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Liverpool v AC Milan ‘A Must Watch’ – Klopp

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that his side’s upcoming fixture against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, September 15 is something fans do not want to miss out on.

The meeting between the two European giants will be the first since the competition’s final in 2007 in Athens, where Milan got revenge on Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool for their 2005 loss.

Both sides have seen themselves regress and, in recent years, return to the upper echelons of club football in Europe.

Liverpool added a sixth European Cup to their trophy cabinets in 2019 but are still one shy of Milan’s seven.

Klopp said in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference: “Of course, 2005 I have more in my mind than 2007…I was thinking about not watching the second half…I’m glad I didn’t switch over!

“If you would think of any European battle, then I think Liverpool vs. AC Milan is a must watch! It’s one you want to see.

“It will be a tough game for both sides.”

On top of the fixture making a return, the fans will also return to Anfield for a European fixture.

It will be the first time Anfield has been allowed fans for such a fixture since the infamous Champions League round of 16 second-leg against Atletico Madrid in March 2020.

Then, the coronavirus pandemic took hold and a lockdown was put in place – fans did not return to Anfield for any of Liverpool’s fixtures in the competition in 2020/21.

Liverpool’s stadium is famous for its atmosphere, especially on European nights and Klopp is happy to see fans make a return.

“It was a long time ago we had a Champions League game at home, now the opportunity to experience again the atmosphere Anfield is able to produce.

“We spoke a lot in the past, rightly so, about the European nights at Anfield and I cannot wait to experience that now! It will be great and I’m really looking forward to it!”

Liverpool host AC Milan in the first of six group stage games for the side in Group B of the UEFA Champions League. The match will kick-off at 8 pm.

Arsenal drop below Spurs in UEFA Rankings

For the first time in 29 years, the Gunners will fall down in the rankings and be surpassed by bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal finally got some good news at the weekend after beating bottom place Norwich but now there is more bad news for the club.

After finishing in eighth place in the league last season, Mikel Arteta’s team failed to qualify for any European competition. This was the first time this had happened since Arsene Wenger took the job over 25 years ago.

They were only one point behind their North London rivals Tottenham who finished in seventh and qualified for the newly formed UEFA Europa Conference League.

Although this competition is not at the very highest standard, it will be enough for them to overtake Arsenal in the UEFA Rankings.

The Gunners are currently ranked in 12th place on this list. The places are based on European results in the last five years. Arsenal have a score of 80 points and will not be able to improve that this season.

Spurs were only two points behind their enemy but after the Europa Conference League begins, they will be boosted to 80.5 points. If they manage to progress far in this competition they could open up a large gap on Arsenal that could take years to resolve.

This shift in power is expected since the London Reds have not played in the Champions League since the 2016/2017 campaign. This is while Tottenham lost out in the final against Liverpool three years ago.

Neither side is still close to the top five teams which are made up of Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Chelsea in that order. Real Madrid are in sixth place while a reemerging Manchester United are in eighth place.

This adds to what has already been a terrible year for Arsenal fans. After losing their opening three games, maybe their win will over Norwich will start them afresh.

Otherwise, the Gunners’ faithful will spend another year not celebrating St Totteringham’s day.

Ireland Name Men’s Sevens Squad For Canadian World Series Fixtures

The Ireland men’s national sevens squad for the two scheduled tournaments of the 2021 World Rugby Sevens Series has been named.

IRFU Director of Sevens Rugby, Anthony Eddy,  has today named a 13-player squad for Ireland’s return to HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series action, as the 2021 season prepares to get up and running at BC Place, Vancouver this weekend.

Eddy will use the upcoming tournaments in Canada to explore the depth of his Ireland Men’s Sevens squad as players are given the opportunity to stake a claim on the World Series stage.

Three Olympians are named in the squad – Bryan Mollen, Mark Roche and Gavin Mullin – with Mollen set to captain the squad.

Ireland will face Great Britain and invitational sides Hong Kong and Jamaica in Pool B in Vancouver from September 18-19 – Play-offs are scheduled for September 19.

Liam Turner and Seán Cribbin also add experience to the squad, with Turner having racked up 16 appearances on last year’s World Series.

