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Brendan Maher announces retirement from Tipperary hurling

After three All-Ireland medals and 13 years on the senior panel, Tipperary legend Brendan Maher announced his retirement from inter-county hurling

The Borrisoleigh native has been part of the Premier county’s senior panel since 2009, after winning All-Ireland’s at minor and under-21 level.

Maher even captained the county to win the Liam McCarthy for the 25th time in 2016, stopping Kilkenny from reaching three in a row. He played in center back that day but has been seen all around the defense and midfield throughout his career.

Maher released a statement this morning to break the news:

“After 13 years playing with Tipperary, I have decided that now is the right time to announce my retirement from inter-county hurling.

ā€œIt was a huge honor and privilege for me to wear the Tipperary jersey and I am very grateful to have played with so many top-class players and to have enjoyed many successes with them. The inter-county game requires very significant commitment, and I am happy that I can look back on my career with no regrets having given everything that I could during my time with Tipperary.

ā€œFirstly, I want to thank the Tipperary players sincerely, I have made lifelong friendships with so many of them. I am also very grateful to the managers and backroom teams who gave me so much support and guidance.

ā€œAs a player, I always received immense support from the Tipperary County Board, Tipperary Supporters Club, and Associations, Tipperary team sponsors, and the GPA. I want to thank all of them. Thanks also to the Tipperary supporters who I have always been so proud to represent.

ā€œTo my club, Borris-Ileigh, where it all began, a huge thank you. I look forward to what the next few years will bring as we continue our journey. My friends have also been hugely supportive of me and helped me in so many ways over the course of my career, for which I am very grateful.

ā€œMy parents, Johnny and Anne, have done everything they possibly could to support and encourage me and there are no words to describe my gratitude to them. I have always looked up to my three older brothers, Sean, Declan, and Martin, to whom I am very grateful for instilling such self-belief and will to win in me. My nieces, nephews, and extended family have always been very loyal supporters and I want to say thanks to all of them.

ā€œI am very lucky to have had such constant support and encouragement from my fiancĆ©e, Aoife. She has helped me get through the toughest of times and being able to share so many wonderful moments with her has made it all extra special.

ā€œFinally, I wish Tipperary all the very best for 2022 and beyond. I have no doubt that the players and management will do everything in their power to bring more success to the county in the years ahead.ā€

The Tipperary county board expressed their best wishes to Maher and thanked him for his service to Tipp hurling. Maher will likely go down as one of the Premier counties greatest hurlers as he continues to play with his local club Borrisoleigh.

 

Young defender Chalobah impresses on competitive Chelsea debut

Last night, Chelsea beat Villareal in the Super Cup final with a thrilling penalty shootout and one Blues’ newcomer left his mark on the game

An hour before kickoff and there was one unexpected face on the team sheet. 22-year-old Trevoh Chalobah was named as one of the three center-backs instead of the much more experienced Thiago Silva, Cezar Azpilicueta, and Andreas Christensen.

This decision was made after good performances in recent club friendlies against Arsenal and Tottenham where he played more than 80 minutes in each.

What Thomas Tuchel saw in Chalobah was true and he was the strongest of the defenders on the pitch in the final. He completed the most passes in the game with 124 and won five of his eight duels.

With five interceptions and five recoveries, he became a big part of why Chelsea held out Villareal for so long.

What will be Chalobah’s future at Chelsea?

The young defender is a product of Chelsea’s academy and much more famous loan system. Since becoming a senior player in 2018, he has played for clubs like Huddersfield Town, Ipswich, and Lorient.

He caught the eye of many fans while in France as he scored two, assisted two in 29 games.

His main problem is that he comes back to a Blues team stacked to the brim with central defenders and looking for more. The club is already edging closer to signing Jules Kounde from Sevilla.

When someone needs to get dropped, Chelsea’s normal response is to sell the young players. Fikayo Tomori was a great example of a promising English center back now plying his trade in AC Milan.

Some speculate that Tuchel played Chalobah to showcase him to any available suitors and to up his price tag. With three weeks left in the transfer window and Chelsea currently full of qualified center-backs, expect to see Chalobah on loan again this season.

 

Rovers in high hopes for important European tie

Shamrock Rovers have traveled to Albania to face Teuta Durres tonight in the second leg of the Europa Conference League match

The squad got the first half of the job done in Tallaght with a late 1-0 victory thanks to substitute Aidomo Emakhu.

Now preparing in the Stadiumi Niko Dovana, Rovers have a full squad with Neil Farrugia back from injury. Rovers have now won their last six games on the bounce and hope to go another better.

