Sport

Ireland set for busy weekend at EU water polo tournament

Cathal Brugha's Deirdre Cassidy will captain the Ireland team in Prague 
Cathal Brugha's Deirdre Cassidy will captain the Ireland team in Prague  Cathal Brugha's Deirdre Cassidy will captain the Ireland team in Prague 

THE Irish women's water polo team face a hectic time this weekend when they will play five full international games in 48 hours in a 10-nation EU Tournament in Prague.

Captained by Brugha's Deirdre Cassidy, they open up with a game against Wales on Friday at 11am and, after a few hours rest, they take on hosts Czech Republic at 7.45pm. Saturday morning beckons with a game against Switzerland at 9.15am and, again after a short break, they play Israel at 2.15pm.

Their final game is on Sunday morning, when they meet the team that will have finished in a similar position on the other side of the draw. That will be one from Slovakia, South Africa, Austria, England or Scotland. The Ireland side are further disadvantaged by playing out of season, with very few of the team having played a serious game since the end of April.

Meanwhile, It looks likely Ireland will be sending just four competitors to the Olympics in Rio following the failure of Chris Bryant to make the breakthrough in the 10k open water qualifying event in Setubal, Portugal. Bryant finished in 41st place from 53 finishers, nearly three minutes behind the winner, Lijun Zu from China.

Fiona Doyle, Shane Ryan and Mayo native Nicholas Quinn have all made the qualifying time in their events and will be joined on the plane to Rio by Oliver Dingley from diving.

There was a little piece of history at the recent Cathal Brugha AGM when Olivia Cunningham became the first ever female secretary of the club. She took over from retiring veteran Wally Clarke and can be contacted at jmc2212@yahoo.co.uk.