Monday Morning Sports Update

Results from the weekend local sports action in GAA football, hurling, basketball as well as All Ireland Club Football, soccer and rugby.

GAA

Kildare footballers and hurlers were both in finals action at the weekend.

Friday night's Dioralyte O'Byrne Cup final: Westmeath  1-18 Kildare 1-16

Kildare led by 8 points midway through the 2nd half, but successive Westmeath two pointers, including in added time, gave them a dramatic win.

Kildare are promoted to the Allianz League Division 2, and begin next Saturday evening at 6pm vs Tyrone in Healy Park Omagh.  

Kfmwill have full commentary of the game with Ger McNally and Philie Wolfe, in association with Hanlon Concrete Robertstown.

Dioralyte Walsh Cup Shield Final, played in Callan yesterday : Kilkenny 1-20 Kildare 2-13

Kildare led 1-9 to 1-7 at half time, and by 3 points after 42 minutes through a Jack Sheridan goal.

The hurlers are promoted to the Allianz League Division 1B, opening away to Dublin in Parnell Park on Saturday week January 31st at 7.30pm, the same evening that Kildare footballers will host Offaly at 6pm.

This morning's Kildare Today from 10:40am will review all of the Kildare weekend sport and this evening's Kildare Scoreboard, from 6.25 will have interviews with both football managers, footbllers Brian Byrne and Calum Bolton, and with hurler Conall Boran, plus a review of all the weekend Kildare sport.

BASKETBALL

Double disappointment for two Leixlip Liffey Celtics Basketball teams in the weekend's National Basketball Cup finals.

Superleague team Flomax Liffey Celtics, the defending champions,  lost 70-64 to Killester in yesterday evening's Women's Superleague Paudie O'Connor National Cup final.

On Saturday, Celtics 2nd squad, going for a third title in four years, lost the NICC cup final 59-52 to Father Matthews.

SOCCER

Everton are into the top half of the Premier League thanks to last night's 1-nil victory at third-placed Aston Villa.

They've now won four of their last six away games.

The hosts failed in their bid to close the gap to leaders Arsenal who are now 7 points clear at the top.

Newcastle missed the chance to go fifth with a goalless draw at bottom side Wolves.

There's one game in the English top-flight this evening.

Brighton take on Bournemouth knowing a win would take them above Everton into 10th.

Kick off at the Amex Stadium is at 8.

Senegal secured a second Africa Cup of Nations title after a dramatic and controversial 1-nil victory over Morocco in the final.

The winners walked off the pitch following the decision to award their opponents a last-gasp penalty in stoppage time in Rabat.

The tournament hosts missed the spot kick to send the decider to extra-time.

RUGBY

Munster captain Tadhg Beirne admits that their pool-stage exit in the Investec Champions Cup is hard to take.

A 31-29 defeat to Castres at Thomond Park on Saturday, sees them drop down to the Challenge Cup.

Beirne voiced their bitter disappointment after the game:

They'll now go to Exeter for a last-16 clash in the European second tier.

Leinster will host Edinburgh in the last-16 of the Champions Cup, following the conclusion of the pool stages last night.

Pool Three winners Ulster will host Ospreys, while Connacht will take on the Sharks in Galway.

All of those last-16 games will take place between the 3rd and 5th of April.