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Danoli memories send Foley in search of Punchestown Festival Gold

Rebel Gold: Chasing Prize Money and Progressing for Next Season

Trainer Pat Foley has declared Rebel Gold for the upcoming race, with hopes of gaining some prize money and showcasing the potential of his progressive horse for next season. Rebel Gold has been the flagbearer for Foley’s successful campaign, winning the Dan & Joan Moore at Fairyhouse and the Grade 3 Newlands Chase at Naas, with Denis O’Regan in the saddle on both occasions.

Foley’s Background and Realistic Approach

Foley, who learned his craft under the tutelage of his late father Tom, has enjoyed great success at Punchestown, where the People’s Champion Danoli scored three times. Despite his horse’s impressive record, Foley remains realistic about Rebel Gold’s chances in the upcoming race.

Setback and New Strategy

Originally planning to enter Rebel Gold for the Grade 2 race at Fairyhouse, Foley had to change his strategy after a slight muscle strain. Instead, O’Regan suggested entering the horse in some of the better races, as they can often have fewer entries. Despite being the lowest rated horse in the upcoming race, Foley hopes that Rebel Gold can still make an impression.

Realistic Goal for Rebel Gold

Foley admits that the most realistic goal for Rebel Gold is probably to finish fourth, with the lowest expectation of finishing sixth, but he is still optimistic about the potential of his horse. He believes that even finishing sixth will still earn prize money, and this can be a valuable experience for the horse and the team.

Plans for Next Season

Foley is looking forward to next season with Rebel Gold and plans to keep him at his preferred two-mile distance in graded races. He reflects on last year’s mistake of trying to make him a stayer, when he is an out-and-out two-miler. Foley is confident that Rebel Gold will continue to improve and is excited to see what he can achieve in the future.

Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly Secure Double Gold

Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly Secure Double Gold at Maniago Para-cycling World Cup

Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly of Ireland secured double gold at the Maniago Para-cycling World Cup on Sunday, April 23rd. The duo won the road race event, following their impressive gold medal performance in the time trial event earlier in the weekend.

Impressive Performance by Irish Team

The Irish team had a successful weekend, taking home two gold medals and a bronze medal from the time trial events on Thursday and Friday, and the road race events on Saturday and Sunday.

Dunlevy and Kelly Prove Too Strong for Competitors

In the women’s tandem race, Dunlevy and Kelly dominated their competitors, finishing one minute and 13 seconds ahead of second place. Josephine Healion and Eve McCrystal finished in tenth place.

Chris Burns Finishes Sixth

Chris Burns delivered an impressive performance, finishing in sixth place, just nine seconds behind the winner. He was part of a six-rider group and was the second in the group to cross the line.

World Champion Ronan Grimes Takes Seventh Place

Ronan Grimes, the World Champion, finished in seventh place in the road race event. The race came down to a bunch sprint, and Grimes crossed the line seventh in the group of 18.

Encouraging Performances by Timothy and Slevin

Richael Timothy finished in fifth place, following up her fifth place finish in the time trial event with another encouraging performance. Declan Slevin finished 29th in the road race event on Saturday.

Debut for Vereker and McLaughlin

Damien Vereker and Mitchell McLaughlin made their debut together on Friday in the Time Trial event, recording a 14th place finish in their first road race together.

Cork and Waterford to Meet in Electric Ireland Minor Camogie Final

Cork and Waterford to Meet in Electric Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship Final

In the Electric Ireland Minor A Camogie Championship, Cork secured their place in the final by defeating Galway 1-18 to 3-11. It was an impressive display by Cork, who are one game away from winning their fourth title in six years. They will now face neighbours Waterford in the final at UPMC Nowlan Park on May 7.

Cork Overcame Galway’s Challenge

Galway started strong, with Aoibheann Barry scoring a pointed free in the first minute of the game. However, Cork dominated the next 20 minutes, scoring six points in a row. Kayla Madden managed to score a goal for Galway, but Caoimhe O’Donoghue responded with a major for Cork. At the end of the first half, Cork led by 1-11 to 2-4. Galway refused to give up and managed to score two more goals, but Cork kept their composure and emerged victorious.

