Paris 2024: Kennedy class snatches late win for Ireland

Ireland 17-14 USA

Terry Kennedy produced a late moment of magic to snatch victory for Ireland against the USA in their rugby sevens fifth-to-eighth place play-off semi-final at at Stade de France.

Ireland's hopes of securing an Olympic medal were shattered on Thursday when they were beaten 19-15 by Fiji in the quarter-finals.

However they can end the Games on a high if they beat New Zealand this evening (5.30pm kick-off) to secure fifth. They finished 10th three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics.

Ireland made the perfect start against the Americans as Sean Cribbin fed Hugo Lennox to cross over. The USA applied sustained pressure to hit back through Aaron Cummings, and it was 7-7 at half-time.

Perry Baker became the all-time leading men's scorer in Olympic rugby sevens history when he claimed his 10th try for his country to nudge the USA ahead.

Zac Ward snatched a second Ireland try off a well-worked lineout, though Mark Roche missed the conversion. That meant Ireland needed Kennedy to pull a rabbit out of the hat - which he did in style, gliding through in the dying seconds to seal the win.

Ireland: Chay Mullins, Sean Cribbin, Terry Kennedy, Hugo Lennox, Harry McNulty (captain), Andrew Smith, Jack Kelly.

Replacements: Hugo Keenan, Mark Roche, Gavin Mullin, Niall Comerford, Zac Ward.

USA: Perry Baker, Naima Fuala'au, Madison Hughes (captain), Lucas Lacamp, Steve Tomasin, Orrin Bizer, Aaron Cummings.

Replacements: Maka Unufe, Marcus Tupuola, Malacchi Esdale, Pita Vi, Adam Channel.

Referee: Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)