‘I honestly woke up and felt like I had drunk 10 pints'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
32 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Clare dynamo Donegan shines as Leona's putter goes cold at Women's Irish Open
Aine Donegan loves the spotlight and she showed at Carton House that she's not afraid to go toe-to-toe with the best when she opened with a two-under 71 in the KPMG Women's Irish Open. The Lahinch amateur arrived in Co Kildare running on fumes after teaming up with Beth Coulter to help Great Britain and Ireland win the Vagliano Trophy for the first time in 20 years just last weekend. The 23-year old from Ennis plans to turn professional after the World Amateur Team Championships later this summer and in outscoring her illustrious playing partners yesterday— Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist and star attraction Leona Maguire — she's clearly no wallflower when it comes to performing under pressure. "I loved it,' said Donegan, who had to hole two four-footers and a five-footer for pars on her last three greens. "I love playing in front of a crowd, it's way more fun and you get more adrenaline from that, but it was great.' Her 20-year-old Irish teammate Emma Fleming from Elm Park leads the home challenge over the O'Meara Course, where a four-under 69 left her tied for ninth, just two shots behind Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini — last year's Order of Merit winner — and Spain's Blanca Fernandez. They shot 67s to lead by a shot from England's Hannah Screen and Mimi Rhodes, Swedish Solheim Cup star Madelene Sagstrom and her compatriot Lisa Pettersson, Alexandra Swayne from the U.S Virgin Islands and world amateur number one Lottie Woad. Sagstrom got to eight-under after an eagle at the fourth (her 13th) but shanked her third and tripled bogeyed the fifth. Donegan is well-placed in a tie for 25th with Elm Park rookie Anna Foster, who was five under after ten holes before frittering away three strokes as the wind got up from midday. "I probably would have taken it, I suppose,' said the Co Clare woman, who birdied three of her first four holes en route to her 71 as Maguire holed little on the greens for a one-under 72 and Nordqvist posted a 75. 'It's good, I could have gone a lot better. I started well, I was three-under through four, and I hit a few loose shots around the middle of the round and got better towards the end." After playing all four rounds in the US Women's at Pebble Beach in 2023, Donegan played on the winning Curtis Cup team last year and can't wait to join the pro ranks. "I'm looking forward to it,' she said. 'I think the fact that so many Irish girls are on the LET makes me look forward to it a little bit more. Just to have a few people to always travel with is nice.' IMPRESSED: Leona Maguire is impressed by what she has seen from Aine Donegan. Pic :Seb Daly/Sportsfile Maguire was impressed by what she saw from Donegan, having played with her in Dromoland Castle two years ago. 'She played great,' Maguire said. 'She got off to a very hot start. Two under is a very nice start for her. I played with her in this a few years ago in Dromoland, and I was kind of surprised she didn't actually turn pro this week. But she's a great player, and it will be a great experience for her this week.' As for her round, the Co Cavan star admitted her score was not a great reflection of how well she hit the ball from tee to green. 'I played some really nice golf,' she said. 'I feel like I've left quite a few shots out there and didn't take advantage of some of the shots on my back nine, but overall, it's still an under-par round to start the week… Overall, I'm happy with how I gave myself lots of chances. Hopefully, I can take more advantage of the par fives tomorrow.' Fleming won the Victorian Amateur Championship in Australia last month and took that form back home as she made five birdies in her four-under 67. 'I missed the cut last year and made the cut the year before, so hopefully I can do better this time,' said Fleming, who is unsure about a professional career. 'I'm studying economics and finance (in UCD), I am trying to move forward with my academics and then maybe, you never know. 'My family is very academically orientated. We have always valued academics as a strong Plan B if you were going to turn pro or whatever. I am into my third year now, so I have two more years to decide. We will see.' World number 19 Charley Hull threatened to go low when she birdied four of her first five holes in the windier afternoon conditions. But she had to settle for a three-under 70 alongside Douglas' Sara Byrne (75) as she bogeyed the eighth and ninth before following birdies at the 10th and 13th with a three-putted bogey at the last. 'The greens were a little bit bobbly towards the end after the rain,' Hull said. 