Latest news with #Division3
Irish Examiner
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
David Hyland: 'We were sick to our teeth over Leinster'
Kildare defender David Hyland is satisfied with the progress Tailteann Cup semi-finalists Kildare have made in a short space of time. The Lilywhites were beaten by Offaly in the Division 3 league final in late March and then exited the Leinster championship to Louth. But they've since blazed a trail through the Tailteann Cup and will meet Fermanagh in Sunday's semi-final at Croke Park. Hyland said Kildare's sweet quarter-final win over Offaly, turning the tables on two previous losses to the Faithful this season, proved just how much their young group has come on. "If you look at the performance we put in that day in the league final, and the performance we put in last weekend, it's chalk and cheese," said centre-back and ex-captain Hyland. "The development of the team has come a long way in the last two months or so." Kildare have clearly taken the Tailteann Cup seriously and appear desperate to win it. "We were sick to our teeth with the way Leinster turned out," continued Hyland. "We played the first two games of the Tailteann Cup and then after the Tipperary game we sat down on the Monday night and said, 'Look, we have an eight-week block now to go and win the Tailteann Cup'. "We talked about what that means for this team's development and also that it would secure Sam Maguire Cup football next year because that's ultimately why we're here, what we want to do. "After that, it was all shoulders to the wheel really. So I think it was that third game really where we knuckled down and said, 'Right, this is what we're after, four more games, let's go and win this Tailteann Cup'." Yet the experienced Athy man said that with silverware now in sight, they haven't allowed their focus to drift beyond Sunday's semi-final. "We can't because we haven't performed very well in Croke Park over the last number of years," he said. "So we need to get that off our back. And it's going to be a huge challenge obviously. It's all top teams that are left in the competition." Kildare have lost five league and championship games in a row at Croke Park since last winning a game there, a 2022 Leinster semi-final against Westmeath. And prior to that they'd lost 17 of their 24 Croke Park outings, across the league and championship, since contesting an All-Ireland semi-final in 2010. But boss Brian Flanagan has a talented bunch of young players at his disposal, many of whom contested All-Ireland U-20 finals in 2022 and 2023, winning the latter. Several more were U-20 winners in 2018. The Tailteann Cup may even be the best environment for those young players to learn their trade, though Hyland isn't sure. "I tend to disagree with that," he said. "I think the young guys we have here at the moment would be well able to mix it with the likes of a Down, a Clare, some of the teams that are in the Sam Maguire this year. We have to play the cards we were dealt obviously but I think that would have brought us on a bit more if we were in it." Attacker Jimmy Hyland looks set to miss out again with a lower leg injury and there are question marks over the fitness of Callum Bolton, Ben McCormack and Ryan Houlihan.
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
The Times' 2025 All-Star softball team
A look at the Los Angeles Times' 2025 All-Star softball team: Pitcher, Coral Williams, Norco, So.: She threw a one-hit shutout in the Southern Section Division 1 championship game while finishing the season with a 17-0 record. Pitcher, Mia Valbuena, Marina, Jr. : The Michigan commit led Marina to the Division 3 championship. She had 293 strikeouts in 175 1/3 innings while going 19-10 with a 1.88 ERA. Utility, Aliyah Garcia, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Jr.: She led the Knights to the Mission League title while batting .465 and was the league MVP pitcher. Cather, Alyssa Torres, Valley View, Jr.: She had 22 home runs while batting .506 and driving in 46 runs. Infielder, Ki'ele Ho-Ching, Long Beach Poly, Jr.: The Oklahoma commit led the Jackrabbits to the Division 4 championship. Infielder, Leighton Gray, Norco, So.: She led the Division 1 champions in hitting with a .435 average, including eight home runs. Infielder, Kaitlyn Galasso, El Modena, Sr.: The Loyola Marymount commit led her team in hitting with a .462 average, including 48 hits and 12 home runs. Infielder, Taelyn Holley, Murrieta Mesa, Sr.: The Tennessee commit batted .598 with 52 hits, 40 runs, 40 RBIs and 15 home runs. Outfielder, Tamryn Shorter, Norco, Sr.: The Boise State commit batted .404 with nine home runs. Outfielder, Jazmine Leyva, South El Monte, Sr.: The UCLA commit had 47 hits, a .691 batting average and hit 16 home runs. Outfielder, Kai Minor, Orange Lutheran, Sr.: The Oklahoma commit concluded a fabulous four-year career by hitting .500 with 44 hits and 34 RBIs.
