Thursday Morning Sports Update

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

SOCCER

Dan Burn and Joelinton were both on the mark in Newcastle's 2-nil win over Athletic Club in the Champions League last night.

That result lifts the Magpies up to sixth in the league phase table.

Elsewhere, Phil Foden netted twice in Manchester City's 4-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, while Chelsea played out a 2-all draw with Qarabag in Azerbaijan.

Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers will both attempt to breathe life back into their Conference League campaigns tonight.

Rovers are without a point from their first two matches - tonight, they're in Greece for a meeting with AEK Athens from 5.45.

There's an 8pm start at Tallaght Stadium, where Shelbourne go up against Drita of Kosovo.

Shels have a point from their first two games.

In the Europa League this evening, Martin O'Neill's first European game since returning to Celtic is a trip to Danish outfit Midtjylland.

Sean Dyche's Nottingham Forest are away to Sturm Graz, while Aston Villa host Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson will name his latest Republic of Ireland squad later this morning.

The Boys in Green round off their World Cup qualifying campaign with matches against Hungary and Portugal later this month.



GOLF

Shane Lowry is one shot off the lead on day one of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the United Arab Emirates.

The Offaly man is seven-under as he plays the last, with Richard Sterne and Tommy Fleetwood out in front on eight-under.

Rory McIlroy is four-under through 11, with Tom McKibbin level par after four.

Seamus Power is in the field for the World Wide Technology Championship, which gets underway in Mexico later today.

The Waterford native tees off in the company of Emiliano Grillo and Brandt Snedeker at 7pm Irish time.



RUGBY

The Ireland rugby team to face Japan on Saturday will be named at lunchtime today.

Tadhg Beirne is available for selection after his red card from last weekend's meeting with New Zealand was rescinded.



RACING

There's racing in Clonmel this afternoon.

The first in a seven-race card gets underway just after 12:35pm.