'That's why I three-putted the last. But no, pretty good, pretty happy. The wind definitely got up this afternoon. So looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow.' Just five of the 16-strong Irish contingent were inside the cut line with Canice Screene's level par 73 leaving her amongst the top 60 professionals who will make the weekend. Tramore's Anna Dawson was just outside the mark after a battling 74 featuring four birdies, two bogeys and a triple bogey at her 12th hole. Friday Tee Times First hole 8.00am: A Swayne (ISV), B Navarrosa (USA), C Kauffmann (GER) 8.12am: E Moosmann (SUI), K Arwefjall (SWE), A Klotz (FRA) 8.24am: C Williams (WAL), D Du Toit (RSA), A-C Mora (FRA) 8.36am: K Napoleaova (CZE), M MacLaren (ENG), E Grechi (FRA) 8.48am: L Young (ENG), C Screene (IRL), P Mack (GER) 9.00am: D Forbrigd (NOR), S Kibsgaard Nielsen (DEN), H Lee (ESP) 9.12am: C Herbin (FRA), S Bringner (SWE), M J Moreno (NIR) (a) 9.24am: H Tamy Kreuzer (GER), E Givens (ENG), R Scanlon (IRL) (a) 9.36am: T Toscano (ESP), A Magnusson (SWE), C Finne-Ipsen (DEN) 9.48am: T Mazarino (NOR), A Latorre (ESP), H Bakshi (IND) 10.00am: S Nuutinen (FIN), G Bjorgvinsdottir (ISL), A Abom (IRL) (a) 1.00pm: H Screen (ENG), L Harm (GER), U Wikstrom (FIN) 1.12pm: P Babnik (SLO), L Pettersson (SWE), B Coulter (IRL) (a) 1.24pm: D Harry (WAL), S Tarning Soenderby (DEN), T Cheenglab (THA) 1.36pm: L Walsh (IRL), M Sagstrom (SWE), C Tamburlini (SUI) 1.48pm: A Foster (IRL), M Rhodes (ENG), C Gainer (ENG) 2.00pm: L Maguire (IRL), A Nordqvist (SWE), A Donegan (IRL) (a) 2.12pm: A Fuller (ENG), K Bennett (AUS), A Dawson (IRL) (a) 2.24pm: C Noja (GER), D Dagar (IND), N Komulainen (FIN) 2.36pm: M Hinson-Tolchard (AUS), A Huang (CAN), E Penttila (FIN) 2.48pm: C Chevalier (FRA), L Mcclymont (SCO), G Iziemgbe Oboh (NGR) 3.00pm: T Melecka (CZE), A Nobilio (ITA), E Fleming (IRL) (a) Tenth hole 8.00am: R Davies (ENG), E Hamilton (ENG), B Fernandez (ESP) 8.12am: L Fuenfstueck (GER), C Laffar (ENG), J Wrigley (SWE) 8.24am: P Delacour (FRA), A Hewson (ENG), K Rudgeley (AUS) 8.36am: A Wilson (NIR), O Cowan (GER), L Woad (ENG) (a) 8.48am: B Law (ENG), O Mehaffey (NIR), K Davidson Spilkova (CZE) 9.00am: S Byrne (IRL), C Hull (ENG), G Hall (ENG) 9.12am: N Nadaud (FRA), L Sobron Galmes (ESP), M Kobori (NZL) 9.24am: P I Schmidt (GER), F Fernandez Cano (ESP), A Utama (THA) 9.36am: A Sauzon (FRA), M Hernandez (ESP), M Martin (ESP) 9.48am: T Martin (ENG), M Sanz Barrio (ESP), M Hoogeboom (NED) 10.00am: M Finn (SWE), C Sattelkau (GER), M Simmermacher (ARG) 1.00pm: N Host Husted (DEN), M Dennis (ENG), T Malik (IND) 1.12pm: K Macdonald (SCO), S Bregman (RSA), S Kemp (AUS) 1.24pm: A Zanusso (ITA), B-J Smith (ENG), P Mackova (CZE) 1.36pm: M Haddioui (MAR), L Hall (WAL), K Henry (SCO) 1.48pm: A Fanali (ITA), A Garvey (NZL), W Keh (NZL) 2.00pm: R Meekers (NED), V Gimmy (GER), V Bouvet (FRA) 2.12pm: L Beveridge (SCO), A Walsh (AUS), A Prashanth (IND) 2.24pm: G Ding (HKG), A Angurasaranee (THA), O Costello (IRL) (a) 2.36pm: H Gregg (USA), M Skarpnord (NOR), A Taylor (ENG) 2.48pm: E Peronnin (FRA), J Baker (ENG), E Sudow (SWE) 3.00pm: A Uehara (JPN), D Zalewska (POL), R Gardner (NIR) (a)
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Osborne 'leading by actions' in elevated Ireland role
Jamie Osborne has shone with both Leinster and Ireland when opportunities have been afforded to him over the last number of years. A 2024 Test debut in the Summer tour to South Africa was one he had to wait for, having been involved in Irish squads for several years previously without getting his chance. His inclusion at full-back was a big call for Andy Farrell to make. Heading into the fortress that is Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, a then 22-year-old Osborne - who had not played full-back since November '22 in the blue of Leinster - scored a try after 34 minutes. Farrell was clear in his admiration for Osborne, who was deputising for Hugo Keenan during the first-choice 15's Olympic Sevens stint, keeping him in his starting 15 despite a narrow 27-20 first Test loss to Rassie Erasmus' Springboks. The now seven-cap international would start and finish the 25-24 win in the second Test over the Boks' and has gone on to solidify his place as a contender for matchday squads and beyond in the time since. With a number of Irish retirements, and a multitude away with the British and Lions, the 23-year-old has naturally taken on an elevated role in interim head coach Paul O'Connell's Ireland squad for their tour of Georgia and Portugal. Others, like tour captain Craig Casey have done likewise. 