Thursday Morning Sports Update

Keeping you up to date on athletics, soccer, racing, rugby, golf and darts.

ATHLETICS

Ronnie Delany has been described as a "defining figure in Irish sporting history."

The 1956 Olympic champion passed away yesterday at the age of 91, following a short illness.

His triumph at the Melbourne Summer Games remains Ireland's last Olympic gold in athletics.

SOCCER

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta feels they'll need to be more efficient in certain areas in the second leg after a 1-all draw with Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League last-16 tie.

Kai Havertz rescued his team from a first defeat in this season's competition with an 89th minute penalty.

But Arteta was pleased with how they responded to going behind.

Elsewhere, holders Paris Saint-Germain were 5-2 winners over Chelsea, while Real Madrid are 3-nil up after the opening leg of their tie against Manchester City.

Aston Villa go away to Lille in the last 16 of the Europa League tonight from 5.45pm.

At 8pm, Nottingham Forest have home advantage in the first leg of their tie against Midtjylland.

In the Conference League last 16, Crystal Palace have home advantage for their meeting with Larnaca.

RACING

The Ryanair Chase will feature both 'Fact to File' and 'Banbridge' on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

The feature race goes to post at 4pm while the Stayers Hurdle gets underway at 3:20pm

Today's seven-race card begins at 1:20pm.

Here at home, there's an eight-race card at Limerick from 12:30pm.

RUGBY

Andy Farrell will name his Ireland team to face Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday.

Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy and Tommy O'Brien are all set to return to the starting side for the Triple Crown decider at the Aviva Stadium.

James Lowe and Jeremy Loughman are both ruled out with injury.

GOLF

Rory McIlroy begins the defence of his Players Championship title at Sawgrass later today.

The Masters Champion arrived at the venue yesterday, having received treatment for the back injury he sustained at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week.

McIlroy is out on course from 5:40pm (Irish time) this evening, with Shane Lowry due to tee off 20 minutes earlier.

Aine Donegan, Anna Foster and Annabel Wilson are all in the field for the Women's Australian Open, which got underway overnight.

The event is taking place at the Kooyonga Golf Club near Adelaide.

DARTS

Josh Rock faces Stephen Bunting in the first match on stage in tonight's Premier League visit to Nottingham.