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
With ace Edy Latour in command, and bats on the attack, Dighton-Rehoboth softball does it again in Division 3
Dighton-Rehoboth (24-2) steadily added to its lead with runs in each of the final five innings, capped by a two-run homer from senior Emma Horrocks in the sixth. 'I'm really proud of the way that we attacked that today, and we were able to consistently score runs throughout the whole game,' Holmes said. 'Edy knew that all she had to do was do her best, and she did that.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Latour came in having yielded just two runs in 26 postseason innings, and she turned in another standout performance. After yielding two hits in the first frame, she was untouchable, retiring 12 consecutive batters from the third through the sixth and never allowing another runner past second. Advertisement 'Having that run almost like each inning was great,' Latour said. 'It gave me the confidence I needed to keep pitching. I just knew I had to do my part.' After getting held scoreless in the first by Bears freshman Akira'ley Vazquez, Dighton-Rehoboth began to capitalize on defensive miscues behind her as the game wore on. In the second inning, Sara Marsella singled with one out and later crossed the plate on a misplay at second. An inning later, Eva Ainsworth plated another run after a high throw got past third baseman Hayden Gomes. Advertisement The Falcons broke it open in the sixth with a two-out rally, started when senior Izzy Moss got aboard with a double and was driven in by senior Haleigh Kelley. Then, Horrocks put on the finishing touches with a two-run bomb that sailed well over the left field fence. The home run was also the 100th hit of Horrocks' career, putting the finishing touches on a game — and season — that she could not have drawn up any better. 'Not having to have your last game be a loss is just not something everyone gets to do,' Horrocks said. 'It's just so exciting, such a good feeling to come out on top again. Dighton-Rehoboth sophomore Edy Latour scrattered four hits, striking out five, and retired 12 consective batters from the third through sixth inning. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Dighton-Rehoboth captains Skye Harrison (left), Haleigh Kelley (center) and Emma Horrocks show off the Division 3 trophy hardware. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Dighton-Rehoboth players prepare to greet teammate Emma Horrocks (not pictured) after belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning for her 100th career hit. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Dighton-Rehoboth's McKennya Chery (left) and a few of her teammates were colorful in cheering on their teammates in the Division 3 final. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe Matty Wasserman can be reached at
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Kildare pip Offaly to book Tailteann Cup semi-final
Tailteann Cup quarter-final: Kildare 1-17 Offaly 0-19 Revenge was sweet for Kildare who got the better of Offaly at the third time of asking to secure their Tailteann Cup semi-final place. Brian Flanagan's side previously lost to Offaly in the Division 3 league final and earlier again in the group stage. But seven points from in-form attacker Alex Beirne, who now has 2-30 for the tournament, and a crucial goal from James McGrath, propelled the hosts to a hugely significant win in Newbridge. Ryan Sinkey and Darragh Kirwan split six points evenly between them also as Kildare reached the last four of the tier two competition for the first time. They were pushed all the way by a game Offaly side who cut a seven-point deficit with 21 minutes to go to just one late on. Offaly even had a two-point attempt in the fifth minute of stoppage time to win it but Cillian Bourke's attempt flew wide. It all means that Offaly's season is over while Kildare will progress to Monday morning's draw for the semi-finals which will take place next weekend at Croke Park. On a wet pitch with intermittent downpours, the physicality was off the scale throughout as the Leinster neighbours met for the third time this year. Colm Dalton is tackled by David Dempsey of Offaly. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile Offaly won the previous two meetings by six and two-point margins but ran into a Kildare side in better form this time. The Lilywhites were one of only two teams in the competition to reach the knock-out stage with a perfect record. They blitzed Leitrim and Tipperary before blasting 4-19 beyond Sligo to advance directly to the quarter-finals. But this was always likely to be their toughest test of the campaign and the lead swung over and back throughout. Kildare had it first after clipping three of the game's first four points, from Sinkey, captain Kevin Feeley and Darragh Kirwan. Offaly responded with points from Keith O'Neill and Cathal Flynn, the latter a two-pointer, to move 0-5 to 0-3 ahead themselves. And so the terms of engagement were set. Next came the Kildare goal, from McGrath, which had the splendidly appointed new main stand rocking. Athy man McGrath took off on a stunning solo run towards goal from the right wing before