The Ireland women's hockey team has qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after beating Canada in a sudden death penalty shootout. They are the first women's hockey team from this island to qualify for the Olympic Games. Sunday evening's second leg qualifier, played in front of a record attendance at Donnybrook, went to the very death with goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran proving the hero. Johnny Watterson reports on a night of unbearable tension for Ireland: "The highlight was the final, effervescent charge, captain Katie Mullan listening close to the umpire for the result of another interminable referral and then that sea of green limbs hurtling towards their goalkeeper, who had settled by the corner of the pitch at the Wesley end."
On a busy day of county final and provincial action in the GAA world, Ballyboden St Enda's did what they needed to in claiming their first Dublin football title since 2016. Their greater experience and sharper attack against Thomas Davis were the clear differences in a contest that at times lacked urgency, as it proceeded down its predicted path. The county's hurling champions however were part of the upset of the weekend when they were beaten by Carlow club St Mullins in the Leinster quarter-final. The Tipperary hurling final was won by Borris-Ileigh who ended a 33 year wait for silverware - after a brutal, trying year with the deaths of three young people in the area over the past 12 months.
South Africa's thrilling Rugby World Cup final victory on Sunday does not mean glaring concerns surrounding the Springboks should be ignored. Gavin Cummiskey believes this could be the ideal moment to put the premature deaths, racially motivated assault allegation and doping scandals under the microscope. Gerry Thornely looks back on the five things we learned from the final, and reflects on a South African victory cocktail of hope and unity – with a twist of Irish (thanks to Felix Jones and Munster). While former referee Owen Doyle writes: "The scrum is the prescribed method of restarting the game with a contest for possession, following a minor infringement. It was never intended to be a source of creating penalty kick opportunities, and that's a debate which is needed."
Meanwhile Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley believes his team's first FAI Cup success in 32 years - beating Dundalk and denying them the treble in a penalty shootout - can be a stepping stone to much greater things. A stoppage time goal from Everton's Cenk Tosun may have avoided another damaging defeat for his team, against Tottenham at Goodison Park yesterday. But it all felt horribly irrelevant after the sight of André Gomes being carried off with a horrific leg-break. In his column this morning, Ken Early asks is Jose Mourinho the perfect man to take charge of what Arsenal is becoming?: "Already you hear Arsenal fans saying things along the lines of well, I've never liked him, but he's a winner isn't he? Yes, I've always thought he's a monster, but he'd be our monster..."
