LAST UPDATE | 26 Jun 2023
THE IRELAND MEN’S 7s rugby team have kept their bid to qualify for the Olympics on track after advancing to the semi-final stages at the European Games.
Ireland powered to a 26-12 win in their quarter-final meeting with Belgium in Krakow.
James Topping’s side will now face Portugal at 12.58pm Irish time on Tuesday, while Spain take on Great Britain in the other semi-final.
The tournament winners will earn qualification for Paris 2024. The teams who finish second and third will have one final chance of reaching the Games via the global repechage next year.
Ireland made a slow start against Belgium, with Gillian Benoy crossing from close range to give the Belgians and early lead.
Ireland responded with a Dylan O’Grady try after good work by Terry Kennedy and a nice Harry McNulty skip pass, the score converted by Mark Roche.
Roche added his second conversion when Kennedy then put Ireland in the lead just before half-time, the St Mary’s man sprinting through to collect his own kick behind and dot down.
Liam McNamara crossed early in the second half with a good finish under pressure, and added a second late in the second period after winning a turnover, before Belgium struck for a late consolation score.
Earlier on Monday, Ireland had secured top spot in their pool as they defeated Germany 19-7, building on their Pool A wins against Poland and Italy on Sunday.
Ireland started slowly against Germany and conceded a try to Nikolai Karl Klewinghaus, which was converted, before a Jack Kelly try brought them back into it as they trailed 7-5 at the interval.
Ireland stepped it up in the second half with Jordan Conroy and Andrew Smith both bagging tries that Billy Dardis converted.
Updated at 7.35pm with quarter-final result.
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