Dearbhail Savage wins second gold at World Special Olympics

Dearbhail Savage (centre) added to her individual equestrian gold won on Wednesday

County Armagh 15-year-old Dearbhail Savage won her third medal at the Special Olympics World Summer Games as she took a second gold on the final day of competition in Los Angeles.

Mowham teenager Savage helped Ireland win equestrian team gold as the Irish won a further 16 medals on Saturday.

Donegal gymnast Patrick Quinlivan won a silver and three bronze on Saturday.

Ireland ladies basketball team clinched gold with a number of other Ulster athletes qualifying for finals.

Footballers, Christopher Kane from Lisburn and Peter Fitzpatrick from Ballynahinch, swimmer Sarah Jane Johnston from Lurgan and table tennis athlete, Carole Catling from Newtownabbey, all achieved place ribbons in their events.

Ireland's success on Saturday brought up the country's haul of medals to 86 as the team clinched six gold, five silver and five bronze medals on the final day of competition.

That left the team with a final medal tally of 26 gold, 29 silver, 31 bronze, 31 personal bests and 43 placement ribbons.

Dundalk man James Meenan was part of a silver-medal winning mixed relay team which also included Wicklow man Donal O'Mahony plus Dubliner Timothy Morahan and Mayo woman Aoife Beston.

In badminton there was a gold medal in the mixed doubles for Wicklow woman Amy Quinn and her partner, Gorey man Brian Hooper.

Mullingar man Peter Malynn and playing partner Drogheda woman Anne Hoey took a silver medal in the Bocce mixed pairs event.

Team Ireland chief executive Matt English paid tribute to the performances of the Irish team throughout the week of competition in California.

"Each and every member of Team Ireland has put in an extraordinary effort here in Los Angeles," said the Team Ireland official.

Special Olympics Ulster's regional director Shaun Cassidy said that Team Ireland's achievements had been "incredibly uplifting".