Friday Sports Update

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

GAA

On Saturday Kfm will have live updates of Clane vs Naomh Moninne of Westmeath in the Leinster Junior hurling championship with throw-in at 1.30pm.

On Sunday Leinster Club Senior Hurling Championship Naas vs Carlow's Mount Leinster Rangers from 1:30pm.

Kfm will have full live commentary of that game in association with Moloney and Co., Solicitors, 4A North Main St. Naas.

A reminder, this evening's Weekend Preview from 6.25, will have manager and player interviews, plus all the other Kildare weekend sport.

SOCCER

Liverpool manager Arne Slot says striker Alexander Isak is back in training ahead of this weekend's Premier League match against Manchester City.

The Premier League champions' record signing's been out for three weeks with a groin issue.


The final place in next season's SSE Airtricity League Premier Division is up for grabs tonight.

Waterford take on Bray Wanderers in the promotion/relegation play-off at Tolka Park.

Bray are aiming to play in the top-flight for the first time since 2018.

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham and Manchester City's Phil Foden have been recalled to the England squad.

There's a first call-up for uncapped Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, with Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace also included.

 

Republic of Ireland under-21 manager Jim Crawford says Jobe Bellingham has turned down the chance to join the squad.

The FAI approached the Ireland eligible Borussia Dortmund midfielder about switching his international allegiance, but Bellingham has opted to remain with England.


Middlesbrough have cancelled today's pre-match press conference with boss Rob Edwards amid interest from Premier League side Wolves.
They had a formal approach to speak to their former defender about the managerial vacancy at Molineux rejected yesterday.


GOLF

Shane Lowry is 11-under-par heading into the weekend at golf's HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship.

The former Open champion has signed for a second-round 69 and he's three strokes behind clubhouse leaders Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai.

Rory McIlroy is eight-under-par with four holes left of his round.


RUGBY

Japan head coach Eddie Jones says he '100 per cent believes' that they can beat Ireland tomorrow afternoon.

Ireland suffered a 26-13 defeat to New Zealand last weekend and Jones feels Andy Farrell's side are going through a "difficult little period",

But the Japan boss expects Farrell and his time to turn things around ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
 

Louis Rees-Zammit has been named among the Wales replacements for Sunday's game against Argentina.

The winger's not played for his country since they lost to the Pumas at the 2023 World Cup - after spending 18 months in American football's N-F-L.

Prop Rhys Carre comes into the starting line-up, and there are returns for Lions Tomos Williams and Jac Morgan.