Manager Stephen Bradley spoke about the team’s excitement to play this game in a recent press conference.

“We’re a very experienced group in Europe. We know what it takes. We’ve been together a long time; we’ve played in a lot of big games and played in Europe a lot. So, the players are ready and focused and going into this game in really good form. It’s one we’re really looking forward to,” said Bradley.

Rovers do expect Teuta Durres to be stronger this time, now they are at home but their recent form is not very strong. Although narrowly winning the Albanian league on goal difference, they have only won one of their last five competitive matches.
Another problem for Bradley’s side is acclimatizing to the heat and humidity in such a short space of time. The squad travelled to Albania on Tuesday and had their first try-out on the main pitch yesterday evening.
“There’s no getting away from it, it’s very hot but thankfully by the time kick-off comes around, it’s calmed down quite a bit. We’ll be fine. It is what it is and there’s no excuses. We’ll manage it right and get ready to go with a game plan to win the game,” added Bradley.
The match kicks off at 19:00 tonight, 12th August.

Other Irish clubs in European action

PAOK Thessaloniki (1) v Bohemians FC (2) – 18:00 – Thessaloniki, Greece

Dundalk (2) v Vitesse (2) – 20:00 – Oriel Park, Dundalk – Available on LOI TV

Leicester Set To Sign Jannik Vestergaard For Ā£15m

Leicester City FC are set to sign Southampton FC centre-back Jannik Vestergaard for a fee of Ā£15 million, per Fabrizio Romano.

Jannik Vestergaard will leave Southampton after three years at the club and a total of 79 appearances for the Dane.

He had moved to St. Mary’s in the summer of 2018 from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach for Ā£22.5 million.

Vestergaard will travel to Leicester to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms before the deal is finalised.

The Foxes have been interested in signing a centre-back since Wesley Fofana was ruled out until 2022 through injury in pre-season.

The French defender fractured his right fibula after he was on the receiving end of a tackle from Villarreal attacker Fernando Nino.

The 20-year-oldā€™s leg was caught underneath Ninoā€™s as the tackle occurred and he went down immediately.

The Marseille-born centre-back was stretchered off the pitch and was replaced by Ben Nelson.

Fofana played 38 times for the team over the course of his debut season and was part of Leicesterā€™s historic FA Cup-winning run, playing in the final.

Rodgers recently spoke about the possibility of signing a centre-back to step in for Fofana this season in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports.

Rodgers told Sky Sports: ā€œHopefully we can. Itā€™s an area where we are a little light with Jonny out as well for a period of time with a foot injury.

ā€œWith all the games weā€™re going to have over the course of the season, we need to have cover in those positions.

ā€œIt is something the club are currently looking at.ā€

Vestergaard played 32 times for Ralph Hassenhuttl’s side across all competitions last season and scored three times as they finished the league in 14th.

The 29-year-old was also involved in all six of Denmark’s games at Euro 2020 as they made an impressive run to the semi-finals after their talisman, suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch.

Liverpool Midfielder Curtis Jones Out Of PL Opener

Liverpool FC midfielder Curtis Jones has been ruled out of his side’s Premier League opener against Norwich this weekend.

The 20-year-old suffered a concussion in the club’s final pre-season game against Osasuna on Monday.

Jones was taken off during the first half of the pre-season friendly against CA Osasuna following a collision.

Klopp told the clubā€™s website: ā€œHe had a slight concussion so we just have to follow the protocol. He is fine, he feels fine again, but thatā€™s the protocol.

ā€œHe is available for training from Sunday on I think.ā€

The Scouse prospect made four appearances in pre-season for Liverpool but may not have made the starting eleven against Norwich due to the depth the side has in midfield.

Andy Robertson has also been ruled out of Liverpool’s season opener at Carrow Road after sustaining ligament damage against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

Robertson was taken off at half-time after picking up an injury and was replaced by the great-nephew of Ian Rush, Owen Beck, for the second half.

The Scotsman landed awkwardly after making a block towards the end of the first half and stayed on the ground.

He was treated on the field before finishing the half and did not need a stretcher to leave the pitch, instead of being helped off by the physios.

Kostas Tsimikas took Robertsonā€™s place for Liverpoolā€™s final pre-season match against Osasuna on Monday night.

It is expected that the Greek full-back will step in for Robertson in competitive fixtures in his absence.

Tsimikas only made seven appearances for Liverpool in his debut season in England as a result of early-season injury problems and Robertsonā€™s ever-presence in the squad.

However, the 25-year-old has had an impressive pre-season this summer and will look to carry over his form into the new season and get more appearances for the club that signed him last summer.

