Ireland boss Bell faces injury crisis

SOCCER

IRELAND manager Colin Bell is facing an injury crisis ahead of the pivotal World Cup qualifier against Norway on Friday.

The Girls in Green face the top seeds in back-to-back fixtures over the next week, starting on Friday at Tallaght Stadium (5.30), but Bell could be without five of his first-choice team.

Megan Campbell and Stephanie Roche were already ruled out and now goalkeeper Marie Hourihan (calf), Niamh Fahey (ankle) and Harriet Scott (knee) are considered “major doubts” by Bell.

Amber Barrett, whose winner in the first game of the last doubleheader in April against Slovakia kept their qualification hopes alive, is also nursing an ankle problem.

The news represents a serious blow to the Irish. Although they are second in the group, a point ahead of Norway with three games remaining, their opponents over the next week have a match in hand.

Bell admits at least three points will be required to retain ambitions of a play-off spot heading into the concluding tie against Northern Ireland in September.

“Norway have always felt the top two in the group would be themselves and Holland, so we’ve to get inside their heads,” vowed Bell. BASKETBALL STEPH CURRY hit nine threepointers – an NBA Finals record – as the Golden State Warriors opened a 2-0 lead in the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers with a 122-103 victory.

The 30-year-old had 33 points in total on a night when the damage was done for Cleveland in the second and fourth quarters, with the Warriors outscoring the Cavs 27-18 and 32-23 respectively.

Curry’s big night at the Oracle Arena came from him scoring nine out of 17 three-point attempts, adding seven rebounds and eight assists, while Kevin Durant had 26.

The best-of-seven series moves to Cleveland where Game 3 takes place tomorrow night.