Thursday Afternoon: Champions League Group Stage Draw Taking Place Later

5pm in Istanbul

SOCCER

A 1-0 victory for Rangers away to PSV Eindhoven has sent the Glasgow club into today's Champions League Group stage draw.

It's the first time Rangers will be in the hat since 2010.

They'll be joined by Celtic, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

The draw takes place at 5pm in Istanbul.

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Ronan Finn will equal Gary Rogers as the League of Ireland player with the most appearances in European competitions tonight.

The Shamrock Rovers captain will play his 54th game in Europe when the Hoops take on Ferencvaros in the second-leg of their Europa League playoff.

The Hungarians travel to Tallaght Stadium in complete control of the tie, having won last week's first leg 4-0 in Budapest.

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Stoke have sacked manager Michael O'Neill after a poor start to the season.

They sit a point above the Championship’s relegation places having won just one of their opening five league games.

O'Neill - who was previously in charge of the Northern Ireland national team - joined the club in November 2019.

GAELIC GAMES

Local fixtures this evening:

UPMC Senior B Hurling Championship - all games at 7.30pm

Sarsfields V Kilcock in Manguard Plus Hawkfield Pitch 1

Naas V Moorefield also in Manguard Plus Hawkfield, on Pitch 2

And in Leixlip, Éire Óg Corra Choill meet Celbridge 

UPMC Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi Finals

Broadford V Naas at 7.30pm in Broadford GAA.

UPMC Junior Hurling Championship Semi Finals

In Sallins, at 7.30pm - Wolfe Tones V Ros Glas 

RUGBY

Ireland women's head coach Greg McWilliams has made 3 changes from the side which won the first test for Saturday's second test against Japan in Tokyo.

Laura Feely comes into the front row in the loose head prop position, Jo Brown starts in the back row as blindside flanker, and Grace Moore comes in at number eight.

Katie O'Dwyer, Sam Monaghan and Dorothy Wall are the players to make way.

HOCKEY

Ireland face France in Calais in a EuroHockey Championship qualifier this evening.

8pm is the start time.

GOLF

Rory McIlroy begins his bid to a third FedEx Cup crown this afternoon.

He'll tee off at East Lake at a 7.45pm Irish time, six shots behind playoff leader Scottie Scheffler.

Scheffler begins with a two-shot advantage over the field in Atlanta at 10-under-par.

HORSE RACING

8 races today, on the flat at Navan.

First goes to post at 1.15pm.