Ireland U20 stars Shane Jennings, Chris Cosgrave and Ben Moxham will work with the sevens setup for the upcoming tournaments.

Moxham, along with Conor Phillips of Munster and Ed Kelly – the younger brother of Olympian Jack – have been part of the National Sevens programme for the last 12 months.

They featured during the IRFU HPC International 7s tournament in June, with the back-to-back tournaments in Canada presenting them with the platform to showcase their talents at the start of a new Olympic cycle.

Commenting on his selection, Eddy said: “It is great to have the HSBC World Series back up and running and expose some new players to the quality of this competition.

“The Canada tournaments provide a great opportunity for some players to put their hand up for future tournaments and the 2022 Series.

“We have some experience in the group and also players new to the World Series, so I am keen to see how some of the new players perform in this environment.”

Ireland will open their HSBC Canada Sevens campaign against Hong Kong on Saturday 18th September (5:44 pm Irish time), before going head-to-head with Jamaica (8:55 pm) and Great Britain (12:28 am) later in the day.

The Vancouver tournament will be followed by a second HSBC Canada Sevens event in Edmonton the following weekend, on 25th-26th September. The two rounds in Canada form the 2021 Series, with the Series title awarded in Edmonton.

Ireland Men’s 7s Squad For Vancouver & Edmonton

Niall Comerford (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Chris Cosgrave (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Seán Cribbin (Suttonians)
Shane Jennings (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
Sean Kearns (Irish Sevens)
Ed Kelly (Dublin University)
Steven Kilgallen (UCD RFC)
Bryan Mollen (Blackrock College)(Captain)
Ben Moxham (Ballymena/Ulster)
Gavin Mullin (UCD RFC)
Conor Phillips (Young Munster/Munster)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne)
Liam Turner (Dublin University/Leinster)

Mayo GAA Club Championships 2021 Preview, Predictions, Fixtures, Odds

Mayo GAA Club Championships 2021 Preview, Predictions, Fixtures, Odds

Mayo Championship Club Football 2021

The Mayo Senior Football Championship draw has been finalised. The remainder of the championship will start on the 24th of September.

The format goes; 4 Groups with four teams

Here are the groups that were made

Group 1                                                    Group 2

Davitts                                                                                Knockmore
Claremorris                                                                        Aghamore
Ballina Stephenites                                                            Charlestown Sarsfield
Ballintubber                                                                        Belmullet

Group 3                                                    Group 4

Balla                                                                                   Garrymore
Castlebar Mitchels                                                              Kiltane
Westport                                                                             Breaffy
Ballaghaderreen                                                                 The Neale

 

Mayo GAA Club Championships 2021 Preview, Predictions, Fixtures, Odds

Ballintubber

Founded: 1885

Grounds: Ray Prendergast Memorial Park, Ballintubber Resource Center

Honours: Mayo Senior Football Champions (5) 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019

Fixtures: Group 1

Round 1 – Ballina Stephenites (September 24th)

Round 2 – Davitts (October 1st)

Round 3 – Claremorris (TBC)

Odds: 5/2

Castlebar Mitchels

Founded: 1885

Grounds: Elverys MacHale Park

Honours:

All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship Runners-Up (3) 1994, 2014, 2016

Connacht Senior Club Football Champions (4) 1969, 1993, 2013, 2015

Mayo Senior Football Champions (31) 1888, 1903, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1963, 1969, 1970, 1978, 1986, 1988, 1993, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017

Fixtures: Group 3

Round 1 – Balla (September 24th)

Round 2 – Ballaghaderreen (October 1st)

Round 3 – Westport (TBC)

Odds: 5/1

 

Breaffy

Founded: 1953

Grounds: Breaffy

Honours: No Relevant Honours

Fixtures: Group 4

Round 1 – The Neale (September 24th)

Round 2 – Kiltane (October 1st)

Round 3 – Garrymore (TBC)

Odds: 11/2

 

Westport

Founded: 1970

Grounds: Westport GAA Club

Honours:

Mayo Senior Football Championship Runners-Up (8) 1905, 1907, 1912, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1942, 1991

