Thursday Morning Sports Update

Keeping you up to date on local GAA, soccer, golf and rugby

GAA

Kildare are All-Ireland U16 champions, following last night's win against Cavan.

The U16A team beat Cavan in the AirNav final in Páirc Chiarán, Athlone on a score line of 1-10 to 0-9.

This morning's Kildare Today show from 10.50am will review the game.

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There's action tonight in the Westgrove Hotel Senior Hurling League Division 1 Semi Finals.

Maynooth are at home to play Leixlip, whilst Naas play at their home venue against Celbridge.

Throw-in for both games is at 8pm.

SOCCER

England are heading home from the World Cup after another semi-final disappointment last night.

Late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez helped holders Argentina to a 2-1 win in Atlanta.

The holders will now face Spain in Sunday's final in New Jersey - England will take on France in the third-place playoff in Miami on Saturday night.

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Derry City are 3-2 down heading into the home leg of their Europa League qualifier against CSKA Sofia tonight.

The Candystripes have Brandon Fleming and Adam O'Reilly back tonight, while James Clarke could make his return from injury.

Kick-off at the Ryan McBride Brandywell is at half 6.

Bohemians are in Gibraltar for the resumption of their Conference League tie against St Joseph's this evening.

Alan Reynold's side lead 2-0 from the first leg at Dalymount Park last week.

That's underway from 5 o'clock Irish Time.


GOLF

Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Padraig Harrington are all in the field for the 154th Open Championship, which tees off in Royal Birkdale today.

Tom McKibbin is among the early starters, out on course just after 8 o'clock, with Cork amateur David Howard setting off at 10:40.

There's a 12:15 start for reigning Amateur Open champion Stuart Grehan, while 2011 winner Darren Clarke is out 32 minutes later.

Harrington has a 1:20 start to his opening round today, while McIlroy begins his campaign at 3:15, and 2019 winner Lowry tees off just after 2:50.


RUGBY

Suncroft's Sam Prendergast will start at out-half for Ireland's Nations Championship game at New Zealand on Saturday morning.

Head coach Andy Farrell has welcomed the fit-again Rob Baloucoune back into the side on the wing, with Eadestown's Jimmy O'Brien on the other wing.

Loosehead prop Jeremy Loughman has also recovered from a head injury, and makes the bench at Eden Park.

Hugo Keenan will start at full-back, with Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose in midfield, and Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half.

Dan Sheehan skippers the team from hooker, and he's joined in the front-row by Tom O'Toole and Tadhg Furlong.

Joe McCarthy and James Ryan are the locks, with a back-row of Eadestown's Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan.