Frustrated Pegasus knocked off top spot
PEGASUS were left disappointed and frustrated after falling to a 4-2 defeat to Catholic Institute as the Limerick side knocked Greg Thompson’s team off top spot in the EY IHL.
With only 12 players available to make the long trip instead of the permitted 18, Pegasus were always going to be up against it with only one sub on the bench.
Among the Pegasus absentees were Niamh McIvor and Charlotte Beggs, who were not permitted to play like the other girls who had been involved in Ireland’s three Under-18 internationals against England during the week due to player welfare protocols.
That was the main source of the club’s frustration as they say they were told they were not allowed to apply for a postponement.
Interestingly, Annadale’s men were able to have their scheduled EY IHL game with Lisnagarvey called off as the Belfast side had several boys on Ireland under-age duty.
Pegasus coach Thompson said: “We always knew it was going to be tough to go to Limerick and get a result against a well organised Catholic Institute side, who deserved their win.
“However, given that we had five players unavailable due to a combination of injury and enforced rest, it certainly made the task more difficult.
“I certainly have my own frustrations that there was no alternative to playing the Irish Under-18 series just before a league weekend, or that a postponement was completely ruled out as we were told on the Tuesday before the game.”
There was also disappointment for Belfast Harlequins on Saturday as they went down 2-1 away to their Cork namesakes after Jenna Watt (left) had put them in front.
Elsewhere, Queen’s are now looking hot favourites to lift the Ulster Premier League title after nearest rivals Ards lost 4-1 to Ballymoney, helped by Ireland captain Katie Mullan’s double.
Results: EY IHL: Old Alex 2 Muckross 0; Cork H’quins 2 B’fast H’quins 1; Catholic Inst 4 Pegasus 2; UCD 1 Loreto 1. Ulster Premier: Randalstown 2 Mossley 0; Ards 1 Ballymoney 4; Dungannon 5 Rainey 0. Senior One: Club KV 3 Dromore 1; Coleraine 1 Armagh 1; North Down 4 Priorians 0; Omagh 1 Ballymena 0. Irish Trophy quarter-finals: Portadown 2 Raphoe 2; North Kildare 3 Kilkenny 2; Lisnagarvey 4 NUIG 0. Irish Junior Cup semi-final: Pegasus II 1 Old Alex 1 (Alex won 7-6 in s/o).
THE Fight, as it will now be known. It was a dream fight in the magic heavyweight kingdom of Las Vegas on Saturday night. Tyson Fury is the new heavyweight champion of the world after one of the finest ever performances by a British boxer in a title bout.
After 99 seconds of round seven, the white towel of surrender landed on the bloodsoaked canvas and Deontay Wilder’s night was over, his reign was over and he could barely stand. He was saved from the hurt.
Fury had dismantled Wilder from the very opening seconds, breaking his face, ear, spirit and heart before the end.
It was brutal, savage justice for the awful and unfair drawn verdict the pair shared in December 2018 when Fury won clearly. On that night, Fury was dropped twice and here, in this unforgiving city, Wilder went down twice; he took a beating from bell to towel.
“It was the fight and the ending I told you would happen,” said Fury. “He took more because he was brave, but I pushed the bully back and there was nothing he could do.”
Wilder went to hospital for a routine check. His coach, Jay Deas, struggling against the shock and emotion in his voice, said that his boxer and friend would be back. Wilder has 30 days to ask for the third fight, which was part of the contract for the rematch.
In round three, as Wilder was backed against the ropes again, Fury connected with a right cross and down went the American. The punch was behind the ear, on a spot that ruins a man’s balance. Wilder regained his feet, but he never regained his senses.
In round five a body shot sent Wilder down in a heavy and hurt heap. It is rare in the heavyweight business for a fighter to go down so cleanly from a body shot — it actually looked like the punch lifted Wilder off his size 15s for a second before he landed on the canvas.
He lasted until the bell — the fight was at that point totally extraordinary. Fury had gone toe-to-toe with one of boxing’s most ferocious punchers. He promised he would; we never believed him.
The sixth was another bad round for Wilder, who had entered the bout unbeaten in 43 fights, including 10 consecutive works title duels. Fury was fighting like a man possessed, a man glowing with confidence and boxing genius.
Wilder was slow to raise his towering, battered frame for the seventh. He stood for a second, totally beaten, but refused to quit. The bell sounded for the seventh and he staggered out. Fury let his fists go and then the bloody white towel came in. It took seven rounds and 99 seconds to complete one of sport’s most remarkable comebacks and stories.
Fury is now forever in the history books. All the wins, the belts, the stupid comments, the breakdowns, the 10 stone of weight gain and the suicide plans will always need to be calculated against the pure brilliance and daring of what we witnessed in the MGM ring.
Fury can leave this place a boxing king, he can now lose the fake crown and robe and throne he used to enter the ring; it is time to build the Fury boxing story from fresh stones. He was masterful. It was a privilege to witness.
All talk of Anthony Joshua and the future should be held for a day or two — let us all, especially Fury, breathe in the rare air from a night nobody will ever forget.
The Gypsy King has another