Connacht Intermediate Club Football Champions (1) 2016

All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Champions (1) 2017

Fixtures: Group 3

Round 1 – Ballaghadereen (September 24th)

Round 2 – Castlebar Mitchels (October 1st)

Round 3 – Balla (TBC)

Odds: 11/2

 

Knockmore

Founded: 1958

Grounds: St. Joseph’s Park Knockmore

Honours:

Mayo Senior Football Champions (9) 1973, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1997, 2020

Connacht Senior Club Football Champions (3) 1973/74, 1992/93, 1996/97

All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship Runners-Up (1) 1997

Fixtures: Group 2

Round 1 – Aghamore (September 24th)

Round 2 – Belmullet (October 1st)

Round 3 – Charlestown Sarsfield (TBC)

Odds: 6/1

Ballaghdereen

Founded: 1885

Grounds: Ballaghdereen

Honours:

Mayo Senior Football Champions (3) 1972, 2008, 2012

Fixtures: Group 3

Round 1 – Westport (September 24th)

Round 2 – Balla (October 1st)

Round 3 – Castlebar Mitchels (TBC)

Odds: 13/2

Ballina

Founded: 1886

Grounds: James Stephens Park

Honours:

All-Ireland Senior Club Football Champions (1) 2004/05

Connacht Senior Club Football Champions (3) 1998, 2004, 2007

Mayo Senior Football Champions (36) 1889, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1935, 1938, 1940, 1943, 1947, 1955, 1966, 1985, 1987, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2007

Fixtures: Group 1

Round 1 – Ballintubber (September 24th)

Round 2 – Claremorris (October 1st)

Round 3 – Davitts(TBC)

Odds: 15/2

Garrymore

Founded: 1918

Grounds: Killeenrevagh

Honours:

Mayo Senior Football Champions (6) 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982

Connacht Senior Club Football Champions (1) 1981

All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship Runners-Up (1) 1982

Fixtures: Group 1

Round 1 – Kiltane (September 24th)

Round 2 – The Neale (October 1st)

Round 3 – Breaffy (TBC)

Odds: 25/1

Aghamore

Founded: 1889

Grounds: Aghamore

Honours: Mayo Senior Football Championship Runners-Up (3) 1971, 1974, 1975

Fixtures: Group 2

Round 1 – Knockmore (September 24th)

Round 2 – Charlestown (October 1st)

Round 3 – Belmullet (TBC)

Odds: 25/1

Claremorris

Founded: 1884

Grounds: Claremorris

Honours: Connacht Senior Club Football Champions (1) 1972

Mayo Senior Football Champions (4) 1961, 1964, 1965, 1971

Fixtures: Group 1

Round 1 – Davitts (September 24th)

Round 2 – Ballina Stephenites (October 1st)

Round 3 – Ballintubber (TBC)

Odds: 33/1

Charlestown

Founded: 1888

Grounds: Fr. O’Hara Park, Lowpark, Charlestown

Honours: Connacht Senior Club Football Champions (1) 2001

Mayo Senior Football Champions (3) 1902, 2001, 2009

Fixtures: Group 2

Round 1 – Belmullet (September 24th)

Round 2 – Aghamore (October 1st)

Round 3 – Knockmore (TBC)

Odds: 33/1

The Neale

Founded: 1944

Grounds: The Neale GAA Pitch

Honours: No relevant honours

Fixtures: Group 4

Round 1 – Breaffy (September 24th)

Round 2 – Garrymore (October 1st)

Round 3 – Kiltane (TBC)

Odds: 50/1

Kiltane

Founded: 1960

Grounds: Bangor Erris

Honours:  All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football Championship Runner-Up (1) 2014

Mayo Intermediate Football Championship (2) 1973, 2013

Connacht Intermediate Club Football Champions (1) 2013

Fixtures: Group 4

Round 1 – Garrymore (September 24th)

Round 2 – Breaffy (October 1st)

Round 3 – The Neale (TBC)