'There's a lot of excitement in the group, a lot of uncapped players, so we all just want to get together quickly and put in the best performance we can and just show how much it means to us to play for Ireland," Osborne said. "When you're in the squad with people with a lot more experience, you're probably looking to learn off them a lot. "You're looking up to them, you're asking more questions. Whereas, maybe in this environment, I've been here a couple of years now, so it's probably about passing on a bit more knowledge than I would. "But at the end of the day, I'd still have questions to ask other lads and I hope they'd feel comfortable to ask me questions. So it's a bit of a mix." "I've tried to lead in training on the pitch with my actions mainly and hopefully others can look up to that." The versatile back will wear 13 on his back, rather than 15, when Ireland take on Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday (kick-off, 6pm Irish time). 'Defensively, as a 13, you're probably a bit of a defensive leader in the team. You look at Garry (Ringrose), what he does for whatever team he's involved with these days, he's really combative, and he leads the line," he said. 'It's probably different from, say, being a full-back. You're close to the ball as well. There's that little bit around where you're scanning, you're talking to the 10 and stuff like that. So there are differences, but I'm enjoying each position." Much has been said about his versatility. It's certainly a plus for a coaching setup. Whether it's a help or a hindrance for the player is another question. Osborne only sees it one way. Read More Andy Farrell ups the Lions ante with call for prodigal son Owen I think it's definitely a strength, sometimes it can seem a bit like a bit of a weakness at times if you're not selected and you're thinking 'maybe I should be a bit more specialised in a certain position'... over time we'll see and, you know, hopefully I can figure it out how to best utilise it." IRELAND: J O'Brien, T O'Brien, J Osborne, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, S Prendergast, C Casey (captain); J Boyle, G McCarthy, T Clarkson, C Izuchukwu, D Murray, R Baird, N Timoney, G Coombes. Replacements: T Stewart, M Milne, J Aungier, T Ahern, C Prendergast, B Murphy, J Crowley, C Nash.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
What Irish TV channel is Ireland U20 vs Italy on? Kick-off time, live stream, teams & odds for World Championship clash
IRELAND will look to make it two wins from two in the World Rugby U20 Championship when they face hosts Italy. Neil Doak's men began their campaign in style with a 35-28 victory over Georgia . Here's everything you need to know about the match. When is it on and what time is kick-off? The Kick-off is at 7:30pm Irish time. Where can I watch it? The game will not be shown on Irish terrestrial Read More on Ireland Rugby However, fans will be able to stream the game for FREE over on RugbyPass TV. What are the teams? Noah Doak made just two changes to the side that edged out Georgia last Sunday. Scrum-half Will Wootton will start as will Alex Usanov, with Connacht starlet Eanna McCarthy once again captaining the team. Ireland U20: Charlie Molony, Paidi Farrell, Ciaran Mangan, Eoghan Smyth, Derry Moloney, Tom Wood, Will Wootton; Alex Usanov, Henry Walker, Alex Mullan, Mahon Ronan, Billy Corrigan, Michael Foy, Eanna McCarthy, Luke Murphy. Most read in Rugby Union Replacements: Mikey Yarr, Billy Bohan, Tom McAllister, Conor Kennedy, Bobby Power, Clark Logan, Sam Wisniewski, Daniel Green.] Italy U20: Edoardo Todaro, Alessandro Drago, Federico Zanandrea, Riccardo Casarini, Jules Ducros, Roberto Fasti, Niccolo Beni; Sergio Pelliccioli, Nicolo Michele Corvasce, Nicola Bolognini, Mattia Midena, Piero Gritti, Giacomo Milano, Carlo Antonio Bianchi, Nelso Casartelli. 'Magical few days' - Inside Peter O'Mahony's fun-filled Disneyland holiday despite 'bananas crowds' Replacements: Alessio Caiolo-Serra, Sascha Mistruilli, Luca Trevisan, Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, Antony Italo Miranda, Matteo Bellotto, Riccardo Ioannucci, Gianmarco Pietramala. What are the odds? Ireland are priced at 4/9 to make it two wins from two against the host nation, while the Azzurri are out to 7/4. The draw is valued at 20/1. What happened the last time they played? Ireland's last encounter against Italy represented a chastening experience for the Young Boys in Green. A 15-12 defeat to the Azzurri back in February bookended a disappointing Ireland finished rock bottom of the Championship table with just one win in their five games. It was a first ever defeat to a side that they had hammered 55-15 in the 2024 World Championship just eight months previously. Italy go into Friday's game in search of a big result having started their campaign with defeat to New Zealand , who Ireland face in their final pool stage game on July 9. 1 Ireland face Italy in the World Rugby U20 Championship Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
