Captain Harry McNulty and Dylan O'Grady lift the trophy together as the Ireland Men are crowned Algarve Sevens champions
The Ireland Men’s Sevens team (sponsored by TritonLake) warmed up for the fast-approaching Olympic qualifying tournament at the European Games by winning the Algarve Sevens title.
The opening leg of the Rugby Europe Sevens Championship Series took place in sun-kissed Portugal this weekend, and Ireland strung together six straight victories, including a 19-10 final triumph over Georgia.
James Topping’s men will join the likes of Britain, Spain, Germany and Georgia at that Olympic qualifier in Krakow, Poland (June 25-27), with the winning team securing a place at Paris 2024.
Georgia were surprise finalists at the Algarve event, beating Spain and France to make it through. The ever-improving Lelos also led Ireland at half-time thanks to an unconverted Giorgi Jobava.
However, with captain Harry McNulty and some other regular starters held in reserve, it was players like Jack Kelly, Zac Ward and 20-year-old speedster Dylan O’Grady who ensured a trophy-lifting start to the summer schedule for Ireland.
A brace of tries from Ward – the first coming from Kelly’s kick chase from deep – and a clinching score from O’Grady got the job done against the Georgians. Terry Kennedy’s return from his sabbatical provided another timely boost.
Speaking in the aftermath, Niall Comerford said: “All the teams are playing well and it’s a good building block. We’ll be back together in Krakow in about two weeks’ time for Olympic qualification and that’s what everyone is really after.
“All credit to Georgia, they were excellent there today after coming third in their group, winning the quarter, winning the semi. Everyone’s building towards Krakow now.”
Ireland reached the Algarve Cup final by beating Britain 17-14 in another tight encounter between the teams. The men in green had already edged out their nearest neighbours during the pool stages, winning 12-7.
Renewing rivalries in the last-four, Ireland’s patient build-up play was rewarded with a third-minute try from McNulty. He had a clear path to the try-line after a big clear-out from fellow forward Ward.
Building on that seven-point head start, Ward increased his influence with a terrific leap to win Mark Roche’s restart kick, and a subsequent penalty kept the pressure on Britain.
Working the ball from wing to wing, a Liam McNamara offload gave McNulty the chance to send Ward over from five metres out for an unconverted try.
However, a yellow card for Kennedy pulling back a player allowed Britain to build for a try past the half-time hooter, Jamie Farndale’s return pass back inside putting Will Homer in behind the posts.
With their lead cut to 12-7, Ireland looked to their bench and Comerford, Gavin Mullin and Kelly all provided energy and impact, culminating in an early second half score.
Kennedy whipped a pass out to the left and Mullin was able to release Kelly who stepped off his left and then his right, giving himself just enough space for a quality finish past Femi Sofolarin in the corner.
A Kelly turnover penalty kept Ireland on the front foot, and a Kennedy kick opened up a try-scoring opportunity but the ball beat him over the end line.
There was late drama when a Farndale breakaway try, converted off the post by Matthew Davidson, closed the gap to just three points. Britain’s quickly-taken restart did not work out, though, and Ireland were final bound.
Topping’s charges lost Andrew Smith to an early sin-binning in the Cup decider, his late tackle eventually capitalised upon by Georgia when Jobava touched down after Beka Gelkhvidze had pinched possession to launch a quick-witted attack.
A couple of Irish moves broke down and their progress was also halted by penalties, but with only a five-point deficit at the break, they regrouped for an improved second half performance.
Kelly launched a kick chase from his own 22 and was first to the bouncing ball. He absorbed a tackle from Ioseb Matiashvili and flicked an offload back for the supporting Ward to run in under the posts. Billy Dardis converted.
A penalty quickly put Ireland back inside the Georgian 22, and following a big charge through the middle from replacement Comerford, Ward sniped around the side of the ruck for his fifth try of the tournament.
With the scoreboard showing 14-5, Bryan Mollen snapped up a loose ball from the restart, setting up Mullin to fire a skip pass out wide to O’Grady.
The nippy UCD winger evaded the clutches of Nikoloz Rekhviashvili to register his fourth try of the weekend, with just under two minutes remaining. Dardis slid the conversion wide this time.
Georgia needed two converted tries to draw level, but their only reward was a consolation score past the final hooter. Nice hands from Lasha Lomidze sent Giorgi Kurtanidze over in the right corner to double their tally.
Next up for the Ireland Men is that chance to qualify for the Olympics via the European Games in Poland, before the final leg of the Rugby Europe Series takes place in Hamburg (July 7-9).
