Friday Evening Sports Update

Keeping you up to date with GAA, soccer, golf, rugby, darts and racing

GAA

On Saturday, the Kildare Senior Football Team play 2025 All-Ireland Champions Kerry for a challenge match in Cedral St. Conleth's Park.

Kick off is at 5pm.

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Galway's 2017 All-Ireland winning captain David Burke has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.

The St Thomas' clubman won four All-Star awards during his 16 seasons at county level and also claimed three Leinster medals.

In a statement, Galway manager Micheal Donoghue described Burke as 'an exceptional captain'.

SOCCER
The FAI has confirmed the 15 clubs that will form part of the new top tier of grassroots football, which will begin next autumn.

Newbridge Town has been included.

Home Farm, Salthill Devon, and Mayo FC are among the teams competing in the inaugural National League.

The league will be split into northern and southern conferences, the winners of which will then go-head-to-head in a play-off final to be crowned champions.

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Multiple outlets are reporting that Stephen McPhail has resigned as Sporting Director of Shamrock Rovers.

The former Republic of Ireland international had been in the job for nine years.

He also finished out his playing career with Rovers, spending two seasons in Tallaght before hanging up his boots in 2016.

RUGBY

James Ryan will become Leinster's latest centurion when he lines out for tonight's URC derby against Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.

The visitors arrive in Dublin with Stuart McCloskey back in the Ulster squad after a spell out through injury.

Kick off is at 7.45.


DARTS

There's more first-round action at the PDC World Darts Championship today.

Dungannon's Mickey Mansell lost out in the deciding set against Leonard Gates of the US.

11th seed Josh Rock is about to get underway against Gemma Hayter.

Keane Barry, Daryl Gurney and Willie O'Connor are all in action in the evening session at Ally Pally.


SNOOKER

Mark Allen is through to the quarter-finals at the Scottish Open.

The Antrim native beat Zhang Anda by four frames to three last night.

Allen is back today for a meeting with Joe O'Connor from 7pm.


RACING

This evening's eight-race card at Dundalk has been delayed due to an earlier collision on the M1.

The first race has been pushed back to a half-five start.