Odds: 80/1

Belmullet

Founded: 1936

Grounds: Tallagh

Honours:  All-Ireland Junior Club Football Champions (1) 2002

Mayo Senior Football Championship Runners-Up (2) 1945, 1981

Fixtures: Group 

Round 1 – Charlestown Sarsfield (September 24th)

Round 2 – Knockmore (October 1st)

Round 3 – Aghamore (TBC)

Odds: 80/1

Davitts

Founded: 1974

Grounds: Ballindine North

Honours:  Mayo Inter Championship Winners (2)
1981, 2011

Connacht Intermediate Championship Winners (1)
2011

Fixtures: Group 1

Round 1 – Davitts (September 24th)

Round 2 – Ballintubber (October 1st)

Round 3 – Ballina Stephenites (TBC)

Odds: 80/1

Balla

Founded: 1921

Grounds: Nally Park

Honours: Mayo Senior Football Championship Runners-Up (1983)

Fixtures: Group 3

Round 1 – Castlebar Mitchels (September 24th)

Round 2 – Ballaghadeeren (October 1st)

Round 3 – Westport (TBC)

Odds: 100/1

For more News and Stories on all things GAA, click here.

4 Pieces Of Golf Exercise Equipment That Are Worth Buying Today

Do you enjoy playing weekend golf, but get frustrated because your scores never seem to improve? This is a common problem for casual golfers. You want to play better, but don’t have the time to consistently visit the driving range or the practice putting green.

 

There are ways to get better at the game you love without spending hours at the course. Do you work out or could you spend a little time at home to get your body in better shape? Did you know that golf exercise equipment can help you improve your swing and lower your scores? It’s a win-win! Get in better physical shape and play better on the weekends.

 

We can help you come up with a quick program using golf exercise equipment. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym. A short, focused routine using golf exercise equipment will give you an advantage over your golfing buddies. Wouldn’t it be nice to start beating them on a regular basis? Collect a few dollars and tease your friends in the 19th hole?

 

What Do We Mean By Golf Exercise Equipment?

In the 1970s and 1980s the idea of golf exercise equipment didn’t really exist. Even PGA tour professionals didn’t take physical conditioning very seriously. That all changed in the 1990s. Tiger Woods changed the game! He started the trend of golfers taking strength and conditioning more seriously and with this trend, the idea of golf exercise equipment was born.

 

In most circumstances golf exercise equipment is not unique, but how you use it to improve your golf game is new. Exercises designed to improve flexibility and strengthen the parts of your body that are critical to a consistent and solid golf swing. Golf exercise equipment can make a real impact on your game and help you shoot lower scores.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Golf Exercise Equipment

Balance, flexibility, and lean muscle are the keys to a consistent golf swing. Golf exercise equipment helps you achieve these results. 

 

You may not always think of it this way, but golf is a physical activity. If you walk when you play, you cover 7+ miles during an 18-hole round. Do you ever notice that you struggle to finish off a round? Do you tend to play the last 3-4 holes poorly? This could simply be you’re getting tired.

 

The right golf exercise equipment can help you solve for fatigue on the course.

How To Choose The Right Golf Exercise Equipment

The best advice for choosing golf exercise equipment is to keep it simple. Try to identify golf exercise equipment that is readily available in most gyms or is inexpensive for you to buy for your home. Do other people in your home enjoy staying active? Try to find golf exercise equipment that can be used for golf-specific exercises, but can also be used by non-golfers in your home looking to get fit.

 

Still not sure where to start? Don’t worry – we can help you get the right golf exercise equipment.

4 Pieces Of Golf Exercise Equipment That Are Worth Buying

You don’t need to immediately run out and build an entire home gym. Slowly build your golf exercise equipment collection over time. You simply need the basics to get started on your path to better golf. Below are the 4 pieces of golf exercise equipment we recommend you purchase or start using:

  1. Dumbbells

Dumbbells are one of the most basic pieces of exercise equipment and they are a must-have for golfers looking to improve. For golf exercise equipment, you don’t need super heavy dumbbells. Go with a weight that’s comfortable for you – the key will be multiple sets, not lifting as much weight as possible.

Benefits

Dumbbells will help you improve your upper body strength, specifically your arms and shoulders. They’re a great piece of golf exercise equipment if you’d like to add some distance to your game. Hit that driver farther!