Waterford’s Strong Performance Against Kilkenny

Waterford faced Kilkenny in the other semi-final and imposed themselves early on. Maggie Gosti scored a goal after just three minutes, and Keisie Obanya added a point straight away. Waterford dominated the scoring in the first half, leading 1-6 to 0-3 at the break. Kilkenny tried to make a comeback in the second half, but Waterford held on and secured their place in the final with a 2-9 to 0-9 victory.

Antrim and Limerick to Meet in Minor A Shield Final

In the Minor A Shield final, Antrim will face Limerick after both teams secured their places in the final. Antrim defeated Wexford by 4-12 to 1-8, while Limerick edged out Clare by 1-8 to 1-6. It promises to be an exciting final for both teams.

GAA Results – Dublin demolish Laois in the Leinster Championship

Dublin dominated their Leinster Championship quarter-final clash against Laois, finishing with a commanding 4-30 to 0-15 victory.

First-half masterclass

Dessie Farrell’s men got off to a slow start with Laois opening the scoring via Paul Kingston. However, Dublin quickly took control of the match with Con O’Callaghan and Paul Mannion putting them ahead, and two quick goals scored by Sean O’Callaghan and Colm Basquel.

Dublin continued to extend their lead with points from Brian Fenton and Mannion. Laois managed three points in a row, but their scoring chances ended with Mark Timmons’ point in the 16th minute.

Dublin added more points with O’Callaghan and Basquel, and a third goal was conceded by Laois when Lee Gannon scored after a pass from Colm Basquel. Ciaran Kilkenny finished the first half with 1-1 to leave Dublin 4-15 to 0-4 ahead at half time.

Laois stage a brief comeback

Laois made two changes at half time and moved Mark Timmons back as a sweeper. Although O’Callaghan took his tally to 1-5 for the day when play resumed, Laois ended their 22-minute scoring drought with marks from Paul Kingston and Eoin Lowry.

Dublin’s Colm Basquel kicked their 17th point, but then Laois struck for two goals in a three-minute spell. The first came when Evan O’Carroll scored, and Lowry followed with a second goal after a pass from Paul Kingston.

Dublin’s second-half response

Dublin did not panic and recovered from that set back by kicking the next eight points in a row. Ciaran Kilkenny, Sean Bugler, Con O’Callaghan, Brian Fenton, and sub Dean Rock all scored as Dublin regained control of the game.

Laois went another 18 minutes after Lowry’s goal without a score before Evan O’Carroll kicked a mark in the 63rd minute. Dublin continued to score and hit the 30-point mark before the end of the match, ending Laois’s interest in the Leinster Championship.

Looking ahead

Dublin will continue their quest for 13 Leinster titles in a row when they face Kildare in the semi-final. Despite their comfortable win over Laois, Dublin will need to maintain their form against Kildare to secure a place in the final.

Scorers for Dublin: Con O’Callaghan 1-7 (two marks, one free), Colm Basquel 1-5, Ciaran Kilkenny 1-4, Dean Rock 0-3, Brian Fenton 0-3, Paul Mannion 0-3 (one free), Lee Gannon 1-0, Ross McGarry 0-2, Sean Bugler 0-1, Cian Murphy 0-1, Brian Howard 0-1

Scorers for Laois: Eoin Lowry 2-1 (one mark), Paul Kingston 0-3 (one free, one mark), Evan O’Carroll 0-2 (one mark, one free), Mark Barry 0-1, Mark Timmons 0-1

Dublin: David O’Hanlon; David Byrne, Daire Newcombe, Sean McMahon; Cian Murphy, Jack McCaffrey, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, James McCarthy; Ciaran Kilkenny, Sean Bugler, Ross McGarry; Paul Mannion, Con O’Callaghan, Colm Basquel.

Subs: Brian Howard for McCarthy (HT), Eoin Murchan for McCaffrey (45), Cormac Costello for O’Callaghan (54), Dean Rock for Mannion (57), Craig Dias for Fenton (62).

Laois: Scott Osborne; Sean Greene, Trevor Collins, Robbie Pigott; Sean O’Flynn, Mark Timmons, Padraig Kirwan; Kieran Lillis, Damon Larkin; Kevin Swayne, Paul Kingston, Paddy O’Sullivan; Eoin Lowry, Evan O’Carroll, Mark Barry.

