Sport

The Morning Sports Briefing

Gordon D’Arcy recalls Irish school boy team mate Paul O’Connell, Sean O’Brien banned for one week, Ireland go unseeded into play-off and what to watch out for

Paul O’Connell’s World Cup and Test career are at an end after Ireland confirmed the 35-year-old requires surgery to repair his torn hamstring. Photograph: Mark Runnacles/PA
Paul O’Connell’s World Cup and Test career are at an end after Ireland confirmed the 35-year-old requires surgery to repair his torn hamstring. Photograph: Mark Runnacles/PA
Wed Oct 14 2015 - 08:30

Rugby: World Cup

Yesterday was a sore day for Irish sport, from start to finish. First we had the confirmation of Irish rugby captain Paul O’Connell’s World Cup (and test career) ending injury, then the news that Sean O’Brien had been banned for Sunday’s quarter-final against Argentina, followed by the accumulation of last night’s Euro qualifier results which left the Irish soccer team unseeded for their upcoming play-offs.

The tributes have been flowing in since news of O'Connell's injury update were released - the players describing an inspirational leader, Gerry Thornley; 'Superman indeed, and in deed and word' - while former players, former and current opponents, and fans alike have been expressing their disappointment on social media.

Things got worse then as Sean O'Brien's seemingly never-ending hearing for foul play against France, ended with him receiving a one week ban. An aggressive French case against O'Brien stretched things out from 1pm to 8pm.

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Meanwhile Gordon D'Arcy's column this morning is looking back at the France game, assessing an Argentine side who he says "are what France were eight years ago, big powerful forwards who are all comfortable with ball in hand, and their backs are lethal runners" - while also paying tribute to his former Irish schoolboy team mate O'Connell;

“Even then you could see a born leader. All he had to do was walk into the room and his body language drew people to him.”

Soccer: Euro 2016

Last night's Euro qualifier results ended Ireland's hopes of being seeded for their Euro 2016 play-off, instead they placed seventh out of nine teams and will now face either Bosnia, Hungary, Sweden or Ukraine. Emmet Malone has a lowdown on our prospects against each of them.

GAA

In GAA news 2014 Footballer of the Year James O'Donoghue may miss the league campaign if he opts for surgery on his troublesome shoulder.

“Obviously I had hoped that there would be no more issues after the operation last year but that didn’t go to plan. But I think that I can manage it fine. Whether I need to get another surgery on it, I don’t know. I’m sick of getting surgery but if it’s the only way forward I will have to do it.”

What to watch out for

Gavin Cummiskey and Gerry Thornley will have the latest from Ireland's press conference at midday, no doubt there'll be some reaction to Sean O'Brien's ban.

The Boxing World Championships continue today in Doha - Michael Conlon takes on Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan in the 56kg final and that's the fifth fight of the night, while Michael O'Reilly can be certain of Olympic qualification should he win a third-place middleweight (75kg) box-off against Hasan Abdin of Egypt.

RTÉ 2, 7pm-8pm