Thursday Morning Sports Update

A round up on soccer, GAA and golf.

SOCCER

Republic of Ireland assistant manager John O'Shea says he wants a ‘much more Irish performance’ in Lisbon this Saturday.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's side will play Nations League winners Portugal on the back of getting just one point from their first two World Cup qualifiers.

Strikers Evan Ferguson and Troy Parrott are winning their races to be fit for the game, with Ferguson joining his teammates for training yesterday.

Steve Clarke will equal Craig Brown's record of 71 games in charge when Scotland face Greece in their third World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park tonight.

The Scots have four points from two games and sit second in Group C behind Denmark on goal difference.

England will be without their captain Harry Kane for tonight's friendly against Wales - in the hope he can play next week's World Cup qualifer in Latvia.

Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe says he won't clash with the Glazer family over Ruben Amorim's position as manager.

Ratcliffe's told The Times that the Portuguese coach needs three years to prove himself at Old Trafford - and a good working relationship with the Glazers will help that.

He's compared Amorim's difficult start to that of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal - who he says had a "miserable time" in his early days at the Emirates.

GAELIC GAMES

Waterford GAA have sold the naming rights to Walsh Park to sportswear company Azzurri.

The county ground will be called ‘Azzurri Walsh Park’ under a multi-year agreement.

Waterford GAA chairman Neil Moore says the sponsorship will 'make a real difference to the future of our players, our facilities and our games, at every level'.

GOLF

Shane Lowry returns to the golf course today for the first time since sinking the putt which ensured Europe retained the Ryder Cup.

The Offaly man is in action at the Open de Espana in Madrid - along with his Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm.

The winner of the tournament will earn a place at next year's Masters.