Friday Morning Sports Update

Keeping you up to date on GAA, soccer, racing, rugby and golf.

GAA

The Kildare football team to play Cork tomorrow evening will be announced later.

This morning’s Kildare Today and this evening from 6.25pm will preview all of the Kildare sporting action.

The Hanlon Concrete senior football league begins this evening, with fixtures in the four divisions.

Games will throw in at 8pm, but there are a couple of postponements due to unplayable pitches.

We’ll have the postponements in our 11am sport, and a full list of fixtures still standing in our 1pm Sports bulletin.

SOCCER

St Pat's could move level on points with league leaders Bohemians in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division this evening.

The Saints are on a three-game winning run ahead of the visit of Drogheda United to Richmond Park.

Bohemians welcome Galway United to Dalymount Park, while Shelbourne make the trip to Derry City,

Dundalk and Waterford will both be seeking their first win of the campaign when they meet at Oriel Park in the other quarter-to-eight kick-off.

The 8 o'clock match is at the Showgrounds with Sligo Rovers taking on the reigning champions Shamrock Rovers.

Last night, Aston Villa earned a 1-nil win over Lille in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie.

Nottingham Forest have work to do, after losing 1-nil at home to Midtjylland.

Robbie Keane's Ferencvaros enjoyed a 2-nil home win over Braga.

Crystal Palace and Larnaca drew nil at Selhurst Park in the first leg of their Conference League last-16 encounter.

Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott hit the net twice in AZ Alkmaar's 2-1 victory over Sparta Prague.

RACING

Trainer Gavin Cromwell believes Inothewayurthinkin has every chance of going back-to-back in today's feature race at Cheltenham, the Gold Cup.

Last year's winner will face a field of 11, which includes Willie Mullins' Gaelic Warrior and the Harry Redknapp-owned The Jukebox Man.

There are two more Grade Ones on the final day of the Festival, the Triumph Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, and a crowd of around 60-thousand are expected through the gates.

RUGBY

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell expects James Lowe and Bundee Aki to be available for next year's Rugby World Cup.

Aki and Lowe are both out of contract this summer, but Farrell expects deals to be reached with both.

Caelan Doris will take the squad for his captain's run at the Aviva later ahead of tomorrow's Triple Crown decider against Scotland..

GOLF

Rory McIlroy says he's still in contention at golf's Players Championship.

The defending champion is seven shots behind the leaders, on two-under-par alongside Seamus Coleman.

A quadruple bogey on the 18th leaves Shane Lowry on four-over heading into his second round later.