 

For the best results, you want to do multiple sets. Some golf-related dumbbell exercises include Lateral Raise, Shoulder Flexion, Bicep Curls, and Triceps Kickback.

 

Price Range

Depending on what you buy, the price of dumbbells can vary significantly. We recommend you start slow and purchase a couple that are a comfortable weight for you. Down the road, you can add an additional weight option if needed. We estimate that you’ll spend between $30 – $50 for a quality product.

  1. Resistance Bands

A resistance band is an elastic band used for strength training. They’re commonly used during physical therapy to regain strength following an injury, but are also a great piece of golf exercise equipment. They typically come in different colors, which indicate the level of tension. In other words, the colors will help you understand which ones are more challenging to use (similar to adding weight to a dumbbell). We recommend you get tube resistance bands with built-in handles, but bands without handles can also get the job done.

 

Benefits

Resistance bands are a great wear to build strength and add power to your golf swing. They allow you to perform exercises that mimic different parts of your swing, creating muscle exactly where you need it. They’re also the perfect piece of golf exercise equipment to improve the rotation of your golf swing.

 

Some resistance bands exercises to try include Band Resisted Sit-ups, Banded Rotations, Banded Rows, and Banded Push Downs.

Price Range

Resistance bands are a great piece of golf exercise equipment for a couple reasons. First, they don’t take up much space in your home and second, they’re very inexpensive. You can find what you need for under $25.

  1. Medicine Ball

A medicine ball is a weighted ball with a diameter that’s approximately your shoulder width. They’re typically used for rehabbing injuries and strength training. A medicine ball is also an excellent piece of golf exercise equipment.

Benefits

Medicine Ball exercises are a great way to build strength and add speed to your golf swing. Tiger Woods was one of the first professional golfers to add this piece of golf exercise equipment to his workout. Some of our favorite medicine ball exercises include Russian Twists, Side Throws, and Toe Touches.

 

Price Range

Medicine ball prices range from $30 to $100+. Making them another great example of an inexpensive piece of golf exercise equipment that can help you find more success on the course!

  1. Hand Grip Strengthener

This piece of golf exercise equipment is sometimes referred to as a “Gripper”. They are designed to help you strengthen your “crush” grip, which is focused on your 4 fingers more than your thumb. 

Benefits

Just a nice and simple piece of golf exercise equipment. You can use it anytime. On a work conference call? Spend a few minutes using your hand grip strengthener. Watching the PGA tour on Sunday afternoon? This is a perfect time to use this golf exercise equipment. Instead of eating a snack, improve your golf game.

 

A strong grip helps your golf game in several different ways. It’ll give you more control over your swing and the club. A strong grip will also allow you to transition more force from your hands, through the club, and to the golf ball.

 

Source: Black Mountain

Price Range

Hand Grip Strengtheners come in different levels of restriction. You can purchase one for less than $10 or find a set for $20 – $50. 

 

The Right Golf Exercise Equipment Can Change Your Game

Trust us. Using the right golf exercise equipment to perform exercises for golf will have a significant impact on your swing and your scores. Do you still need to spend some time at the driving range and the practice green? Of course, but don’t forget about your physical health.

 

Bad weather forecast this weekend? Do you live in a colder climate with a long golf offseason? This doesn’t mean you can’t work on the game you love. If you’re stuck inside, break out your golf exercise equipment and get some reps done! 

 

Lower scores, a lower handicap, and more pars & birdies are right around the corner. Good luck and play well!

How to choose the best Irish online casino

Gambling has ancient roots and was first introduced around 3000 BC in ancient Egypt where dice were used to gamble.

Throwing dice was actually how gambling started in many civilizations and today, gambling has evolved to be a dominating industry worldwide with both physical and online casinos available. You also have Sports betting software for those people who like to bet on football, baseball, and Basketball.

It is no secret that gambling is extremely popular and technology has boosted that popularity significantly thanks to the rise of online casinos. Online casinos have come to a point where you can go to a website and get all the information you need on top-rated casinos, best bonuses, and even strategies on how to make more money by playing online. One such site is Manekinekocasino, which offers extensive reviews on the best online casinos available. You can’t go wrong if you’re following their advice.

