ORLA COMERFORD AND Colin Judge have been confirmed as the flag bearers for Team Ireland at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Comerford will compete in her third Paralympic Games after her debut appearance at the Rio 2016 Games. The T13 100m sprinter has been in electric form of late dropping her personal best time below 12 seconds for the first time in her career. She will also compete this weekend in London as she continues her preparation for Paris.
Comerford has been a European Championship bronze medallist and she finished in fourth place at the most recent World Championships.
Table Tennis star Colin Judge will be competing in his second Games, after previously featuring in Tokyo. Judge too has been in fantastic form this season advancing to the latter stages in several competitions including winning bronze at the European Championships and more recently silver at the Czech Open.
The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will be held at the Place de la Concorde on 29 August. There are 35 athletes set to compete for Ireland at the Games across nine sports.
A win is a win but that doesn’t inspire confidence
@Jacob: Were you seriously expecting a walkover? Northampton are a good side and this is the semi. Leinster blew away Toulouse in the last two semis but that’s the exception, not the norm. La Rochelle scraped through their semi last year and everyone wrote them off. We all know what happened. Semi finals mean nothing except getting to the final and performing when it matters.
@Conor Lynott: tougher challenges lie ahead. Let’s hope for a Leinster win
@Conor Lynott: Rubbish, the problem is leinster went back to a kicking game second half and gave the ball back to Northampton and their dangerous counter attacking backs. They made the same mistakes the last 2 finals against La Rochelle in panicking and kicking away possession, when in the ascendency. They obviously haven’t learned yet and were incredibly lucky to get away with again today. Abit of better leadership was needed in there, conan was the only one who seemed to be taking it on.
@Jacob: as the man said – semis are for winning. I’d give my right arm for a similar win tomorrow. And a cruise over saints would have been no proper prep for a final
@Jacob: going no further without Keenan starting and Ringrose on the bench at least.
@Jacob: woeful performance, but ironically I’m almost relieved. If they had been as good as the Lá Rochelle game, they’d risk being too cocky for the final. Brings them back to earth big time.
I’m delighted for Leinster. However, the RTE commentary was bordering on arrogance. Our rugby pundits are getting way too far ahead of themselves.
@M D: yep leinster need to fix the issues that let saints back in it
@M D: I couldn’t agree more . They didn’t acknowledge the contest unfolding until the last play. These guys really need to open their eyes and be more neutral in their broadcast and commentate on what is happening on the field rather than these long stories praising every player in a blue jersey .
@M D: even High Cahill kept referring to Leinster as current URC leaders. They didn’t even have his homework done
@M D: Bordering? The border was a speck in the rear view mirror.
@sean o’farrell: ah sure Northampton were only making up the numbers…
@M D: 100% Gone as bad the English soccer punditry during major tournaments. Blinkered and arrogant.
Need to move Frawley to 10 for the final . Ross Byrne has been a great servant but he offers little in attack or defense at this level . Northampton were able to ignore him as a running threat and gain a defender each time he had the ball
@Owen ODonoghue: Ross is the current european hide and go seek champion
@chris mcdonnell: that’s harsh – I think S&C need to take hold of him for 6 months and let him put on some bulk, he adds between 5 and 10kg and he is a different animal
@Owen ODonoghue:…now im disagreeing with you….he’s the accountant vs the entrepreneur, the belt and braces vs the risk taker with the most exciting rugby investment opportunity on the planet. Who do you give it to?….not Ross.
@chris mcdonnell: Tasteless comment. Give it a rest and enjoy the win.
@chris mcdonnell: Chris, you’re a knowledgable poster, but I dislike the personal attacks on certain players, mainly Ross Byrne. Not his best game but he was POTM against La Rochelle last time out.
@Michael Murray: Hahha some description !
@Kenjo: agree 100% – no need for personal attacks , he’s been a great player for us and it just wasn’t his day today
@Owen ODonoghue: So… let’s deal with this scapegoating of Ross Byrne. 1 bad performance and a certain few are out for his head… and guess what? This wasn’t even a bad performance and you are still out for his head. I’ll never understand it. After the La Rochelle game, where you on these pages telling everyone how good he was and how he should be given the 10 shirt indefinitely? No. Nor would I want you to. So why after this game are you calling for him to be dropped?
@Owen ODonoghue: That is the least of his problems, putting on abit of weight, though it would be no harm. His defence, lack of pace and more importantly not taking the ball flat to the line, sitting too deep and slow delivery is a huge problem. People are being too harsh on him here, however he should only be a very good back up option off the bench for a team of Leinster stature and looking to win champions cups.