Subs: Seamus Lacey for Greene and Dylan Kavanagh for Pigott (both ht), Colm Murphy for Barry (48), James Finn for Swayne (54), Alex Mohan for O’Flynn (63).

Video Highlights – Limerick survives Waterford’s challenge in Munster Hurling

Limerick Survives Munster Championship First Round Test Against Waterford

The Munster championship first-round game between Limerick and Waterford was a true test of Limerick’s credentials as the All-Ireland champions. Despite being down to fourteen men for the last 20 minutes following Gearoid Hegarty’s dismissal, Limerick rallied to stave off Waterford’s late surge.

Limerick Dominates Early

Limerick dominated early, with Aaron Gillane, Tom Morrissey, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey, and Diarmuid Byrnes all contributing to their early lead. Stephen Bennett and Dessie Hutchinson managed to get a few scores for Waterford, but Limerick asserted their authority when Seamus Flanagan bagged their first goal in the 21st minute.

Injury Losses for Both Teams

Both teams suffered injury losses with Limerick’s captain, Declan Hannon, lasting just 15 minutes, and Tadgh de Burca carried off for Waterford in the 22nd minute. Both losses were significant, and the Deise could hardly afford to be without one of their main men.

Waterford Bounces Back

Waterford bounced back after a slow start, and seven of the next ten points were scored by the team, including six placed balls off the stick of Stephen Bennett, with Jamie Barron getting the other. Gearoid Hegarty, Aaron Gillane, and a Diarmuid Byrnes free accounted for the Limerick scores, and they led 1-11 to 0-10 at halftime.

Tension Rises

The first half was a spikey affair, with a number of yellow cards issued, including to a Limerick mentor. Waterford was probably fortunate to be just four points behind considering that Limerick had done most of the hurling in that first half.

Limerick Down to 14 Men

Limerick’s challenge became even more significant when a Waterford penalty was saved in the eighth minute, and moments later, Gearoid Hegarty was sent off for a yellow card he received earlier. Limerick was down a man, and Waterford was coming strong at them.

Limerick Holds Off Waterford

Limerick faced a serious challenge with Waterford coming at them with everything they had. However, four points from Tom Morrissey, Barry Nash, and Aaron Gillane, and points from Gillane and Byrnes kept the challengers at arms’ length. Although Waterford managed three scores, it was not enough, and Limerick held on for the win, knowing that they had been in a game.

 

Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-7 (5fs), Seamus Flanagan 1-1, Diarmuid Byrnes 0-3 (0-2 frees), Peter Casey and Tom Morrissey 0-2 each, Barry Nash, Gearoid Hegarty, 0-1.

Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 0-13 (10fs), Austin Gleeson, Dessie Hutchinson 0-2 each, Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson 0-1 each

Limerick: Nickie Quaid, Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash, Diarmuid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes, Darragh O’Donovan, William O’Donoghue, Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey.

Subs: Mike Casey for Declan Hannon; Cathal O’Neill for Seamus Flanagan; David Reidy for William O’Dononghue; Conor Boylan for Peter Casey.

Waterford: Billy Nolan, Conor Gleeson, Conor Prunty, Mark Fitzgerald, Calum Lyons, Tadhg de Burca, Jack Fagan, Darragh Lyons, Jamie Barron, Neil Montgomery, Dessie Hutchinson, Michael Kiely, Colin Dunford, Stephen Bennett, Jack Prendergast.

Subs: Tom Barron for Tadhg de Burca; Austin Gleeson for Colin Dunford; Patrick Fitzgerald for Jack Prendergast; Padraic Fitzgerald for Neil Montgomery.

Interesting Ideas to Host FIFA World Cup Viewing Party

FIFA World Cup has always been the biggest sports event for football lovers. Not everyone can afford to visit the hosting country to watch live matches. That is why the fans start organizing their own viewing parties at home. For those who can’t make it to Brazil for the World Cup, there are ways to watch live matches via online channels.

