In the end it was disappointment for Ireland against Sweden last night but Vera Pauw's side did manage to push one of the best teams in the world all the way in Tallaght. Only an unlucky first half own goal from Louise Quinn did the damage as Ireland came close to a memorable result. There was some good news after the match however when a scan revealed no break in the arm of Denise O'Sullivan who had been injured towards the end of the match. With the injury not as bad as first feared she looks set to be fit to face Finland this Tuesday. All in all it was an encouraging night for Ireland in many ways and Malachy Clerkin hands out the marks in our player ratings. In her TV View column, Mary Hannigan writes that Helsinki offers a chance for Ireland to kickstart their campaign.
Moving to rugby and this morning Gerry Thornley speaks to Connacht coach Peter Wilkins about falling out of love with rugby before being rekindled at Toulouse. "The disappointment of realising that he wasn't going to make it as a player led Wilkins to walk away from the sport entirely for six years in his early 20s. He even stopped watching," he writes. Tonight Leinster meet Glasgow in the URC in what looks to be a step up in challenge at Scotstoun. Leo Cullen has named a strong team for the occasion as they look to make it five wins from five. Meanwhile, Ireland Sevens player Billy Dardis was speaking yesterday about the disappointment of the Tokyo Olympics and his desire to kick on and improve when Paris rolls around in 2024.
This morning Ireland meet Namibia in their final T20 World Cup group stage match knowing a win is needed to advance to the Super 12s stage. The action gets underway at 11am in the UAE with the winner set to join the top echelons of the game in the main tournament. "On paper Ireland are favourites. There has only been one competitive meeting between these two before. Ireland came out on top in the 2019 qualifiers for this World T20," writes Nathan Johns. In his column this morning Johnny Watterson is recalling that famous day in 2007 when he watched as Ireland dismantled Pakistan to reach the Super 8 stage of the World Cup and shock the world.
Moving to GAA and the discussions around potential changes to the format of the football championship structure at tomorrow's special congress are growing stronger as the vote creeps nearer. Over the week Proposal B has been gaining more and more vocal support with Wexford chairman Micheál Martin the latest to say that he feels it would be the best option. Elsewhere, Dublin's Brian Howard says the six times-in-a-row All-Ireland champions have not lost any of their hunger, despite their semi-final exit from the championship last year. Meanwhile, Ephie Fitzgerald has been named as the new Waterford football manager.