@Paul Ennis: never called for him to have the jersey indefinitely – he performed better than I expect against LAR and i owned that but his performance dropped significantly today and it’s due to the same reasons that have come up since the 2019 World Cup . The issues that hold him back are solvable but never seem to have been addressed in that time . I sincerely hope he plays a stormer in the final but its hard to see that after todays game
@Owen ODonoghue: Why would anyone call for him to have it indefinitely… that’s my point. But by the same logic, why take it off him after 1 game. Should Larmour be dropped too… or Osbourne. Both were quiet. Ross Byrne’s intercept of Finn Smiths pass lead to a crucial try. Will Northampton fans be calling for him to be dropped? You pointed to Byrnes missed kicks as one of your reasons! He is normally very reliable from the tee and every kicker has an off day every now and again. Byrne doesn’t have 2 in a row. At least he had it on a day that we won, and hopefully you are right and he plays much better in the final.
@Paul Ennis: maybe it was hubris after the LAR win but Ross doesn’t have enough credit in the bank to let this performance go – remember this is his first season as Leinster starting 10 and he is under pressure from 3 challengers – needs to perform at a high level consistently
For the others – yes I see Osborne being dropped for Ringrose and Larmour for O’Brien
@Paul Ennis: its unfortunate that when a player gets a bad rep, that when they play and average game people then ponce on them, but a player with a good rep will get a by ball for an average game. Ross isn’t a bad player, just isn’t JS. For European OHs he’s still prob in top 10. But Leinster normally have top 3-5 in every position.
@Kingshu: This is the problem I think. It’s a bit like Keatley following O’Gara. People need to give him a break and let him play… the team is strong enough to support him
@Paul Ennis: it’s an apt comparison, Munster persisted with Keatley and they dropped down a level. I think with Ross we’ve seen enough to be convinced we should have a better outhalf
@Owen ODonoghue: No… Munster should have backed him in the same way Kidney backed Sexton… he wasn’t O’Gara, but then nobody was nor has anyone been since… not even Sexton. They were 2 completely different 10s and RB has to play his own game as best he can. I wonder would a trophy shut people up for a while. Maybe we can at least share that hope – for the trophy that is.
@Paul Ennis: lol a trophy would help ! Agree if Ross leads them to a trophy or two this season and performs on SA tour all these doubts will go away
@chris mcdonnell: Chris McDonell is the current European snidey comment champion.
Well done Leinster but you’ll need to be much better in the final to beat Toulouse.
@Kenjo: or Harlequins
@Kevin Dillon: won’t even be close Kevin, Toulouse are a different animal.
@Kenjo: Heard that song today, didn’t play out that way
Leinster stopped playing when it went to 20-10, like they did in final last year. Insert that famous Einstein quote with this current Leinster team every year. Ross Byrne hasn’t the bottle for the big place kicks, was no problem for young Fin Smith and Crowley also is very good at them. It’s like the 2009 Barcelona team with Peter Crouch at striker. Give young Prendergarst the jersey for the final, you won’t see that lad hiding like Byrne when the pressure comes on
@Eoin H: What is Ross Byrnes % this year… or any year? Do you know?
@Paul Ennis: Way above what it was today. Hopefully he’ll be back to his normal stats on the day of the final. For Leinster to win imo he’ll need to be.
@Eoin H: would be crazy to go SP for final even though I agree he is the next generational outhalf Ireland have. For final it depends on who we get . Leo picks Ross if it’s Quins, if it’s Toulouse I think he may want that extra physicality and running threat at 10 and so he’ll go Frawley or even Harry.
That was far too tight, just didnt turn up in the second half but fair play to Northampton. Can’t see us beating Toulouse with Alatoa as replacement tighthead. He can’t even lock out a scrum
@Dave Moran: We’ve blown away Toulouse the last two times we played them and Ala’alatoa was on the bench both times so that’s rubbish.
@Conor Lynott: Past counts for nothing, ask ROG
@PJ Smith: Exactly. So people shouldn’t read too much into a semi-final. It’s all about the final. Like you said, semi final is in the past, on to Toulouse or Quins now
@Conor Lynott: Your not terribly smart are you?
@Conor Lynott: Toulouse had an extra time game the week before against Munster in the first of those. More importantly they’ve a stronger squad this year. Also those games were at the Aviva not a neutral venue.
@Dave Moran: It’s called using an opponent’s own words against them. Classic debating tactic. You should try it sometime, You didn’t know that? I’m not surprised. You probably couldn’t understand a word, so went straight for the personal attack. Boring and predictable. If in doubt, play the man haha.
Jenkins did well off the bench, the rest were poor. Frawley is not a full back, he’s not fast enough and doesn’t know how to cover space. Keenan, Ringrose and James Ryan have to come back or they haven’t a hope vs Toulouse
@Eoin H: Ryan’s out till next year I believe. Keenan 100% agree
Time to give Prendergast a run. Ross Byrne isn’t a first cousin of an international 10.