Football events offer a great opportunity to organize parties and gatherings of friends and family. With some creative ideas, viewers can make this whole viewing experience a lot better and more entertaining. Let’s see what works best for you and your friend circle. Here are some countries that have hosted FIFA events:

  • Italy – 1990
  • USA – 1994
  • France – 1998
  • South Korea and Japan – 2002
  • Germany – 2006
  • South Africa – 2010
  • Brazil – 2014
  • Russia- 2018

FIFA World Cup Viewing Party Ideas

First, you need to have a diversity of supporters, like participants of the party should sport teams from both sides. This will create intense competition between the viewers. Once you are sure the right people are in your gathering, here are some more creative ways to add real fun to your event.

Rental of cinema rooms

Another way to watch live football matches at home is by renting a movie theater room. Cinema rooms can be hired, particularly for parties and weddings. You need a high-quality projector for this purpose, and with the right equipment; the home cinema will be ready within no time. When the event is over, the cinema room can be returned to its original owner.

If a DIY project is too much for you, hiring the services of a rental cinema is still a great idea. The owners will provide food, entertainment, and essential souvenirs if participants want to bring back something from Brazil. If the cinema is too big for you, other people can also be invited. They can also advertise the party for people who do not have direct access to FIFA World Cup matches on television or are unable to travel to Brazil for the event.

Bet on the Outcome of the matches

For those who have already reached the World Cup host country, there are chances to bet on the outcome. Gameplay should not be boring, and adding a touch of gambling can add unlimited thrill to the game. Friends can place their bets on the outcome of the match. This way, all guests will pay special attention to the game. There are similar online websites and casinos where they can place bets. Guests with a tight budget can join wypłacalne kasyno online, as they can get started without making any deposit.

If you are already in Brazil, you can place bets at bookies located in large cities with good access to services and TV channels broadcasting live matches. For your guests, placing local bets is more suitable, and the host can be a bookkeeper to manage the money and the prizes.

Play Pre-match Games

Make sure all of your guests have reached the venue on time. Inviting them a few hours before the match will give you extra time to play a friendly game. This gives a prompt chance to make all group members involved. The event will go live as soon as the kick-off time is announced. Members, who do not want to play, can enjoy coffee or drinks at the venue. A viewing party can also be organized at any coffee shop or pub. This will give you more moments to meet new individuals and make new friends during the course of the event.

Matches can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home too. But these parties serve the special purpose of connecting friends and family members. Getting a good network among friends is one of the core elements of watch parties. You can use this moment to create new relationships and have some solid bonding time with your friends and family members before the main game starts.

Have Drinks and Food Items

In order to keep everyone occupied, it is important to have food and drink items on hand for your guests. There are services available to take of food arrangements, or you can do it all on your own. This will be a great way of attracting more people to the venue. Be sure to keep the drinks, snacks, and other refreshments ready. Here are few food items and drink that you can have at the party:

  • Beer
  • Margarita
  • Sangria
  • Pina colada
  • Mojito
  • Carbonated drinks

Arranging such a party will take some effort. For those who are hosting a football party at home, think about the settings where you can show the draft matches and programs that can be trusted by your guests without any problems. Planning a viewing party in your TV room may not be a good idea if your space is not large enough. The settings should be edgy and modern. Individuals who like music need it loud, while others can enjoy some soft tunes without worrying about disturbing their family members.

Adding Live BBQ can be interesting.

People want something different at their party, and a BBQ may be the perfect option to add something special. Having snacks, drinks, and other items is also fine, but guests are going to enjoy live BBQ the most. You can include live barbecue along with a variety of drinks and food items that are well-matched with your beverages.

Guests can prepare their favorite BBQ items. It is always good to have a bit of fun at your event. For those who have invited their friends to watch the football matches, entertainment will surely be an added advantage for the guests. Apart from the FIFA match, you all will have lots of fun in these activities too. Try any or all these ideas during your coming FIFA World Cup matches and enjoy watching parties.

Conclusion

In this article, we have tried to cover a wide variety of topics so that viewers can get several options that can meet their requirements. Matches can be enjoyed online on your smartphone, too, but that won’t be much fun. It is always better to spend some time with people who care about you. Games not only keep your body fit, but they can also help you to build better social connections with such activities.

 

Connacht‘s Champions Cup Rugby Qualification status for 2023/24

Connacht Rugby are very close to being qualified for the 2023/24 Champions Cup.   But there are still some scenarios that could deprive them of qualification.

Despite finishing 7th in the United Rugby Championship (URC) table, Connacht haven’t fully secured their place in the elite European competition.

If Scarlets/Benetton win Challenge Cup or Sharks win the URC title Connacht won’t qualify. 

The Sharks’ journey to the URC title won’t be an easy one. They will have to beat the formidable Leinster in Dublin in the URC quarterfinals and maybe the Stormers away in a semi-final.

Meanwhile, Scarlets will need to defeat Glasgow Warriors and then probably take down Toulon in the final. Toulon are expected to easily beat Benetton next week.

Connacht Qualificaton

Connacht’s qualification is a testament to the team’s perseverance and hard work throughout the URC season. They might not have finished in the top five, but they have earned their spot in the Champions Cup through sheer determination and it would be a real pity to get ousted after finishing 7th.

Connacht’s fans will undoubtedly be excited at the prospect of seeing their team compete against the best in Europe. With a bit of luck, they could even cause some upsets along the way.

2023/24 Champions Cup weekends

Round 1 – 8/9/10 December 2023
Round 2 – 15/16/17 December 2023
Round 3 – 12/13/14 January 2024
Round 4 – 19/20/21 January 2024

Round of 16 – 5/6/7 April 2024
Quarter-finals – 12/13/14 April 2024
Semi-finals – 3/4/5 May 2024
EPCR Challenge Cup final – Friday 24 May 2024
Heineken Champions Cup final – Saturday 25 May 2024

Leinster Football 2023 – Dublin v Laois – Preview, Stats and Team News

Dublin Aim to Extend Dominance over Laois in Leinster Football Championship

Click here for live score updates on Dublin v Laois

Dublin and Laois will face each other in the Leinster football championship on Sunday April 23rd at 3:30pm with Dublin aiming to continue their dominance over their opponents.

Recent Championship Meetings

Dublin and Laois have met five times in the championship since 2012, with Dublin emerging victorious in all five encounters. The most recent meeting took place in 2020, where Dublin comprehensively defeated Laois by a scoreline of 2-23 to 0-7 in the Leinster semi-final.

Dublin’s Recent Form

Dublin are heading into their first championship match of the season, having won the Division 2 title earlier this year. The team won seven of their eight games and will look to carry their momentum into the championship.

Laois’ Recent Form

Laois, who finished third in Division 4, defeated Wexford in the Leinster first round by a scoreline of 2-17 to 2-13. Mark Barry was the standout player for Laois, scoring 2-4 in the victory.

Head-to-Head Record

This will be the 36th championship meeting between the two counties, with Dublin winning 28 of the previous encounters. Laois have only managed to secure five victories, with two matches ending in draws. Laois’ most recent championship victory over Dublin was in the 2003 Leinster semi-final, where they won by a scoreline of 0-16 to 0-14.

Prediction

Dublin are strong favourites to win this match, given their impressive record against Laois in recent years. Laois will need to put in a strong performance to overcome Dublin, but will take confidence from their recent victory over Wexford. Bookies expect Dublin to win by 16pts. That looks about right.

Team News for Dublin v Laois

There are four changes to the side from the one which defeated Derry in the Division 2 final – Eoin Murchan, Ciarán Kilkenny, Paul Mannion and Ross McGarry start with Michael Fitzsimons, Cian Murphy, Killian O’Gara and Dean Rock on the bench along side Jack McCaffrey and Stephen Cluxton

Dublin starting team to play Laois in Leinster football championship
Dublin starting team to play Laois in Leinster football championship
Laois football team to play Dublin in the 2023 Leinster football championship
Laois football team to play Dublin in the 2023 Leinster football championship

Next Round for Dublin or Laois 

The winners of this match will progress to the Leinster semi-final, where they will face either Kildare or Wicklow on April 30

Video Highlights – Armagh Dominates One-Sided Ulster Quarter-Final against Cavan

Armagh showed their dominance against Cavan in a one-sided Ulster SFC quarter-final match at a rain-soaked Kingspan Breffni stadium.

Armagh 1-14 Cavan 0-12

The Orchard men took an early lead and never looked back. They stretched the lead to nine points just before half-time, thanks to Ben Crealey’s goal. Although Cavan tried to mount some comebacks, they fell short, and Armagh won the match by five points.

Armagh as Favourites

Armagh came in as the favourites, having been close to an All-Ireland semi-final last year. Cavan boasted their most experienced and decorated squad in decades, but the home fans still felt that the match would be close. Both teams will start next season in Division Two, and while Armagh has made incremental progress, Cavan had the advantage of having up to 10 of the squad above or close to 100 caps.

Armagh’s Efficiency

Armagh was much more efficient, having no wides in the first half, which set the tone for the match. Conor Turbitt’s movement and slick finishing caused Cavan huge problems, and Armagh repeatedly cut them open with smart movement and crisp finishing. Cavan had to work much harder for their scores.

First Half Dominance

Armagh set the pattern early on, with two early left-footed points from Turbitt and a 45 from sweeper-keeper Ethan Rafferty easing them in front. Cavan belatedly opened their account after 11 minutes, but Armagh did not panic. Turbitt nailed two frees, and Andrew Murnin hit Armagh’s sixth. Armagh’s dominance was clear as they led by nine points just before half-time.

Second Half Response

Cavan hit four points in a row either side of half-time, but Armagh responded with a hat-trick of scores from Greg McCabe and Turbitt. Cavan’s poor shooting didn’t help their cause, as they kicked 15 wides in all and dropped another couple short. Armagh’s defence was also superb, giving away few scoreable frees. Cavan couldn’t keep up with the pace of the game, and Armagh’s work-rate was excellent.

Armagh’s Memorable Win

In the last 15 minutes, including injury time, Cavan did exert some pressure, but Armagh dealt with it well. The final four efforts on goal in the match were all Cavan wides. It was a forgettable night for Cavan and a memorable win for Armagh, who turned in their best performance of the season.

Connacht Football 2023 – Roscommon v Galway – Preview & Team News

Galway and Roscommon Set for Eighth Championship Meeting in Eight Seasons

The upcoming Connacht Championship semi-final between Galway and Roscommon is a highly anticipated matchup, as the two teams meet for the eighth time in just eight seasons. This marks the third consecutive year that the two teams will face off in the championship, and their previous five meetings have been incredibly competitive.

Recent Championship History Favours Galway

Galway has won four of the last five championship meetings against Roscommon, with their most recent victory coming in the 2022 Connacht final. However, Roscommon did emerge victorious in the 2019 Connacht final, breaking Galway’s streak of five consecutive titles in the province.

Galway’s First Championship Outing

This will be Galway’s first outing in the championship, having earlier reached the Division 1 final where they lost to Mayo. Despite this setback, they will be eager to start their championship campaign on a high note.

Roscommon’s Impressive Quarter-Final Win

Roscommon will be entering the game with confidence, following their impressive quarter-final win against Mayo. Diarmuid Murtagh was their top scorer in the game, contributing six points to their 2-8 to 0-10 victory.

Head-to-Head Record in Championship

Galway has the historical edge over Roscommon, winning 39 out of their 66 championship meetings. However, Roscommon will be looking to level the playing field and secure a victory against their rivals.

Galway’s Bid for Eighth Consecutive Connacht Final

Galway is bidding to reach their eighth consecutive Connacht final, a feat that speaks to their dominance in the province in recent years. However, Roscommon will be determined to spoil their plans and advance to the final themselves.

Allianz League Clash

The two teams also faced off earlier this year in the Allianz League, with Roscommon emerging victorious by a single point. However, the low-scoring affair was a far cry from their high-scoring shootout in last year’s Connacht final, which Galway won by three points.

The Road to the Connacht Final

The winner of this semi-final clash will advance to the Connacht final on May 7, where they will face either Sligo or New York. The stakes are high for both Galway and Roscommon, and fans can expect a closely contested matchup between these two provincial rivals.

Team News for Roscommon v Galway

Galway football team to play Roscommon in Connacht semi-final 2023
Galway football team to play Roscommon in Connacht semi-final 2023 
Roscommon team to play Galway in 2023 Connacht semifinal
Roscommon team to play Galway in 2023 Connacht semifinal

We will have the starting teams on Friday afternoon.