Womens Rugby : Connacht v Leinster – Preview, Live Stream & Starting Teams

Connacht Women’s Rugby takes on Leinster in the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship, set to kick off this Saturday at The Sportsground (5.15pm Irish time).

This matchup promises to be a gripping encounter as both teams field their best players, each with their own unique strengths and strategies.

Connacht, led by the newly appointed captain, Nicole Fowley, is eager to start their campaign on a high note. Fowley, a Sligo native, is excited about the opportunity to lead her team and is confident in their preparation. She stated, “It’s an honor to captain the side, and I’m proud to be part of this talented group of players. We’ve put in the work, and we’re ready to give it our all.”

"𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲'𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁"@Connachtwomen Head Coach Lyndon Jones looking ahead to Saturday's game against @LeinsterWomen 🏉#ConnachtRugby | 🎟 https://t.co/SUnhRN4lwk pic.twitter.com/7LiXw8Aa8g

— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) August 10, 2023

The Connacht team features an impressive lineup, with several players returning from the Irish U20 squad’s recent trip to Italy. Karly Tierney, Ivana Kiripati, Laoise McGonagle, Clara Barrett, and Kayla Waldron are all back in action, bringing their international experience to the field. Connacht’s front row, with Lily Brady, Grainne O’Loughlin, and Shannon Heapes, is expected to provide a solid foundation.

Meanwhile, Leinster, sponsored by Bank of Ireland, is determined to make their mark in the championship. Head Coach Tania Rosser has introduced four new players into the starting lineup, and two more will make their debuts from the bench. Captain Hannah O’Connor is eager to lead her team, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and determination. O’Connor said, “We’re entering this match with a strong sense of unity. The new players have integrated well, and we’re focused on executing our game plan.”

The Leinster team showcases fresh talent, with players like Naoise O’Reilly earning their first caps. O’Reilly, set to start at full-back, expressed her excitement, saying, “This is a dream come true for me. I’m ready to give everything for the team and contribute to our success.”

Connacht Starting Team

1. Lily Brady
2. Grainne O’Loughlin
3. Shannon Heapes
4. Sonia McDermott
5. Eva McCormack
6. Orla Fenton
7. Karly Tierney
8. Ivana Kiripati
9. Aoibheann Reilly
10. Nicole Fowley (C)
11. Laoise McGonagle
12. Shannon Touhey
13. Clara Barrett
14. Ava Ryder
15. Meabh Deely

Leinster Starting Team

1. Aoife Moore
2. Sarah Delaney
3. Christy Haney
4. Ruth Campbell
5. Eimear Corri
6. Aoife Wafer
7. Molly Boyne
8. Hannah O’Connor (C)
9. Katie Whelan
10. Dannah O’Brien
11. Clare Gorman
12. Sene Taiti-Fanene
13. Aoife Dalton
14. Elise O Byrne-White
15. Naoise O’Reilly

Make sure to tune in to the live broadcast on TG4 YouTube to witness the action-packed clash between Connacht and Leinster in this Women’s Interprovincial Rugby Championship!

Burnley v Man City – Preview, Match Stats and Predicted Starting Teams

Burnley vs. Manchester City: A Premier League Clash

TEAM NEWS

Burnley could introduce new signings: James Trafford, Zeki Amdouni, Sander Berge, and Dara O’Shea. Unfortunately, Michael Obafemi is sidelined due to a hamstring issue. On the City side, Josko Gvardiol is set to make his debut after a £77m move from RB Leipzig, while Nathan Ake is fit despite missing the Community Shield. Midfielder Mateo Kovacic may make his league debut after joining from Chelsea.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-Head Rivalry

– Burnley has struggled against Manchester City recently, winning just one of their last 23 league matches (D6, L16), with City winning the last eight encounters by an aggregate score of 26-1.
– City has claimed 11 consecutive victories against Burnley in all competitions, scoring an impressive 40 goals and conceding just one.

Burnley’s Hopes

– Burnley has won their opening game in two of their eight Premier League seasons, including a notable 3-0 home win against Southampton in 2019.
– Despite this, they’ve lost five of their last eight top-flight matches at Turf Moor, but they haven’t received a red card in any of their 152 Premier League home matches.
– Vincent Kompany makes his debut as the first Belgian to manage in the Premier League, aiming for a victorious start with the Clarets.

Manchester City’s Ambitions

– Manchester City aims to become the first English team to win four consecutive top-flight titles, a feat that’s eluded others in the past.
– City has an impressive record of winning their opening league game in 12 of the last 14 seasons, showcasing their dominance in early-season encounters.
– Pep Guardiola has a strong record against Burnley, winning 15 league and cup games against them.

Key Players to Watch

– Erling Haaland, who scored a hat-trick in his only previous game against Burnley, will be a player to watch after his remarkable performance in last season’s FA Cup quarter-finals.
– Mateo Kovacic, the new City midfielder, could make a significant impact in his league debut after joining from Chelsea.

Predicted Starting Teams for Burnley v Man City

Burnley possible starting lineup:

Trafford; Roberts, Beyer, O’Shea, Vitinho; Cork, Cullen; Redmond, Brownhill, Zaroury; Amdouni

Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Akanji; Kovacic, Rodri, De Bruyne; Bernardo, Haaland, Grealish

With both teams eager to make a strong start, the Burnley vs. Manchester City clash promises exciting football action as the new Premier League season kicks off.

Ladies Football Final : Kerry v Dublin – Preview and Starting teams

Kerry Aims for Glory in All-Ireland Senior Final, Dublin Seeks Sixth Title

As the stage is set for the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Final – Kerry v Dublin.

The Kingdom under the leadership of Declan Quill and Darragh Long, has a chance to secure a remarkable place in history by moving ahead on the all-time Senior roll of honours list.

🏆 Tá lá na gCluichí Ceannais tagtha 🏆

The TG4 Ladies Football Finals have arrived 🏅

📆 Dé Domhnaigh / Sunday

⏰ 15:40
🏐 @kerryladiesfoot v @dublinladiesg @LadiesFootball @TG4TV | #ProperFan pic.twitter.com/D8iITxNha8 pic.twitter.com/9G5mr8yZkJ

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) August 10, 2023

Kerry’s Quest for Supremacy

With a current record of 11 All-Ireland Senior Championship victories, Kerry stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the legendary Cork teams that dominated from 2005 to 2016.

Dublin’s Pursuit of Excellence

Their formidable opponents, Dublin, are on a quest for their sixth title, building on their previous successes in 2010, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

Kerry’s Illustrious Past

This upcoming showdown marks Kerry’s 14th appearance in the All-Ireland Senior Final, having faced disappointment against Meath in the 2022 decider and a loss to Cork in 2012.

Kerry’s Historic Achievements

Kerry’s journey to greatness began with their first Senior title in 1976, followed by an awe-inspiring nine-in-a-row triumph from 1982 to 1990.

A Glimpse of Victory

Kerry’s last Senior Final victory dates back to 1993, when they emerged victorious against Laois.

Managers thoughts

Kerry will need to prove they’ve evolved in the last 12 months both in terms of their tactical nous and big-match mentality, and Long is confident that they have.

“I think we’re a more mature team this year,” he says. “There’s times, the Meath game for instance there a couple of weeks ago in Tralee, very bad evening weather-wise, huge wind, got a great lead up, played really well in the first half and we just had to show a different style in the second half and I think the characteristics that we showed and the composure that we showed on the ball, which we developed in the second half even more so against Mayo by tagging on the scores that we didn’t get in the Meath game.

“Watching back that game and seeing where we went wrong and being very honest about where we went wrong and trying to learn from it, that definitely helped us this year. I think our League campaign was close to being flawless which culminated in a superb performance here at headquarters against Galway.

“Have we hit the heights of that game since? We probably haven’t but, look, there’s still one game to go in the season.”

Exciting Pre-Game Entertainment

As excitement builds for Sunday’s Croke Park triple-header, TG4’s Ceiliúradh Peil na mBan, hosted by Máire Ní Bhraonáin, will air on Saturday evening at 8pm.

A Tribute to the Finalists

This celebratory program will showcase all six counties competing in the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior deciders, featuring music from each region and insights from former players reflecting on the 2023 Championships and anticipating the grand finale on Sunday.

Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Action

Spórt TG4 will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the TG4 All-Ireland Finals Day in Croke Park, sharing the excitement across their social media channels.

Global Access to the Action

Audiences worldwide can catch all the LGFA coverage on the TG4 Player, available at www.tg4.ie/beo, as well as on the TG4 Mobile and Smart TV App, ensuring everyone can be part of this thrilling sporting event.

Starting Teams for Dublin v Kerry

Dublin ladies team to play Kerry in 2023 All Ireland final

Prediction for Dublin v Kerry

The loss of inspirational team captain Siofra O’Shea to injury is a big blow that many feel I feel tip the scales in Dublin’s favour

Lessons Learnt For Ireland From 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

After battling past Scotland to reach the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, there was plenty of excitement about what the Republic of Ireland might achieve Down Under.

Two defeats and a draw saw Ireland finish bottom of Group A but much will have been learnt by head coach Vera Pauw and her side over the three games in Australia.

Ireland Proved A Tough Nut To Crack

Playing the hosts Australia in the opening game at Stadium Australia in Sydney was always going to be a daunting task for Ireland but the Girls in Green came away from the game with plenty of plaudits. Australia went on to finish top of Group A and are 7/1 in the football odds to win the tournament on their own patch. The Matildas, who are 5/1 in the Women’s World Cup odds to finish as runners-up, were made to work hard for their 1-0 win over Ireland. In the end, Steph Catley’s second-half penalty was the difference between the sides.

Ireland learnt the hard way that discipline at these major tournaments is key and Marissa Sheva’s push on Hayley Raso was punished with Catley’s well-taken penalty. Ireland were fearless against the Aussies going forward and came close on a few occasions to grabbing an equaliser. Megan Connolly, Katie McCabe and Louise Quinn all had chances and Ireland learnt again that taking opportunities is key. It was a game that might have gone another way but was one that showed Ireland would be no pushovers at this major tournament.

An Early Exit But Experience Key For Development

Ireland made the perfect start to their second game at Perth Rectangular Stadium against Canada, with McCabe finding the back of the net after just four minutes. Again the Irish might have been wondering what might have been as they just failed to keep Canada out before the break, with Megan Connolly scoring an own goal. That shifted the momentum in the game and Canada came out and got what proved to be the winner with Manchester United’s Adriana Leon scoring in the 53rd minute.

Two battling defeats in Australia and Ireland knew there was no hope of reaching the knockout stages, with only pride to play for in their final game against Nigeria at Lang Park in Brisbane. It was to prove to be a low-key affair and the match ended in a goalless stalemate with little in attack from either side during the contest. The game ended on a sour note with the suggestion McCabe had called on coach Pauw to make substitutions during the clash with Nigeria. While the future of Pauw is uncertain, Ireland can look back on their efforts in Australia with pride and even wonder what might have been if a few key moments had gone their way.

Fine margins are the very nature of what elite sport in major tournaments is about and Ireland’s women will be hoping to be back at a World Cup at the next opportunity in 2027.

Richard Howley & Consulent de Prelet Z win Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes

Sligo’s Richard Howley and Consulent de Prelet Z won the Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes, the main class of the second day of the 2023 Dublin Horse Show.

The England-based rider and the 12-year-old gelding took the winner’s cheque of €17,358 with a clear round in the jump-off, stopping the timer in 34.52 seconds.

Howley’s compatriot Harry Allen, whose older brother Bertram won the earlier Speed Derby, was second with Calculatus, jumping clear in the jump-off round in a time of 36.85 seconds.

Greek rider Ioli Mytillineou, riding Levis de Muze, was third in 38.00, winning €7,890.

The next two positions went to Irish combinations, with Denis Lynch and Vistogrand fourth in 34.83, followed by 2018 winner Shane Sweetnam and yesterday’s Sport Ireland Classic winner Out of the Blue Scf (36.80).

Howley’s win was a first for Ireland in the class since 2018 when US-based Shane Sweetnam and Indra van de Oude Heiheof claimed victory by just 0.59 seconds.

It was only a fifth victory for the home nation since 2011.

Statistical information kindly provided by Equiratings.

Bertram Allen and Carrera Denfer win Speed Derby at the RDS

Bertram Allen & Carrera Denfer — Bertram Allen and Carrera Denfer took the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge Speed Derby. Credit: Breandán Ó hUallacháin.

Bertram Allen and Carrera Denfer took the Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge Speed Derby on Thursday at the Dublin Horse Show.

The Wexford rider and his bay mare were best of the 17 combinations to win the Paul Darragh Trophy in a time of 81.95 seconds to claim the €8,646 first prize.

Irish rider claimed the top four spots in the class, with Shane Breen and Z7 Ipswich, the long time leaders, taking the runner-up spot in 83.67 seconds.

Next best was Jack Ryan and the Irish Sport Horse mare Cavalier Teaca, stopping the clock in 85.30 seconds.

Mikey Pender, a winner in the Main Arena on the opening day of this year’s show, rounded out the top four with HHS Vancouver, clocking 86.21 seconds.

European U20 gold medal for Elizabeth Ndudi

Elizabeth Ndudi of Dundrum South Dublin AC has won gold for Ireland in the women’s long jump at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Jerusalem today.

The Irish national senior champion put in an outstanding round of jumps with her best leap of 6.56m (+1.4) smashing her own Irish U20 record of 6.44m which she posted just last month.

The result moved the newly crowned European champion to second on the Irish all-time list behind Kelly Proper’s national record of 6.62m set in 2010.

Reacting to her historic achievement of becoming Ireland’s first ever field event champion at European U20 level, Ndudi said:

“I’m in shock, I’m amazed how well the event went for me. I was confident in myself coming in here but it’s a huge improvement and to do it in such a high competition makes the national record so special.”

The Dundrum South Dublin athlete continued:

“I really focused on my mental preparations as well as the physical side coming in here. I made sure to really get in the zone in the morning and evening before sessions. Last year I was a bit nervous and I think that’s why I didn’t post a big jump but today I came in here full of confidence, so I was mentally prepared.”

Bulgaria’s Plamena Mitkova took bronze in a season’s best of 6.54m, with German Laura Raquel Muller completing the podium with her bronze medal in a season’s best of 6.51m.

Ireland’s Aga Khan Nations Cup Team Named

Horse Sport Ireland Show Jumping High Performance Director Michael Blake has named The Underwriting Exchange Irish Show Jumping team ahead of Friday’s five-star Longines FEI Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show.

Blake’s side will jump fifth of the eight competing nations, as Ireland aim for back-to-back wins in the Aga Khan Trophy at the RDS.

Aga Khan Trophy debutant Michael Duffy and Cinca 3 will be the Irish pathfinders.

Next into the Main Arena for the home nation will be another Aga Khan Trophy first timer in Mikey Pender and the Irish Sport Horse HHS Calais.

The experienced Cian O’Connor and Eve D’Ouilly will be next to jump for Ireland, while US-based Shane Sweetnam and the Irish Sport Horse James Kann Cruz will be the anchor leg.

Speaking at the team draw on Friday morning, Michael Blake said:

“I’m very confident, I have named a strong team – but there are very strong teams here.

“Michel Duffy has been on three Nations Cup teams this season with Cinca 3 and jumped five clear rounds out of six. So we will start off with him as our first rider in.

“Michael Pender has jumped in two Nations Cup and was outstanding in Rome with HHS Calais.

“We are going to put Cian in third, which some might find unusual. He’s on a new horse to him, who is less experienced, so he can go in and jump his own round without as much pressure.

“Shane is on one of the best horses in the world right now, so we’re going to let him carry the weight of the world and put him in last.”

The eight nations competing for the Aga Khan Trophy will jump in the following order:

Mexico
The Netherlands
Spain
Great Britain
Ireland
Belgium
France
Switzerland

Cashel Palace Hotel Stakes is day two feature at RDS

It’s Ladies’ Day at the 2023 Dublin Horse Show and the main class in the International Arena is the Cashel Hotel Palace Stakes this afternoon.

Bertram Allen, Shane Sweetnam and Alexander Butler, all recent winners of the competition, will bid to join American rider McLain Ward as the only repeat winner of the class, having won it in 2019 and 2013.

It was in 2018 that an Irish rider last won, when Kanturk’s Shane Sweetnam and Indra van de Oude Heiheof took the win by just 0.59 seconds.

With Irish riders having taken victory on only four occasions from 2011, both Daniel Coyle with Legacy and Bertram Allen and Pacino Amiro will be be among the favourites to increase that winning number. They will be ably supported in the quest for an Irish win by Michael Duffy and Zilton SL Z and Trevor Breen and Highland President.

Statistical information kindly provided by Equiratings.

Are There Any Tricks To Win On Online Slot Machines?

All online casino enthusiasts love playing slots. Despite being beginner-friendly, online slots are also a top choice for professional gamblers. If you are familiar with slots, you have wondered at least once whether you can manipulate them for bigger wins. Let’s find out whether it’s possible to manipulate online slots for bigger wins.

Can You Rig Online Slots For Better Payouts?

In the history of gambling, you will encounter various stories of manipulating slots. Some of the world-class examples of casino cheats are as follows:

Dennis Nikrasch: He was a locksmith who used homemade tools to trick different slot machines and managed to win around $15 million.
Tommy Glenn Carmichael created the infamous monkey paw to swindle money from American and Caribbean casinos.
Louis Colavechhio: He used to produce counterfeit currency for tricking software inside casino machines.

Online slots are difficult to rig because they lack accessible hardware. But even for land-based slots with physical hardware, you will find sporadic ways of tricking them. Moreover, it’s difficult to manipulate slots because most of the old tricks in the book have already been detected.