@Brian Flynn: yeah absolutely. Definitely time to give him a run in the biggest game of the year. Will never and should never happen.
@Kevin Dillon: How old is Northampton ‘s 10?
@Mary Corrigan: 21
Far too close. Leinster need to change their SA tour strategy. At least play one of the teams with a full side and give it the respect the tour deserves. They need to be more battle hardened.
@Darren: URC needs to cop on and cut the nonsense of South Africa tours before Champions Cup knockout games.
@teuO6nLS: How many of the team went to SA?
@Lulu: how many of the other semi-finalists were asked to travel to South Africa for the 2 weeks before the game? The URC needs to sort out the scheduling because no one in their right mind will send their full team to South Africa for meaningless games before a semi-final. No reason they can’t have the SA sides playing each other during that window instead
@teuO6nLS: So change the entire system to suit Leinster, yeah?
@teuO6nLS: LoL URC cant be blamed, unless you think that when URC set out the fixtures they should have no teams tour SA before the R16, Q final, or semi final and Final as the URC don’t know whos going to be playing knock out games (in Hcup and Challange Cup), before the season starts. Guess we need to add 8 weeks to the season to accommodate your approach, but then guess you’ll complain about player rest and welfare esp with summer tours and say, actually, URC was right, and I was wrong.
@teuO6nLS: yep agree, let the saffas at it against one another in SA on chanel 63 while the real sides compete in the semis/final of the “Champions cup” on TNT 1..
@Lulu: no, not at all. Imagine it was Munster or Ulster in a European semi final and they were asked to go to South Africa for the two weeks before. Think they’d send their full squad down?
@teuO6nLS: Bang on
@teuO6nLS: absolutely agree with you and I’m a Munster fan. The URC are obliged to help their teams in Europe. Sending the serious contenders to cross the world before knock out games can and should be avoided
@Ciaran Kennedy: tell me how it can be avoided, rem theres teams in the Challenge cup knock outs so cant be sending them either? And fixtures are set before the season starts. In truth last 2 season have benefited Leinster where have had top spot sewn up and could send weakened teams and still finish too, this season its been a bit earlier and not suited Leinster as much, but thats just the way the cookie crumbles
State of your man in the crowd wearing a Munster jersey.
@Daniel Murphy: having a sense of humour should be banned.
@brian o’leary: Wearing a Munster jersey is a joke now?
@PJ Smith: in that context, yes.
@PJ Smith: I heard of a nut job once who wore a his celtic jersey under his jacket while watching his team with the home support at Tynecastle, revealing his colours when the away team scored…. completely different context.
@brian o’leary: depends on your perspective really, could be read as Munster fan supporting Leinster but you may not want to hear that.
Biggest issue for me was the change in tactics in the last 30 min or so. They stopped carrying and started box kicking away the ball. That was what let NH back into the game
Wouldn’t instil you with a lot of confidence going into the final.
From start of the season, thought Leinster and Stade Rochelle weren’t as good as they have been in the last two years. Just Stade had declined more. Lot of Leinster fans writing Toulouse off in group stages, saying had beaten them easily last two years so wouldn’t worry them, but Toulouse could beat Stade Rochelle when Leinster couldnt and its forgotten they were the scissors it rock paper scissors. Think in contrast to Stade Rochelle and Leinster Toulouse have improved from last year, if they make the final it will be a very close game, best result for Leinster is that they play Harlequins, as they would be favourites for that Toulouse is more 50/50.
@Kingshu: This is nonsense, Leinster fans would never write off a Toulouse team these days. Unless you’re basing your view on the comments of social media fans who represent nothing. If so, you should know better. LAR, Leinster and Toulouse have been in a game of rock paper scissors for a few years but it’s coincidence, nothing more. Any team could have won those games on a given day. You’re inventing a narrative to suit your personal bias. A final against Toulouse would be absolutely no better than 50/50 but if they’re dominant tomorrow they will be clear favourites.
@PJ Smith: may want to scroll up and tell @Conor Lynott that, not the first time he and some others have written Toulouse off this season because Leinster beat them well last few years. Think as much as Leinster adapted to beat Stade Rochelle, Toulouse may have been doing the same for Leinster? I think Leinster will add the 5th star, but don’t think this teams is as good as last season or seasons before.
@Kingshu: That was in response to a claim that Ala’atoa can’t play off the bench vs Toulouse. Recent history of the fixture shows he certainly can. Do not take my comment out of context.
