Boccia: BC1/BC2 Team through to quarter finals of Euro Championships
June 27th, 2009. In: Boccia, CPSI
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After a tense first days play at the 2009 European Boccia Championships in Portugal, Ireland’s BC1/BC2 Team of Padraic Moran, Tom Leahy, Jason Kearney and Bobbie Connolly just did enough in their 3 pool games to secure a quarter-final match against Norway tomorrow.
The team, without Beijing bronze medallist, Gabriel Shelly, qualified for tomorrows quarter final despite losing two of their three Pool C matches today. The Irish lost to the mighty Spanish 10:3 in their opening game but followed it up with a comprehensive 14:1 win over Croatia. Unfortunately, a final 4:3 defeat to Austria left Ireland’s qualification hopes in grave doubt. A Croatian win in a tie-break against Austria was enough to secure the second place in the final pool standings for Ireland on points difference.
In the BC3 Pair competition, the Irish Pair of Johnny Cronin, Steven Valentine & Johnny Cronin had a mixed day with one victory and one defeat in their Pool C matches today. Having lost to Belgium 4:1, the Irish responded with an emphatic 10:2 victory over Denmark. The Irish play their final pool match against Greece tomorrow morning with a victory securing a quarter-final place.
Further information about the event is available on the competition website www.boccia2009.org
INFO Source - Paralympic Council of Ireland-www.pcireland.ie