Friday Lunch Sport Update

U23 Football Final on Feb 6th; Vera Pauw Press Conference re: US Charges; 3 Kildare Players in Champions Cup Rugby Tonight

Kildare GAA has confirmed a new date for the Whitewater Shopping Centre Under 23 football final.

Naas and Maynooth will contest the final on February 6th next.

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Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw is due to give a press conference at FAI Headquarters at 2pm.

It follows the naming of the Ireland manager in a report into allegations of coaching misconduct in the US, when she was in charge of Houston Dash more than 4 years ago.

Last night the FAI released a statement in support of Pauw - who denies the allegations

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Gianni Infantino has confirmed a 32-team Club World Cup will go ahead in 2025.

The FIFA President has also revealed plans for a Women's Club World Cup.

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A decision on the pitch at Kingspan Stadium will be made this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's Heineken Champions Cup clash between Ulster and La Rochelle.

Ulster say contingency plans are in place if the game cannot be played in Belfast.

Leinster play Gloucester tonight at the RDS at 8pm

Eadestown’s Jimmy O’Brien is on the wing.  

Also tonight at 8, Connacht are away to Brive in the Challenge Cup.

Kill’s Adam Byrne and Eadestown’s Diarmuid Kilgallon are named on the wings; Suncroft’s Cian Prendergast is rested.

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Ireland hockey play India in the semi-finals of the Women's Nations Cup this afternoon in Valencia at 2.45.

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Mark Allen plays Ashley Hugill in the quarter-finals of the English Snooker Open this evening.

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Tyrone's Nathan Rafftery will play last year's runner-up Michael Smith tonight in the second round of the PDC World Darts Championship in London.

Before that, Limerick's Willie O'Connor's in first round action against 18-year old Beau Greaves, the World Darts Federation women's world champion.