If you are looking for an online casino that allows you to enjoy the best Irish games, the first thing you need to do is research the types of games that are offered.Some casinos might only offer slots, while Irish online casinos offer a wider variety of games. Different casinos will also have a different amount of bonuses available when signing up. You need to know what type of game you wish to play and how much money you can offer before choosing a particular casino. Here is what to consider when choosing the best Irish online casino. 

Different types of games 

When considering a casino, you should ensure that the casino offers games that you enjoy playing. Online casinos are guaranteed to have slots, table games, roulette, blackjack, poker, and even live dealer games. It just so happens that these are all the most popular casino games in Ireland as well. If your aim is to make money at an online casino, you need to have a certain degree of knowledge about the games you want to play. You need to know whether it is a skill or luck-based game and you need to familiarize yourself with the rules. It is also a good idea to practice skill-based games. If a casino only has a limited selection of games, opt for an online casino that has a bigger selection.

A wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options 

The best casinos are fast withdrawal casinos because they allow you to deposit and withdraw instantly. Some casinos make players wait a month before they can withdraw their winnings so it is important to check what the deposit and withdrawal options are when you are researching a particular casino. Being able to deposit and withdraw instantly makes the gambling experience more enjoyable, however, you have to keep in mind that transaction processing times differ with every payment method and payment times can vary from a few days to a few weeks. Make sure you check each banking option and then decide how long you are willing to wait. 

Great customer support

An online casino needs to have great customer support because when you are dealing with the internet, it is common to encounter glitches and system errors. When these things occur, customers need to know that there is 24-hour assistance available. Effective customer service ensures that the player has the best possible experience because they know that they have 24/7 assistance whenever they need it. You can ask customer service anything regarding the online casino, whether you need to enquire about account registration, different deposit and withdrawal methods, promotions, or even if you have questions regarding software providers. 

Bonuses 

You will find the following bonuses at an online casino: 

  • Welcome bonus: This is free money you receive upon joining the casino. 
  • Deposit bonus: When you make a deposit, the casino will add a percentage to it. 
  • No deposit bonus: This is money you receive without having to put down a deposit. 
  • Free spins: This bonus is given to slot players to enjoy free spins.
  • Loyalty bonus: This bonus is given to existing members who are loyal to the casino.

Bonuses are used by the casino as an incentive for new players as well as existing members and casinos can attract new customers with bonuses. As a beginner, bonuses are great because they allow you to play without spending much of your own money. 

Security 

It is vital to choose a casino that has SSL encryption because this protects your personal information from hackers and scammers. You’ll also want to join a casino that is licensed and regulated because these casinos are guaranteed to pay out your winnings and not scam you.

Kerry GAA Searching For ‘Next Senior Football Manager’

Kerry GAA have announced that they have begun the search for the county’s next senior football manager in a statement on the county board’s website.

The announcement was made after the conclusion of the All-Ireland Championship, where the Munster champions were beaten by eventual champions Tyrone in extra-time of their semi-final.

There has been speculation that Kerry senior football manager Peter Keane will not be in charge of the side next season as they look to bring an end to an All-Ireland drought.

The statement by Kerry’s county board reads: “The process of appointing the next Kerry Senior Football Manager has commenced.

“The Kerry GAA Management Committee has appointed the following sub-committee who will revert with a recommendation at the earliest opportunity.

“Tim Murphy (Chairperson) Eamon Whelan (Vice Chairperson) Peter Twiss (Secretary) John O’ Leary (Munster Council Delegate) Donal Daly (Kerry Games Manager).

“No further comment will be made until this process has concluded.”

The most successful team competing for the Sam Maguire have not brought it back to the county since 2014.

Keane brought his side to an All-Ireland final in 2019 where opponents Dublin forced a replay after a poor first-half and broke Kerry’s long-standing record of four-in-a-row with a win in the replay.

His side have not reached the final fixture of the inter-county Gaelic football calendar since, having fallen short in the last two years.

The Kerry footballers have won two Munster titles under the former Kerry underage star after his appointment following his minor team’s success from 2016-2018.

The former St. Mary’s player won three Munster and All-Ireland minor titles in a row as manager of the county’s underage side.

Brian Cody Appointed Kilkenny Senior Hurling Manager For 2022

Kilkenny GAA have announced that Brian Cody will stay on as manager of the county’s senior hurling manager for the 2022 season.

Brian Cody, who has managed the Black Cats since 1998, will manage the side for the 24th consecutive season.

He will surpass Séan Boylan’s (Meath senior footballers) record of 23 consecutive seasons as manager of a single team when he stands on the sideline as Kilkenny boss in 2022.

The 67-year-old led his side to a 17th Leinster title since he started his tenure with the side.

Kilkenny were stopped by Cork at the semi-final stage this year in an epic clash between the two sides – it was the first time in eleven years that the two counties had met in an All-Ireland semi-final.

The impressive haul of provincial crowns complements the 11 All-Ireland titles that Cody has led the county to during his time as manager.

However, the side have been without the Liam McCarthy Cup since 2015, only reaching the final twice since – losing both times to Tipperary in 2016 and 2019.

In that time, Kilkenny have won two Leinster titles, ending a five-year drought of the Bob O’Keeffe Cup in 2020.

A statement by Kilkenny GAA reads: “Following a meeting of the Kilkenny GAA County Board on Monday night, Brian Cody has been ratified as Kilkenny Senior Manager for the 2022 season.   James McGarry, Martin Comerford and Conor Phelan will be selectors for the season ahead.

“At U-20 Derek Lyng has been ratified as manager for the season ahead, with Peter Barry, Michael Rice and Peter Donovan on board as selectors.

“At U-17 Niall Bergin has been ratified as manager.   A management team to assist Niall will confirmed at a later date.

“Kilkenny GAA would like to take this opportunity to wish all our management teams and panels the best of luck in the season ahead.”

Ireland Win Final ODI To Level Series Against Zimbabwe

Ireland won the final One Day International against Zimbabwe by seven wickets to level the three-game series and score 10 important points for the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.

Their seven-wicket victory was helped on by the ever-reliable batsman Paul Stirling and captain Andrew Balbirnie, who scored 77 runs altogether and fired their side to victory.

Stormont could not escape the rain once again but it did not halt proceedings for the second game running, allowing Ireland to ease to victory in the final game of the series.

However, the match saw the total amount of overs reduced from 50 per team to 34 for Zimbabwe’s batting and Ireland had to chase their adjusted total of 118 in 32 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

The visitor’s had scored 131 in their overs, a total that was led by talisman Craig Ervine who hit 57 on the day teammate Brendan Taylor played his final game.

Taylor scored seven runs for his side as he brought an end to a 17-year international career with the side.

However, Ireland’s bowling led to wickets and Andy McBrine and Josh Little could only muster up a combined six runs in 59 balls.

The Zimbabweans ended their attack with 131 runs to their name, further reduced to 118 and the host’s made light work of their target.

The home side were almost at the half-century before their first wicket of the day came in the form of William Porterfield, whose 18 runs put Ireland on 48 alongside Stirling’s opening 30.

Captain Balbirnie helped his side home and steered Ireland into fourth on the Super League table on 50 points after the series.

Ireland’s focus will now turn to the T20 World Cup in October, with no ODI play scheduled until an away series against West Indies in January 2022.

Ireland Beaten By Spain In First RWC 2021 Qualifier

Ireland suffered an 8-7 loss to a physically imposing Spain side by one point in what was a poor start to their Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier campaign on Monday evening.

Adam Griggs’ side made textbook errors throughout the match as the Women’s Six Nations side failed to assert their dominance over the 2019-20 Women’s Rugby Europe champions.

Spain threatened with their attacks from the opening minutes and their hard work paid off late in the game when replacement back Eva Aguirre dived over the line in the 71st minute to put her side back in the lead with less than ten minutes to go.

A missed conversion left the door open for Ireland to steal the game from the clutches of Jose Antonio Barrio’s squad but Enya Breen’s last-minute penalty fell short and their fate was sealed.

