Thursday Morning: Rep. Ireland U-19s Lose 3-1 To England

Ireland play Portugal next

SOCCER

The Republic of Ireland Men's Under-19s face an uphill task if they are to qualify for this summer's European Championship.

Tom Mohan's side were beaten 3-1 by England in their first elite phase match in Walsall last night.

Ireland will play Portugal at St. George's Park on Saturday.

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A Michaela Lawrence strike two-minutes from time salvaged a point for the Women's Under-17s last night.

They drew 1-1 with Slovakia in their Euro qualifier in Tallaght, and will play Finland at the same venue on Saturday.

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Wales are potentially just 180-minutes from a first World Cup finals appearance since 1958.

They play Austria tonight in their playoff semi-final, and have Gareth Bale fit and available for the game in Cardiff.

Kick-off is at 7.45, and the winners will play either Scotland or Ukraine in June.

Elsewhere tonight, Poland play Turkey and European Champions Italy face North Macedonia.

While Sweden take on the Czech Republic for the right to play Poland for a place in Qatar.

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Chelsea will be allowed to sell tickets to away games for their men's and women's fixtures.

The British government has amended the special licence the club has been operating under, since the sanctioning of Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

Fans will now be allowed to attend away fixtures, with all revenue going to competition organisers and not Chelsea Football Club.

GOLF

Seamus Power continues his WGC Matchplay campaign in Texas today with his toughest assignment so far - against world number 4 Patrick Cantlay.

Power edged closer to sealing his Masters spot by beating Sungjae Im 5 and 4.

Meanwhile, Shane Lowry plays Erik van Rooyen of South Africa in Group 16.

Lowry has work to do after losing his opening match, 2 and 1 to Harold Varner the Third.

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Graeme McDowell is in the Dominican Republic for the opening round of the Corales Puntacana Championship.

McDowell tees off after 4pm, Irish time.

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On the opening day of the Qatar Masters, Niall Kearney is 2 under through 15 holes.

Cormac Sharvin is two over also through 15.

Spain's Pablo Larrazabal leads on 8 under par.

Jonathan Caldwell teed off in the last few minutes, at 8.25am.

RACING

There's a seven-race card in Cork this afternoon.

The first goes to post at 2.20pm.