Does that mean you can never win while playing online slots? That’s different because many players have managed to win big from playing slot games. You can win on online slot machines without using any illegal means.

Tips And Tricks For Winning Slots

Some of the best tips and tricks for winning on online slots are as follows:

1.Play Games with High RTP

Jeffrey Gynn – Slotsup reviewer recommends trying out slots with high RTPs. The RTP of a slot can give you an idea of its paying potential. All slots with high RTPs are likely to pay higher winnings. Slots with a minimum RTP of 96% are highly recommended for higher payouts. But you should try to find slots with even higher RTPs.

Some of the best slots with high RTPs are as follows:

Slot Name	Software Provider	RTP
Blood Suckers	NetEnt	98%
Starmania	NextGen Gaming	97.87%
White Rabbit	Big Time Gaming	97.72%
Medusa Megways	NextGen Gaming	97.63%
Guns N’ Roses	NetEnt	96.98%

2. Take Advantage Of Bonus Codes

Using cheat codes was a popular method of tricking land-based slots. In online slots, you won’t be able to use cheat codes. But you can find various casinos offering bonus codes to boost players’ bankroll. Therefore, always look for bonus codes while signing up at a casino and making deposits.

3. Check The Volatility

Low volatility slots offer more frequent wins. But the catch is that the winning amount needs to be higher. On the other hand, high-volatility slots rarely offer payouts. But when they do, the amount is significant.

You should check out the volatility of a game and pick one according to your risk appetite. For instance, the Wisdom of Athena demo slot tested by Jeffrey Gynn is considered a high-volatility slot. While the game has an RTP of 96.07%, everyone does not prefer the high volatility.

Several players prefer low-volatility games because it enables them to keep playing for a long duration. A few popular low-volatility slots to check out are as follows:

Starburst
Crystal Vault
Cornelius
Wolf Run
Milkshake XXXtreme

4. Leverage Free Spins And Bonus Rounds

A large number of slots come with free spins and bonus rounds. They are an excellent opportunity to make money and offer a lot of thrill and excitement. Therefore, consider choosing slots with free spins and bonus rounds and take full advantage of them.

5. Place Your Wagers Carefully

Many slot guides and reviews will recommend you place the maximum wager. While it is a helpful tip for slot players, being aware of random number generators is crucial. No matter how many paylines you wager on, these generators offer the same chance of winning.

Irrespective of the number of reels, symbols, and paylines on a slot machine, your chance of winning the jackpot will be 1 out of 1000. So, what’s the point of placing the maximum bet?

The benefit is that the paytable gives you a small sum of winnings when you hit other combinations. You can win on various combinations if you wager on all the paylines.

But it would help to consider multiple factors before maxing out your bet. The amount is one of these betting parameters. Maximizing your paylines will increase your expense and potential losses. If the stakes are minimal, it is acceptable to place the maximum wager.

Additionally, the volatility of the slot is quite crucial in this respect. High volatility indicates fewer winnings but big rewards. But for the big rewards, you will have to place high wagers. In this case, maxing out your bet is only prudent when you have a huge bankroll to fall back on.

6. Look For No Deposit Bonuses

No-deposit bonuses are a great way of earning real money from slots for free. The payouts from no deposit bonuses can go as high as $20. These bonuses will enable you to spin the reels for free. If you are lucky, you will win a substantial amount to withdraw whenever you want.

But no deposit bonuses are scarce. Moreover, slot machines come with a wagering requirement for no deposit bonuses. Therefore, you must fulfill the playthrough requirements to be eligible for withdrawals.

7. Play The Games In Demo Mode At SlotsUp

Every online slot is different, and we all have our preferences. Before spending real money on a slot, trying its demo version on SlotsUp is always recommended. Playing the demo mode of slot games will cost you nothing. You will become familiar with the mechanics of the slots offered by various software providers.

For instance, you can play Pragmatic Play slots for free in demo mode to understand whether the games suit your preferences. After that, you can begin playing for real money and enhance your winning chance.

8. Play At Odd Hours

Several players have managed to win big from slots by playing at odd hours. With multiple players online during peak hours, slot machines receive millions of spins each minute. If you play slots while most players are sleeping or at work, you will have greater chances of winning.

Another benefit of playing at odd hours is less chance of experiencing technical glitches because no servers are overloaded. Even if something goes wrong, you will immediately receive customer support because the team is far less busy.

Parting Words

Resorting to illegal ways of manipulating slots can make you face grave consequences like imprisonment and monetary fines. Once you choose slots from top providers and become familiar with their mechanism in demo mode, you automatically develop a higher chance of winning. So get started with exploring different slots now!