Spain started as they meant to go on with a dominant pack evident in their first set-piece opportunity.

Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Patricia Garcia’s penalty as a result of the Spanish pack’s physicality hit the post and it looked as if Ireland had got off the hook but Garcia made up for her error minutes later.

However, Ireland responded to Spain’s opening points instantly after Leinster fly-half Stacey Flood’s 50-22 kick found touch.

The ball was passed out wide after ground was made up in the middle and Flood found Beibhinn Parsons on the wing, who rounded her marker and crossed the line for the first try of the game.

Flood converted and more conversion opportunities were expected to come her way on the night after the response Ireland had given to Spain.

Yet, that was not the case as Spain showcased a resilient defence and Ireland made several unforced errors throughout the game to deny themselves some great attacking opportunities in the Spanish 22.

Parsons came close to adding a second several minutes after her score but both sides began to grow sloppy and the half devolved in a trading of penalties.

Spanish centre Amalia Argudo saw yellow as Ireland pushed for a try but Griggs’ side were denied a second score when prop Cliodhna Moloney was held up on the line.

Ireland went in at the half in the lead and came out in the second half with attacking intent – Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe dotted over the line but it was ruled out due to a knock-on by Ulster number nine Kathryn Dane in the build-up.

Ireland started to lose possession at an alarming rate, either through being dispossessed by Spain or errors of their own doing.

Spain began to start threatening the Ireland defensive line in the final 20 minutes of the game and the Irish mistakes only served to aid their cause for a winning score.

Barrio’s team got the score they wanted with nine minutes to spare when Aguirre crossed the line after several errors from the girls in green.

Previous to the score, substitute and debutant Sam Monaghan was binned for 10 minutes but Spain initially could not make the extra woman count.

However, the resulting Ireland lineout throw was not straight and Spain retained possession, formed a strong maul that broke into the Irish 22, played the ball out wide and took the lead.

Garcia missed her conversion but Ireland could not capitalise on the opportunity that was presented to them as Ul Bohemians star Breen could not get the distance on her kick.

It is Spain’s first win against Ireland since a Women’s Six Nations meeting in 2005 and the 8-7 loss puts Ireland’s qualification hopes in jeopardy, with an attacking Italian side now foaming at the mouth ahead of Sunday’s fixture, ready to further their claim for the European qualifier spot for the World Cup in New Zealand.

SPAIN WOMEN: Iera Echebarria (Eibar RT); Bea Dominguez (Sanse Scrum RC), Amaia Erbina (Jugadora FER), Amalia Argudo (Stade Toulousain), Maria Garcia (CR Majadahonda); Anne Fernandez de Corres (Eibar RT), Patricia Garcia (Exeter Chiefs); Saioa Jaurena (AS Bayonnaise), Marga Rodriguez (Universitario de Sevilla CR), Laura Delgado (Exeter Chiefs) (capt); Anna Puig (UE Santboiana), Monica Castelo (CRAT A Coruna); Olivia Fresneda (CR Cisneros), Maria Calvo (CR Cisneros), Lourdes Alameda (Sanse Scrum RC).

Replacements: Isabel Rico (Olimpico de Pozuelo CR), Cristina Blanco (Olimpico de Pozuelo CR), Maika Brust (AS Bayonnaise), Carmen Castellucci (AC Bobigny 93), Carmen Rodera (CR Majadahonda), Lucia Diaz (CR Majadahonda), Lea Ducher (Universitario de Sevilla CR), Eva Aguirre (CR Majadahonda).

IRELAND WOMEN: Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster); Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster), Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Blackrock College/Connacht); Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Blackrock College/Connacht), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/Munster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt), Brittany Hogan (DCU/Old Belvedere/Ulster).

Replacements: Neve Jones (Malone/Ulster), Laura Feely (Blackrock College/Connacht), Leah Lyons (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Sam Monaghan (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster), Enya Breen (UL Bohemians/Munster), Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby).

Referee: Nikki O’Donnell (England)
Assistant Referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Clara Munarini (Italy)
TMO: Andrea Piardi (Italy)