Thomas Barr comes fourth in 400m hurdles final
Thomas Barr came agonisingly close to making history yesterday as he was pipped into fourth place in the 400m hurdles final in Rio.
The 24-year-old ran a fine race, breaking his own Irish record with a time of 47.97, but he missed out on the bronze medal by just 0.05 of a second, as he ran out of track to reel in Turkey’s Yasmani Copello. Kenya’s Boniface Tumiti won silver and America’s Kerron Clemont took the gold with a season’s best time of 47.73.
Barr was Ireland’s first Olympic sprint finalist in 1984, and while he couldn’t emulate Bob Tisdall’s gold medal in 1932 he was pleased with his performance: “If I’d come here like last year (at the World Championships), maybe tipped for a medal, I’d be more disappointed. But I came here as a complete underdog, I’ve come out in fourth, and I’m delighted.”
Irish golfers bounce back
Elsewhere Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow enjoyed much improved seconds rounds in the women’s golf competition, shooting a 65 and a 66 respectively. Meadow’s third round gets underway at 12.41pm on Friday, with Maguire teeing off at 1.46pm alongside Lydia Ko - bringing together the world and world amateur number ones.
GAA Hall of Fame
The GAA Hall of Fame now boasts 42 names after four new members were inducted at Croke Park yesterday. Two footballers, the late Dermot Earley of Roscommon and Kerry hero John O’Keefe, and two hurlers, Galway legend John Connolly and Wexford great Tony Doran have been further immortalised after having their name added to the list of the game’s greats.
Pogba returns
Friday night sees Manchester United take on Southampton, and Jose Mourinho has confirmed Paul Pogba is fit to make his Old Trafford return. Elsewhere Crystal Palace have agreed a fee of €37 million to sign striker Christian Benteke from Liverpool.