While the champions in Krakow receive the ultimate prize of a ticket to Paris 2024, the teams that finish second and third will advance to the final Olympic Repechage tournament.
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Niall Comerford (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Billy Dardis (Terenure College RFC)
Jack Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s College RFC)
Liam McNamara (IQ Rugby)
Harry McNulty (UCD RFC) (capt)
Bryan Mollen (UCD RFC)
Gavin Mullin (UCD RFC)
Dylan O’Grady (UCD RFC)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC)
Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC)
Friday, June 9 –
POOL C:
BELGIUM 7 IRELAND 31, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve
Scorers: Belgium: Try: Gaspard Lalli; Con: Ryan Godsmark
Ireland: Tries: Zac Ward, Dylan O’Grady, Jack Kelly, Liam McNamara, Jordan Conroy; Cons: Billy Dardis 2, Mark Roche
HT: Belgium 0 Ireland 24
Team: Zac Ward, Niall Comerford, Jack Kelly, Billy Dardis, Liam McNamara, Terry Kennedy, Dylan O’Grady.
Subs used: Harry McNulty (capt), Mark Roche, Bryan Mollen, Jordan Conroy, Andrew Smith.
FRANCE 7 IRELAND 34, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve
Scorers: France: Try: Alexis Levron; Con: Paul Auradou
Ireland: Tries: Zac Ward, Jordan Conroy, Andrew Smith 2, Harry McNulty, Dylan O’Grady; Cons: Mark Roche, Billy Dardis
HT: France 7 Ireland 22
Team: Harry McNulty (capt), Andrew Smith, Zac Ward, Mark Roche, Liam McNamara, Gavin Mullin, Jordan Conroy.
Subs used: Bryan Mollen, Billy Dardis, Niall Comerford, Terry Kennedy, Dylan O’Grady.
Day 1 Round-Up: Kennedy Returns As Ireland Men Build Momentum In European Opener
Saturday, June 10 –
POOL C:
IRELAND 12 GREAT BRITAIN 7, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Dylan O’Grady, Bryan Mollen; Con: Billy Dardis
Great Britain: Try: Will Homer; Con: Matthew Davidson
HT: Ireland 7 Great Britain 0
Team: Harry McNulty (capt), Niall Comerford, Jack Kelly, Billy Dardis, Bryan Mollen, Terry Kennedy, Dylan O’Grady.
Subs used: Jordan Conroy, Mark Roche, Zac Ward, Andrew Smith, Gavin Mullin.
CUP QUARTER-FINAL:
IRELAND 29 PORTUGAL 10, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Mark Roche, Andrew Smith, Gavin Mullin, Terry Kennedy, Jack Kelly; Cons: Mark Roche 2
Portugal: Tries: Diogo Rodrigues, Manuel Marta
HT: Ireland 19 Portugal 5
Team: Harry McNulty (capt), Andrew Smith, Zac Ward, Mark Roche, Liam McNamara, Gavin Mullin, Jordan Conroy.
Subs used: Terry Kennedy, Jack Kelly, Bryan Mollen, Billy Dardis. Not used: Dylan O’Grady.
Day 2 Round-Up: Ireland Men Set Up Rematch With Britain In Algarve Semi-Final
Sunday, June 11 –
CUP SEMI-FINAL:
GREAT BRITAIN 14 IRELAND 17, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve
Scorers: Great Britain: Tries: Will Homer; Cons: Tom Emery
Ireland: Tries: Harry McNulty, Zac Ward, Jack Kelly; Con: Mark Roche
HT: Great Britain 7 Ireland 12
Team: Harry McNulty (capt), Andrew Smith, Zac Ward, Mark Roche, Liam McNamara, Terry Kennedy, Jordan Conroy.
Subs used: Niall Comerford, Jack Kelly, Gavin Mullin, Billy Dardis. Not used: Dylan O’Grady.
CUP FINAL:
GEORGIA 10 IRELAND 19, Sports Complex Vila Real de Santo António, Algarve
Scorers: Georgia: Tries: Giorgi Jobava, Giorgi Kurtanidze
Ireland: Tries: Zac Ward 2, Dylan O’Grady; Cons: Billy Dardis
HT: Georgia 5 Ireland 0
Team: Zac Ward, Andrew Smith, Jack Kelly, Billy Dardis, Bryan Mollen, Gavin Mullin, Dylan O’Grady.
Subs used: Niall Comerford, Mark Roche, Harry McNulty (capt), Jordan Conroy, Terry Kennedy.
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