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Still no goals as Ireland held by Wales; Sanita Puspure wins European gold

The Morning Sports Briefing: Keep ahead of the game with ‘The Irish Times’ sports team

Stephen Kenny’s Ireland team again failed to score but still earned a draw against Wales on Sunday at the Aviva. Photograph: Inpho
Stephen Kenny’s Ireland team again failed to score but still earned a draw against Wales on Sunday at the Aviva. Photograph: Inpho
Mon Oct 12 2020 - 08:24

Stephen Kenny is still awaiting his first win as Republic of Ireland manager after his 10-man coronavirus-hit side was held to a 0-0 Nations League draw by Wales in Dublin. His team's preparations were thrown into disarray when five players were ruled out after one of them tested positive for Covid-19. In his column this morning, Ken Early explains why Ireland are a work in progress on and off the field: "Given the chaotic build-up it feels slightly ridiculous to spend too much time analysing the game on a technical level. After the "who's next" drama of Covid positives and the farce of multiple late withdrawals, the familiar rhythms of a 0-0 draw felt almost structured and soothing." Three days after the highs of Thursday's dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland were brought back down to Earth in a 1-0 home defeat to Austria.

The Irish rowers enjoyed an excellent conclusion to the European Championships in Poznan on Sunday; seven crews, one final session, four medal winners, the other three ranked in the top-eight. The pick of the bunch of course being Sanita Puspure's gold medal. Making her a double World and European champion at the age of 38, Ian O'Riordan reports; "a sixth international medal for Puspure, having also won European bronze twice before, and although two months shy of her 39th birthday, Puspure has laid down another big marker before Tokyo 2021."

Rafael Nadal inflicted one of the most humiliating defeats on great rival Novak Djokovic in the French Open final on Sunday, thrashing the world number one 6-0 6-2 7-5 to lift a record-equalling 20th Grand Slam men's singles title. Johnny Watterson reflects: "Any doubts had been wildly overstated as the 34-year-old Spaniard ripped through Djokovic in 2 hours 41 minutes to win a record 13th French Open championship and join Federer as a co-equal all time great of the men's game. Nadal, more muscular and prosaic but no less respected, ripped a page from Federer's play book and was almost flawless."

Meanwhile, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has equalled Michael Schumacher's record of 91 Formula One victories by winning the Eifel Grand Prix. Tyrrell Hatton claimed the BMW PGA Championship, 10 shots clear of Ireland's Shane Lowry. A final round pockmarked with mistakes will leave the 2019 British Open champion frustrated at what could have been after he led through two rounds.