Paralympics final for GB footballers

Great Britain’s seven-a-side cerebral palsy football team secured a place in the gold medal final of this year’s BT Paralympic World Cup with a 7-3 victory over the Republic of Ireland yesterday at the Manchester Regional Arena.

Both sides went into the game with a chance of facing group winners Brazil for the top prize today having each lost to the South Americans and beaten the United States in their opening two fixtures.

It was a cagey affair in the first half, with only a sublime 23rd-minute solo effort from GB’s Ibrahima Diallo proving the difference between the two teams.

The match kicked into life after the break as Michael Barker made it 2-0 from the penalty spot. Seconds after Blair Glynn’s own-goal brought the Irish back into the game, Barker made it 3-1.

GB captain Matt Dimbylow added another strike and although the Republic’s Luke Evans reduced the deficit once more, Barker and Diallo each completed a hat-trick before Gary Messett’s stoppage-time consolation for the visitors.

The Brazil-GB clash kicks off at midday today.

Meanwhile, two Scots archers, Kate Murray and Murray Elliot, have been chosen to represent Great Britain at the Paralympics.