Friday Morning Sports Update

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

GAA

There are multiple games to be played tonight in The Hanlon Concrete Senior Football League.

Division 1

Maynooth vs Sallins

Celbridge vs Athy

Sarsfields vs Johnstownbridge

Division 2

Confey vs Castledermot

Ellistown vs Carbury

Eadestown vs Two Mile House

Leixlip vs Round Towers

Grangenolvin vs Allenwood

Rathangan vs Caragh

Division 3

Rathcoffey vs Cappagh

Kilcullen vs Kilcock

Robertstown vs Nurney

Straffan vs Clogherinkoe

Kill vs Athgarvan

St Kevin’s vs Ballyteague

Division 4

Monastervean vs Ballymore Eustace

Kildangan vs Suncroft

Ballykelly vs Rheban

All games throw-in at 8pm. 

SOCCER

The Republic of Ireland can move one step closer to qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Carla Ward's side are two points behind group leaders the Netherlands, ahead of facing the Dutch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Kick-off in Cork is at 7:30pm.

The men's team continue their Nations League preparations with a friendly against Canada overnight.

Heimir Hallgrimsson is expected to name an experimental starting 11, with several new faces included in the squad.

​​​​​RUGBY

The IRFU have confirmed that Andy Farrell will continue as Ireland head coach beyond next year's Rugby World Cup.

The 51-year-old has signed a contract extension running until the 2031 edition of the tournament.

Farrell had been linked with a move to English club Saracens, as their new Director of Rugby.

BOXING

Croke Park is expected to be confirmed as the venue for Katie Taylor's retirement bout later today.

A press conference is scheduled to take place at GAA HQ this afternoon.

Earlier this week, the WBC confirmed that Flora Pili of France will take on Taylor for the super lightweight title.

The previous champion Sandy Ryan has had to vacate the belt after the organisation announced her pregnancy.

TENNIS

The French Open men's semi-finals are down for decision at Roland Garros today.

Second seed Alexander Zverev goes up against Czechia's Jakub Mensik 

World Number Three Zverev is targeting a first-ever Grand Slam title.

It's an all-Italian affair in the other semi-final, when Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi go head to head in the evening session.

GOLF

Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are well-placed heading into Day Two of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield.

The Masters winner is one-under-par after a round of 71 yesterday, while the Offaly native went one better on two under.

There's a four way tie at the top of the leaderboard on five under par.

Leona Maguire and Olivia Mehaffey face a battle to make the cut at the US Women's Open in Los Angeles.

Maguire carded seven bogies for an opening-round 76 yesterday, to sit on five-over-par,

While Mehaffey is a shot better off, on four-over.

The American Jennifer Kupcho holds the overnight lead of five-under.

RACING

There's racing in Clonmel and Fairyhouse this evening.

The first race in Tipperary goes to post from 5:40pm, while there's an earlier star time of 4.55pm in Meath.