Thursday Morning Sports Update

Keeping you up to date on soccer, rugby and GAA this Thursday morning

SOCCER

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley says they're just "happy to get it done", after finally sealing the SSE Airtricity League title.

A 1-nil win against Galway United at Tallaght Stadium last night secured a 22nd Premier Division crown for the Hoops, and their fifth in six seasons.

Rovers had lost three league games in-a-row but Dylan Watts' goal helped them put the title race to bed ahead of the last round of games.

The new champions still have an FAI Cup final to look forward to against Cork City

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Martin O'Neill's Celtic return is off to the perfect start.

The interim manager oversaw a 4-nil thrashing of Falkirk, with Irish striker Johnny Kenny scoring twice.

That win moves the Hoops to within six points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, who twice came from behind to draw 2-all with St Mirren.

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Liverpool were dumped out of the EFL Cup in the last-16 as they were comfortably beaten 3-nil at home by Crystal Palace.
It's now six defeats in seven matches in all competitions for the Merseysiders.

Palace will take on Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the competition, and holders Newcastle have been drawn against Fulham.

Brentford will face Manchester City in another all Premier League clash, while Brian Barry Murphy's Cardiff go to Chelsea.

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Evan Ferguson is a doubt for the Republic of Ireland's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Hungary.

The striker was forced off injured after just seven minutes of Roma's win over Parma last night, in what was the 21-year-old's first start since early October.

Ireland manager Heimir Halgrimsson is already without Sammie Smodzics, who had knee surgery this week.


RUGBY

Jack Crowley looks set to be handed a start at out-half for Ireland's opening November rugby international against New Zealand this weekend.

Head coach Andy Farrell will name his team to face the All-Blacks in Chicago this lunchtime.

Captain Caelan Doris is in contention to play in the back-row after recovering from injury, but his Leinster teammate Jack Conan is likely to start at number-eight.

Farrell can also call upon fit again centres Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki.


GAELIC GAMES

Antrim hurling boss Davy Fitzgerald has called for an "open debate" about payments to managers.

An annual survey by the Gaelic Players Association revealed that 75 per cent of inter-county players think managers should be paid above their standard expenses.

Fitzgerald feels the GAA should look into formal payments to inter-county management teams, adding the he believes the association are now generating more than it's ever generated financially.