EVERY MORNING, WE bring you all of the info you need to make sure you don’t miss a second of Olympic gold.
We’ve reached day nine of the Games and it’s a big one both at home and abroad, as John Joe Nevin boxes for a place in the semi-finals of the Men’s Bantam.
On the track, there’s the small matter of deciding who the fastest man in the world is. Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake will be expected to get through their semi-finals, along with the likes of Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Dwain Chambers.
Top of the bill
Athletics
Events get underway with the women’s marathon at 11am, but the whole day will be leading up to one thing – the final of the men’s 100m at 9.50pm. It’s the Usain Bolt v Yohan Blake show in that event, with both men impressing in their heats on Saturday morning.
They will all have to get through the semi-finals, of course, but injuries or false starts aside it’s hard to imagine that the pair won’t be in competition
Elsewhere, the men’s 1500m semi-finals takes place without, unfortunately, the presence of Ireland Ciarán O’Lionaird. We also have the ladies’ 400m final, but sadly without Kilkenny’s Joanne Cuddihy. There’s also the men’s 3000m steeplechase final to look forward to.
Tennis
Wimbledon may have ended in tears but Andy Murray has the chance to partially wipe away those memories when the Briton takes on Roger Federer in the men’s final. Whatever happens, the match is unlikely to be as one-sided as Serena Williams’ victory over Maria Sharapova yesterday.
Who’s flying the flag?
Athletics
Caitriona Jennings, Ava Hutchinson and Linda Byrne all go in the Women’s Marathon at The Mall at 11am.
Boxing
John Joe Nevin is just one fight away from Ireland’s first medal of the Olympic Games and he comes up against the Mexican boxer Oscar Valdez Fierro in Sunday’s quarter-final clash at 8.45pm.
“Valdez won’t back off,” Nevin’s trainer Billy Walsh predicted on Friday night. “He’s a real hard opponent, rugged and persistent. I’ve used the bull and the matador analogy about fights before, but this really is one of those fights.”
Shooting
Derek Burnett is in action early on Sunday as he takes part in qualifying for the final of Men’s Trap event, which will take place in the Royal Artillery Barracks on Monday. Round 1 takes place at 9am, Round 2 is at 11am and Round 3 is at 1pm.
Cycling
In the Omnium, Martyn Irvine made it through Saturday’s elimination race and will take his place the 4km Individual Pursuit against Canada’s Zachary Bell. Irvine’s is race number five, so you’ll catch him if you tune in before 10.30am.
Equestrian
After the Denis Lynch fiasco, all eyes will be on Billy Twomey and, in particular, Cian O’Connor as the second qualifying round in the Individual Jumping takes place in Greenwich Park at 11am.
Do not miss…
Not to sound like a broken record, but the Men’s 100m final will attract even the most fairweather of Olympic fans, especially give the fact that Yohan Blake beat Usain Bolt twice in the Jamaican trials and barely looked like he had broken a sweat in the heats.
When you also have the somewhat tainted presences of Dwain Chambers and Justin Gatlin, it will make for an explosive set of semi-finals and final.
We almost neglected to mention it, but the Irish duo of Peter O’Leary and David Burrows go in the Men’s Star medal race at 1pm – that will not be one to let slide.
Finally, Ryan Seaton and Matt McGovern will compete with home favourites Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes in the Men’s 49er.
Delighted for Carty!
Correct choice in James Ryan. 22years of age and any team in the world would have him starting. So important to us for the future. Congratulations to him.
@David: except saracens who would start itoje and kruis over James all day. Not saying James isn’t top notch but just sometimes the paddies can get carried away. E.g krus and itoje and alun W.J are all ahead of James atm. But he has time on his side!
@Kevin O’brien: you make no argument for what you say so it’s hard to disprove but there’s little evidence to suggest that on form you’re right
@Kevin O’brien: sweet Jesus. I guess this is based on a certain set of games where the first two named locks were victorious?. It’s easy to view all of the above as “ahead” of Ryan when you’re surrounded by massive men who punch holes for, and with you. Imagine what Ryan would have been like against those teams if he had a back row of Saracens and England’s ballast and quality supporting him. At 22 Ryan has a huge level of expectation upon him. AWJ is a legend and has a great all round game, but Itoje and Kruis don’t have Ryan’s skill (although I’d like to see more of it), They’re all great players and any one of them would be a great partner for Ryan on a Lions tour.
@Kevin O’brien: except Saracens didn’t even start Itoje at lock against Leinster.
@Kevin O’brien: nah. I stand by what I say. But hey have a knock you are entitled to your opinion too. All great players.
@Kevin O’brien: no they’d move one of them to 6. James Ryan would be an allblack if he was from there.
Best player in the country by far
Goat of the year
@JMG: Greatest of all time of the year? Or you think he is an actual farm animal?
Nice triggsy
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: finally a decent player from micheals