@Kingshu: That’s why I said social media fans, they’re not a representation of any fan base. You always seemed sensible enough on here so you should know that. I wouldn’t be betting on a 5th star right now, it’s lightyears away at the moment
@Conor Lynott: you did in a previous round, thought its bit early to be counting chickens then too. Maybe it was out of context and a response to moran as well, my bad and apolgies if it was as its fair enough to fight fire with fire when repling to him. @PJ Smith: normally want an Irish team to win Hcup but URC sometimes I don’t. Think at times its better to have someone else win, as it strengthens the URC and hence all provinces in the long run (rather than short term for one), first season Stormers V bulls final was best result for all as it really set the URC of with a bang in SA which benifits everyone now. This year if Ulster don’t win it, want Leinster to, as its poor on the league if the best team in it doesn’t win it for 3 years in a row, and its already cemented its place in SA.
Let’s see if Leinster coaching team have learned anything from past failures. 3 week break did that team no favours, ran out of steam in the second half. Can’t afford to try protect these players by not playing full strength for the next 3 weeks and building momentum. Ross clearly pulled up in the first half but kept playing and left 7 points behind as a result. Don’t select Harry if you don’t think he can handle it. That performance cost us a championship last year so at least got the win today but the final will be a different beast and Leinster will have to be very different as well. Thank the lord for Jamo!
What is it with us in the 2nd half big games!? This would have been the worst as we were so dominate and they were so nervy and rubbish for 55 mins, I could not believe the phase before Conan/Doris turnover was actually unfolding before my eyes….
Job done but made it far more difficult than necessary. Played Raynal horrifically. He clearly didn’t care about the laws of the game yet we still tried to abide by them and got exposed out wide. Will need Ryan, Ringrose and Keenan back to have any chance against Toulouse
@teuO6nLS: is this just for saints or both sides ?
And we think we are going to go to South Africa and beat the world champions. Spare me please.
@Ray Ridge: will be tough but the Munster contingent are big difference makers with Crowley & Beirne in particular being standouts. Also we have a get out of jail free card with Bundee when in possession
I think Murray from the bench will also be crucial if we have a slender lead going into the last 20
It’ll be a tight series
@Owen ODonoghue: will ye stop hyping up these glorified friendlies, these tours should have a development/ rest remit.
@brian o’leary: I’m looking forward to it more than the European final to be honest – great chance to test ourselves against the world champs in their own back yard – need to go all guns blazing like they will
@brian o’leary: But they are not development or friendlies. It is not how rugby is structured. All nations take the tests very seriously… as seriously as a tournament match. Rugby doesn’t have qualifiers for the top 12 nations, so therefore there has to be a level of competitiveness for the summer and autumn tests.
They (and Ireland) clearly miss Ryan. I never really rated him, but it’s become clear in the last year that he is both Leinster’s and Ireland’s talisman. The were bossing Rochelle, he gets hurt, the game momentum completely turns, and Leinster lose. We lose him for the World Cup Semis and New Zealand eke out a W. They just look jaded and a step slow without him. Leinster better hope he’s healthy for Toulouse. Ireland better hope he and Keenan are healthy for South Africa. Or it’s going to be a long, long, long summer.
@Brian Goldych: Uncle Brian !!
What gives us as Irish supporters the god given right to dish every team we play ,Leinster got the win just. We are slowly getting like the English arrogant and self absorbed with ourselves god help us
Reading these comments, I can’t help feeling you all seem to expect perfect performances every time. That game could have ended in a 20 point victory. A lucky try from a defensive misunderstanding and Leinster relaxing a bit too much in the final 15 minutes. But for 65 minutes Leinster were ruthless, suffocated Northampton’s attacking play and took points very easily. I find it hard to understand all the over-the-top criticism. I am a Munster fan but I was highly impressed for three quarters of this game and I would be proud of my team.
Probably the worst rugby atmosphere I have ever been at where Leinster were playing. Woeful second half. I think Ringrose and Keenan are badly missed.
@Tom Reilly: I was there. Atmosphere was electric. What are you talking about? Aviva pathetic in comparison.
Sorry lads we were on the vino and couldn’t make the game on time thanks for delaying the kick off.
With nothing only respect and credit to Northampton saints,Toulouse will be licking their lips after this evening’s performance but I think we will rise to the occasion in London
@Jb Walshe: rope a dope?
@Jb Walshe: I hope that Toulouse are licking their lips… they should be, but AFTER they have beaten Harlequins. If they are thinking about Leinster already, they won’t make the final themselves.
@Paul Ennis: except that, Leinster are to Toulouse what La Rochelle have been to Leinster.
Leinster fans will be praying for an upset tomorrow.northhampton will be crying when they look back at that.that 1st try was shocking 2 players marking Lowe.
Well, that was pants…
A perfect victory, much better than a 30 nil
@Rugbyanbeer: Yep I think that result will really stand to us. You need an ugly win in a cup run!