rifling a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Paddy Dunican. Jack Bryant, Kildare's destroyer in the Division 3 league final at Croke Park, hit back for Offaly with a point and Daire McDaid added another. But Beirne's first point of the game left Kildare 1-7 to 0-8 up at half-time. It was more of the same after the break, Kildare firstly striding confidently clear with Beirne coming alive and kicking a two-pointer to nudge them 1-13 to 0-9 lead. Then Offaly hit back with five unanswered points - including two Jordan Hayes two-pointers - to cut the deficit right back again. They were neck and neck all the way until full-time Kirwan, Beirne and O'Grady grabbing the vital Kildare scores to keep them just about ahead all the way. Offaly did have a 75th minute attempt to win it when young Tullamore star Bourke took a pot shot at glory from outside the arc but his two-point attempt flew wide. Scorers for Kildare: A Beirne 0-7 (1 tp, 0-2f), J McGrath 1-0, R Sinkey 0-3, D Kirwan 0-3, K Feeley 0-1, D Flynn 0-1, D Hyland 0-1, M O'Grady 0-1. Scorers for Offaly: J Hayes 0-4 (2 tp), P Dunican 0-3 (1tp, 0-1 45) K O'Neill 0-2, C Flynn 0-2 (tp), D Hyland 0-2 (0-1f), S Tierney 0-2 (0-1f), J Furlong 0-1 (0-1m), J Bryant 0-1, D McDaid 0-1, C Bourke 0-1. KILDARE: C Burke; H O'Neill, M Dempsey, R Burke; T Gill, D Hyland, J McGrath; K Feely, B Gibbons; B Byrne, A Beirne, C Dalton; R Sinkey, D Flynn, D Kirwan. Subs: N Kelly for Sinkey 54, K Flynn for Gill 55, M O'Grady for Gibbons 58, J McKevitt for Dempsey 63, B McLoughlin for Kirwan 72. OFFALY: P Dunican; L Pearson, D Dempsey, D McDaid; A Bracken, J Furlong, C Egan; J McEvoy, J Hayes; K Higgins, C Flynn, C Bourke; D Hyland, J Bryant, K O'Neill. Subs: R McNamee for Higgins 42, S Tierney for Bryant 54, R Egan for Pearson 68. Referee: T Murphy (Galway). Read More Fermanagh reach Tailteann Cup semi final for the first time after narrow win against Sligo
Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
After persevering through painful losses, Scituate boys' lacrosse sails out as Division 3 champion
Related : But after taking down top-seeded Medfield, 11-9, in the state semifinals Wednesday, the fifth-seeded Sailors (19-5) would not be denied a storybook ending. Advertisement 'My fear was that we used so much mental and physical energy to play at the highest level we could against Medfield and we had to come into this game and find the same attitude,' said Scituate coach Mark Puzzangara, who guided the program to its last state title in 2009 in his first year at the helm. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'But when Willy [Robinson] tells the guys, 'We got this.' Everybody listens. That's just the seniors we have. There was no panic. We've been here before. We knew what we needed to do, so it's a tribute to them.' Senior captain Lydon O'Brien (committed to Mass Maritime) made five of his 13 saves in the first quarter, offsetting a faceoff discrepancy and sparking the Sailors offense, even assisting on an early goal to junior Luke Spaulding, who posted 4 points (3 goals, assist) during a 7-2 first half. Advertisement When No. 3 Falmouth (18-6) rallied to close the gap to 7-4 in the third quarter, Robinson (2 goals) shut the door with a goal as time expired in the frame. Fellow senior captains Owen Hofford (2 goals, assist) and Quinn DeCourcey (goal, assist) rounded out the offense. 'These guys have been through hell and back and it shows the type of young men they are,' Puzzangara said. 'They're so mentally tough and to be able to compartmentalize all the emotions and just focus on doing the job, I can't say enough. It's a special group.' Robinson and several of his teammates were instrumental parts of Scituate's run to a Division 4 Super Bowl last fall, avenging a loss to rival Duxbury the previous December. Closing the redemption arc with another state title, Robinson finishes as one of the top athletes in school history. Before looking ahead to his lacrosse career at West Point, the 400-point scorer took extra time to sign banners and lacrosse balls for the fans and community members that have supported him throughout his career. 'When I was coming up and I would ask about [scoring] records or anything, [my dad] always said, 'It doesn't matter what records you have, it's how you make your mark. And how you make your mark is leaving a banner in that gym,'' Robinson said. 'I've always gone into the gym and looked up at the rafters and wanted to put up a banner, and now we've put up two. So it means the world.' In his finale, 400-point career scorer Willy Robinson scored a pair of goals for Scituate. 'I've always gone into the gym and looked up at the rafters and wanted to put up a banner, and now we've put up two [football and lacrosse]. So it means the world.' Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Falmouth's Charlie Hostetter tries to maintain possession in the Division 3 final. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Scituate celebrates with their fans after winning the championship at Mass. Maritime Academy. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo A banner day on Buzzards Bay for Scituate lacrosse. Heather Diehl for the Boston Glo Nate Weitzer can be reached at
