Friday Morning Sports Update

Keeping you up to date on GAA, Soccer, Rugby, Boxing and Racing

GAA

UPMC Intermediate Hurling Championship

Broadford V Leixlip, Maynooth V Moorefield, and Naas V St. Laurence’s.

All throw-in at 7.45pm.

On Saturday, in the UPMC Junior Hurling Championship Semi Final Manguard Park Pitch 1, Kilcock V Sarsfields 15:45

On Sunday, in the UPMC Senior Hurling Championship Group A Venue: Cedral St. Conleth’s Park, Coill Dubh V Maynooth 14:00

Venue: Manguard Park Pitch 1, Confey V Eire Og Corra Choill 14:00

Group B Venue: Cedral St. Conleth’s Park, Ardclough V Celbridge 15:45

Venue: Manguard Park Pitch 1, Clane V Naas 15:45

UPMC Junior Hurling Semi Final Venue: Manguard Park Pitch 1, Cappagh V Wolfe Tones 12:00

Listen into Kildare Today's GAA Preview at 10.45am this morning for all the latest with Seamus and Clem. And on Monday, at 6.25pm, Kildare Scoreboard with review all of the weekend Kildare Sport.

Soccer

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson admits a considerable number of his players were off the pace in last night's defeat to Kosovo.

The Boys in Green were beaten 1-0 in Pristina in their opening game of the Nations League campaign.

In the other game in Group B3 last night, Austria were 3-1 winners over Israel.

The Israelis had their goalscorer Saied Abu Farchi sent off after he used a corner flag to simulate a gun during his celebration.

Elsewhere, Cody Gakpo grabbed the equaliser for The Netherlands, in a 1-all draw with Jurgen Klopp's Germany.

Wales suffered a narrow 1-nil defeat against Portugal in Lisbon.


Republic of Ireland under-21s boss Jim Crawford admits it's win-or-bust in tonight's Euro qualifier against Slovakia.

They are six points adrift of this evening's hosts, who are in the playoff spot in Group D.

That game in Kosice is underway from 5 o'clock Irish Time.


There's one game in the League of Ireland Men's Premier Division tonight.

Galway can leapfrog sixth-placed Shelbourne with a win at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Kick-off is at quarter-to-eight.

Rugby

Another URC seasons gets up and running for the Irish provinces tonight.

Connacht begin their league campaign with the visit of South African side the Stormers to Galway.

Ireland star Mack Hansen returns to the starting side for his first game since last November.

Kick off at Dexcom Stadium is at quarter-to-eight.

At the same time, Ulster kick-off their season with a game at home to Edinburgh.

Rob Baloucoune gets a start on the right wing for Richie Murphy's side, while James McNabney is back at number-eight after missing all of last season with a knee injury.

The Leinster Rugby team to play the Lions in the United Rugby Championship season opener at Ellis Park this Saturday at 12.30pm has been named.  Naas Andrew Osborne starts on the wing with Tommy O'Brien. Kildare's Todd Lawlor makes his first start at full-back. Sallins Ciarán Mangan is also in the matchday 23. 

Boxing

Aoife O'Rourke will bid for a gold medal on the final night of the European Boxing Elite Championships in Sofia.

The reigning World middleweight champion takes on Turkey's Busra Isildar in the final.

The Roscommon native came out on top when the two fighters met at the Worlds final in Liverpool last year.

Her sister Lisa claimed Ireland's first gold of the Championships last night.

She beat Russia's Anastasiia Demurchian in the light-heavyweight final by split decision.

Racing

And racing today is in Kilkenny from 1.40pm.