PARALYMPICS Paralympics Day Six Sees Football Team Progress to Meet Hosts & Another Irish Record in the Water Cube

15 Sep 2008


The 7-a-side Irish football team drew one a piece (1-1) with rivals; Great Britain today in their final pool match of the tournament. The result was all they needed to secure third in their pool behind the Ukraine and Iran to progress to a classification match against hosts China on Sunday. Should Paul Cassin's men take that tie they will progress to the play-off for 5th/6th meaning an improved world ranking for this young side.


In sweltering conditions at the Olympic Hockey Field with temperatures soaring over the 30 degree mark, the Irish boys were in determined form, in an attempt to put behind them the events of recent days. A free flowing encounter saw opportunities for both sides with the teams drawn nil all going into the half time break.


The second half saw the action continue where it left off with both sides playing an attacking game in an effort to nail a result. Just over five minutes into the second half Monaghan's Joe Markey finished magnificently to put the ball in the back of the British net to great celebration scenes from the Irish contingent.


Great Britain continued to attack through Ireland's midfield and four minutes later stole though the Irish defence for the equaliser. The remainder of the game saw some good opportunities for both sides, with the final score at one all the Irish needed to secure third in the pool ahead of GB in the fourth spot.


Irish captain Aidan Brennan who was substituted mid way through the second half with a minor calf injury said afterwards: "We're delighted with the result which basically means we're in third place. We went out there with a lot of self belief, a lot of determination. All day to be honest the mood in the camp was brilliant - we were really looking forward to this game."


Brennan is eager to face the hosts on Sunday and the Irish boys will be doing their homework in advance of the tie: "We've a few video tapes - look at them, I'm sure as host country they'll bring their all but so will we so we'll just see what happens".

 

At swimming in the Water Cube this morning, Down's Hannah Clarke took to the water for her only event in these Games; the 100m Breaststroke (SB5 Class). Swimming in the first heat, Clarke clocked a new personal best and Irish record of 2.06.33 taking a whopping ten seconds off her previous best to take fifth; just missing out on a place in the final by four hundredths of a second.


Reacting to news of her awesome PB Clarke said: "It's amazing, I didn't think I was going to get it so I'm very very happy. I was extremely nervous in the call room beforehand but once I saw all the Irish people in the crowd it made me happy and just went for it."

In his final showing of these Games Clarke's team mate Stephen Campbell finished sixth in the third heat of the 100m Freestyle (S11 Class) to finish 15th overall and with two new Irish records from three events, Campbell can walk away from these Games with a smile on his face.


Ireland's Archer Sean Heary, sought to continue his phenomenal run of success in the archery tournament today, facing Switzerland's Philippe Horner in the Individual Compound Open competition last eight. The Swiss competitor took an early advantage, Heary eventually losing out to Horner with a score 113-99. Ranking 20th coming to the games, Heary lay down a massive marker at these games and exceeded all performance expectations for himself.
The busy cycling team moved to the road today with all four Irish bikes competing in the 24.8km time trial event at the stunning Ming Toom Reservoir venue. With the temperature rising well into the eighties, Enda Smyth was first up in the CP4 Class event finishing ninth overall in a time of 41.24.28.


The Dubliner tried to put into words just how hostile the race conditions were: "The conditions are criminal out there. I took a water bottle with me and I just took two sips of it and spat it out, I thought I was going to throw up; it was like drinking out of a hot kettle. It's savage, words cannot describe it. We went round it in training, and we've the cooling jackets; you're going through all your procedures but that heat today is just unreal."


Fellow Dubliner Cathal Miller also finished ninth in the LC1 Class event with a time of 36.33.95. Talking with the media in the mixed zone Miller said: "Conditions are brutal...effort was good. Basically my splits were identical. I cycled as well as I could and basically I was just beaten by better riders on the day; I've no complaints really to be quite honest."


He added: "Coaching staff said I pedaled well; I took my lines well, as I said my splits were identical; I can do no more than that, and today just wasn't to be for me. The pain that you're going through when you're on the bicycle on a day like this; it's spectacular really."


Looking ahead to his final event tomorrow; the road race Miller revealed how he intends to approach it; "You go into the road race tomorrow and you hide; you do as little as possible and you hope that you get into the break; you do no more than that. You don't charge off the front, you do nothing silly, you hide and you hope someone will pull you along to the line. It's not always the fastest and strongest person that wins the race."


The afternoon saw both Irish tandem bikes in action in their road time trial events also. Catherine Walsh with sighted pilot rider, Joanna Hickey (B&VI Class) took seventh place with a time of 40.09.67 while Michael Delaney with sighted pilot rider David Peelo completed the course in a time of 36.26.54, taking 18th place overall.


Up in Qingdao Irish Sailors Paul McCarthy, Paul Ryan and Richard Whealey in the Sonar class placed a pleasing third in race seven today. They followed this with a fourth and tenth place in races 8 and 9 respectively and now lie in an improved ninth position overall. Two races remain in their series but with the Medal Ceremony also scheduled for tomorrow the Irish crew will need the wind on their side to ensure racing takes place as they aim to improve on their overall placing at this regatta.


In the Skud 18 class Amy Kelehan and John Twomey placed tenth and ninth in race 7 and race 8 and remaining in tenth place overall. Racing will resume in the morning with medal ceremonies in both classes taking place tomorrow evening.


For the Irish tomorrow; day seven of these Beijing Games the initial focus will be on the track at the Bird's Nest where reigning world champion and record holder Jason Smyth goes in the heats of the T13 100m. Miller and Smyth will end their hectic Games campaigns in the road race again out in the Ming Toom Reservoir venue. Should he qualify from the morning heats Smyth will race in the T13 100m final tomorrow evening before Ireland's final representatives of the day; Eimear Breathnach and Kathleen Reynolds face France in the quarter-final of their table tennis team event.



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