Irish international Conor Frawley, who left Leinster to get first team football with Connacht, scored two tries on his Connacht debut on Friday night, as they won 22-19 away to Benetton in the URC. Frawley’s second try secured a four-try bonus point and Connacht’s first victory of the season after their opening weekend defeat by Stormers. In Limerick, Cork-born out-half Charlie O’Shea announced himself to the Thomond Park crowd with a sensational performance, as the 20 year-old steered Munster to an impressive bonus-point 26-22 win over the Bulls. Ulster fought back to snatch a dramatic 33-33 draw against Glasgow with a late converted try from Juarno Augustus at Scotstoun Stadium. But reigning URC champions Leinster suffered a second successive defeat, losing 26-20 to the Sharks in Durban.
Ireland’s Kate Jordan with her first cap after making her debut against Japan in Cork.
[Inpho/Ben Brady]
Meanwhile the Irish Women’s team produced their most complete performance of this international window with an 43-19 win over Japan in Cork on Saturday. Head Coach Scott Bemand saw his team score seven tries overall with Alana McInerney and Sophie Barrett touching down on their international debuts. Player of the match and record try-scorer Béibhinn Parsons also got on the scoresheet as Ireland backed up their 31-24 win over Japan in Athlone the previous week with an improved overall display.
GAA
Dingle, the reigning All-Ireland club champions are out of the Kerry senior football championship. The West Kerry club were beaten 1-17 to 1-11 by East Kerry club Spa on Saturday. Also in Kerry a last-minute two-pointer from David Clifford gave divisional side East Kerry a one-point win over Mid Kerry. The quarter-finals in Kerry will be played next weekend. The pairings are: Austin Stacks v Dr Crokes, East Kerry v Spa, North Kerry v An Ghaeltacht and Rathmore v Kenmare Shamrocks.
In Mayo Garrymore are through to the Mayo senior football final for the first time since 1982 after beating Belmullet 2-16 to 2-15 in the semi-final. In the final Garrymore will play Castlebar Mitchels after the 31-time champions beat Breaffy in the other semi-final.
In Cork Glen Rovers and St Finbarr’s will meet in the county senior hurling final on Oct. 18. It will be the first final meeting between these old city rivals since 1988. In the semi-finals at the weekend the Glen beat Midleton 2-21 to 1-18, while the ‘Barrs beat north Cork club Kanturk 1-27 to 1-22. And Carney Emmets won the Wicklow senior hurling final for the 21st time, beating Glenealy 0-15 to 0-12 at Aughrim.
HORSE RACING
Daryz became the first colt for almost 50 years to win Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, in successive seasons with a brilliant win at Longchamp on Sunday. Not since the Vincent O’Brien-trained Alleged with Lester Piggott on board in 1977 and 1978 has a colt managed to defend his title, but once Mickael Barzalona pulled the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained Daryz out to make his run the result looked inevitable. Tipperary-based trainer Aidan O’Brien saddled 3 of the 16 runners in the big race and Diamond Necklace who finished third, with his best performer.
BOXING
The death occurred last week in Newtownards of former European super-middleweight champion Ray Close at the age of 57. Close, who turned professional in 1988, won the Irish super-middleweight title in 1989, a belt he retained over the subsequent years. In March 1993, he stopped Vincenzo Nardiello in a bout in Lombardy to claim the EBU European super-middle title. Close is best remembered for his two titanic world title bouts with Chris Eubank in 1993 and 1994. His first bout with Eubank in Glasgow in May 1993 was scored a draw by the judges. The rematch in Belfast 12 months later went in Eubank’s favor on a narrow split decision. The pair were due to meet for a third time in 1995 but the fight was abandoned after Close had his boxing licence revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control following the results of a brain scan. Eubank subsequently fought Dubliner Steve Collins in Millstreet County Cork instead, losing his title in a famous contest.
Boxer Ray Close, who has died, pictured in 2003.
[Inpho/Andrew Paton]
