two crucial away goals ahead of the return leg, which took place on Tuesday night at Seaview. They now know they are one game away from reaching their first ever major tournament, a monumental achievement given most of their squad play in the Women’s Premiership.
Golf
Rory McIlroy failed to make the cut for the Masters for the first time since 2010, missing out by three shots. He is now without a win since November 2019. The Northern Irishman was 11 behind leader Justin Rose after an opening 76 and was unable to recover, ending 13 behind Rose with a six-over-par. The 31-year-old has now slipped to twelth in the world rankings after another disappointing display.
Irish Premiership
It was another dramatic weekend of action in the Irish Premiership as the race for the top six heats up. Glentoran were the big winners this weekend, winning 2-0 against basement side Dungannon Swifts, and capitalising on Linfield dropping points against Larne, after they needed a second-half equaliser to come away with a point from Inver Park. Mick McDermott’s men are twelve points behind Linfield, but with two games in hand over the leaders.
Elsewhere Crusaders scored a late equaliser to secure a share of the spoils in the North Belfast Derby at Seaview. They had raced into an early lead through Forsythe before Cliftonville fought back in the second period, with goals from Curran and McCrudden giving them the lead going into the final few minutes. Lowry then flicked home Crusaders’ second to move the Hatchetmen into sixth place, a point ahead of Ballymena who fell to defeat against Glenavon.
Gary Hamilton’s men have now defeated the Braidmen in all three of their meetings this season after last Saturday’s 3-2 victory at Mourneview Park. The result moves them level with Ballymena with three games of the pre-split season remaining. Portadown also ended their run of five straight defeats by beating Carrick 2-0 on Saturday as Coleraine got back to winning ways, coming from behind to beat Warrenpoint 2-1 in the late kick off at Milltown to keep their hopes of sealing automatic European qualification alive ahead of the split.
GAA
It was announced this week that the inter-county football championships will have a straight knockout format for a second successive season ahead of the return of the National League in mid-May. The straight knockout format was used last year because of the pandemic and its retention was listed in the GAA’s return to play roadmap, which was published this week. The Football League will again have a regional league format and will start in May, with the finals taking place in June. The Hurling League will begin in the same month, with club action set to resume in September.
Women’s Six Nations
Ireland opened their Six Nations campaign with a commanding 45-0 win over Wales last Saturday night. Playing their first game since October last year, they raced into an early lead with Eimear Considine and Beibhinn Parsons both scored two tries each whilst Sene Naoupu also crossed to give them an insurmountable 31-0 lead at the break. Dorothy Wall and Hannah Tyrell then ran in late in the second half to round off the thrashing and secure the bonus point. They now turn their attention to their next game with France this Saturday, knowing another victory would see them face England in the play offs.
Ulster Rugby
Ulster booked their place in the last four of the European Challenge Cup for the first time since 2021 with a 35-27 win over Northampton. The Saints held an eight-point advantage at half time, despite having three players sin binned. Ulster rallied to come back in the second period, with Marty Moore, Rob Herring and John Cooney all crossing for Dan McFarland’s team. Jacob Stockdale scored the vital try which sealed the Irish side’s place in the semi-finals alongside Bath, Leicester and Montpellier.
Lauren McCann is an English and Spanish student at QUB. Listen to her on The Sporty Scoop every Wednesday.