Saturday Sport

Last day of the Punchestown Festival, Katie Taylor prepares for more history

It is the final day of the Punchestown Festival, and the Ballymore Grade One Champion 4-Year Old Hurdle is the feature

It is a chance for the Willie Mullins trained 'Vauban' to secure a third Grade 1 win of the season.

That goes to the post at 5 o'clock.

The days eight-race card gets underway at 2.35.

BOXING

Katie Taylor will help make history in the small hours of the morning.

She faces Amanda Serrano in the first all-female fight to headline New York’s Madison Square Garden.

SOCCER

It could be a pivotal day in the Premier League title race.

Liverpool start the day a point behind Manchester City, but are away to a Newcastle side who are unbeaten at home since before Christmas.

Kick-off at St. James’s Park is at 12.30.

For their part, City are away to Leeds in the 5.30 start.

Norwich could have their relegation confirmed if they lose away to Aston Villa, and Burnley pick up three-points at Watford.

Watford will be as good as down if they lose at Vicarage Road.

Elsewhere, Southampton play Crystal Palace, and Wolves entertain Brighton.

Jamie McGonigle took his tally of goals for the season to nine as Derry City established a three-point lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division last night.

The Candystripes were comfortable 4-nil winners away to St. Pat’s.

Shamrock Rovers had to settle for a 1-1 draw away to ten-man Sligo Rovers.

Dundalk are up to third after they beat Drogheda United 4-1 in the Louth derby at Oriel Park.

Bohemians returned to winning ways with a 3-nil defeat of bottom side UCD.

And there was more frustration for Damien Duff and Shelbourne, who went down to a late goal away to Finn Harps.

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Cork City remain three clear at the top of the First Division following a 4-1 demolition of Longford at Turner’s Cross.

Galway stay second having come from 2-nil down to win 3-2 at Treaty United.

Wexford were 3-nil winners away to Athlone, while Bray and Cobh drew one apiece.

RUGBY

Munster delayed Leinster securing top spot in the United Rugby Championship by 24-hours last night.

Mike Haley and Craig Casey both scored a pair of tries in a 41-21 bonus point win over Cardiff at Musgrave Park.

However, Leinster will seal top seeding for the playoffs with a bonus point win away to the Stormers this evening.

Elsewhere, Caoilin Blade wins his 150th Connacht cap in their game with the Cell C Sharks in Durban.

And Ulster are away to Edinburgh tonight.

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Ireland will look to conclude their TikTok Women’s Six Nations campaign on a high tonight.

Sam Monaghan is restored to the second row for their meeting with Scotland at Kingspan Stadium, where kick-off is at 8.

Before that, there’s a Grand Slam to be decided in Bayonne.

France and England both have unblemished records ahead of their face-off at 2.15.

GAELIC GAMES

A place in the Connacht football final is on offer to Sligo and Roscommon later.

They meet in the first of this weekend’s semi-finals, with throw-in at Markiewicz Park at 5.

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Dublin commence their pursuit of a twelfth consecutive Leinster football title this evening.

They’re in the unfamiliar surrounds of Chadwicks Wexford Park to face Wexford from 6.30.

On the other side of the draw, Longford are looking to reach a first provincial semi since 2018 as they play Westmeath in Mullingar.

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There’s also a pair of quarter-finals down for decision in Munster, with Clare up against Limerick, and Waterford playing Tipperary.

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And in the quarter-finals of the Ulster football championship, Clones hosts the meeting of Monaghan and Down.

Throw in is at 4.30, and the winners will play either Derry or Tyrone in the semi-finals.

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Antrim can all-but secure a place in the Joe McDonagh Cup final this afternoon.

They’re seeking a third consecutive win as they take on Carlow at Corrigan Park.

Meath are still seeking their first points of this season’s competition as they play Kerry in Tralee.



SNOOKER

This year’s World Championship finalists will be decided today.

Mark Williams closed the gap on Judd Trump to just two frames by winning five of the eight on offer last night.

Trump leads 13-11 and they’ll resume this afternoon, with the first to 17 booking a place in tomorrow’s final.

This morning sees Ronnie O’Sullivan resume 10-6 up on John Higgins.