Klopp was able to report Liverpool have no other fresh injury concerns three days out from the beginning of the 2021-22 campaign.

ā€œNo, not from an injury point of view,ā€ said the boss when asked for any new squad updates.

ā€œBut yeah, a few players had a shorter pre-season than others. No, all the others are healthy.ā€

Liverpool will kick off their season at 5:30 pm on Saturday, August 14th when they travel to Norwich.

Robinson Can Prove Doubters Wrong by Firing West Brom to Promotion

Callum Robinson failed to fire West Bromwich AlbionĀ Robinson must be one of the players to rise to the occasion over the course of the season. The Republic of Ireland international has not been particularly notableĀ during his career to date. His record of one goal in 18 appearances for Ireland attests to his issues in front of the net. The forward enjoyed the best years of his career at Preston North End in the 2016/17 campaign when he scored tenĀ goals in 42 games, and then again in the 2018/19 term when heĀ firedĀ home 12 goals in 27 matches. The second effort earned him his Premier League move to Sheffield United, but his return since then has been underwhelming, to say the least.

With the support of the Baggies and the tutelage ofĀ Ismael, Robinson has his second opportunity and he must be willing to take it. RobinsonĀ was once one of the most promising forwards in the Championship, but unlike Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, he wasn’t able to take the next step. Becoming the driving force behind a surge for promotion for West Brom will allow him to get back on the right trajectory and into the top flight once more, where he can go out to prove a point

lear of relegation last season as the Baggies plummeted back down to the Championship after only one term in the Premier League. In 28 appearances, Robinson scored only five times, although two of those efforts came in a famous 5-2 win for Sam Allardyceā€™s men against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Robinson flashed talent on occasions following his move from Sheffield United, which saw Oliver Burke make the switch in the opposite direction. However, he lacked the consistency that the Baggies required in the final third. Allardyceā€™s departure paved the way for Valerian Ismael to take charge at the Hawthorns after an impressive stint as the manager for Barnsley, who narrowly missed out on a place in the Premier League after losing out in the playoffs.

With a small squad, Robinson will be a key part of Ismaelā€™s plan to drive the Baggies back to the top flight, and they are one of the leading contenders in the English Football League Championship betting odds at 6/4Ā to return to the Premier League. It shouldn’t be forgotten that the 26-year-old has already proved his worth for Ismael by notching a vital strike to earn West Brom a point on the road in their season opener against Bournemouth.

The Baggies battled back twice from behind to earn a share of the spoils against a club that will have similar ambitions of their own of reaching the Premier League. It was a promising sign for Ismael in that his team responded to adversityĀ and for Robinson as an individual as he answered the call for his manager.


The Baggies weren’t prolific in their run to promotion in the 2019/20 campaign under Slaven Bilic. Hal Robson-Kanu and Charlie Austin finished the term as joint top-scorers with ten strikes apiece to their name. Matt Phillips, Matheus Pereira and Grady Diangana were also influential in the final third, allowing goals to flow from the midfield. The departures of Robson-Kanu, Austin and Pereira have left a huge void for the Baggies to fill in their return to the second tier.

Robinson must be one of the players to rise to the occasion over the course of the season. The Republic of Ireland international has not been particularly notableĀ during his career to date. His record of one goal in 18 appearances for Ireland attests to his issues in front of the net. The forward enjoyed the best years of his career at Preston North End in the 2016/17 campaign when he scored tenĀ goals in 42 games, and then again in the 2018/19 term when heĀ firedĀ home 12 goals in 27 matches. The second effort earned him his Premier League move to Sheffield United, but his return since then has been underwhelming, to say the least.

With the support of the Baggies and the tutelage ofĀ Ismael, Robinson has his second opportunity and he must be willing to take it. RobinsonĀ was once one of the most promising forwards in the Championship, but unlike Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, he wasn’t able to take the next step. Becoming the driving force behind a surge for promotion for West Brom will allow him to get back on the right trajectory and into the top flight once more, where he can go out to prove a point

Leeds United trying to combat ticket touts

Touting is an old and infamous practice of reselling tickets for much more than you originally paid for and yet again this scandal hits the Premier LeagueĀ 

Leeds United has seen this problem with tickets for their opening two games of the season. The club no longer has any seats left to sell but adverts are appearing online of expensive tickets for Leeds matches.

This practice is not just frowned upon in football and other social circles but it is also illegal by law in the UK and Ireland.

The Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani has now lashed out at those who have been selling tickets for inflated prices. He wrote a statement on Twitter to condemn the touts:

“It is very disappointing to see this situation. This is not fair and I am working with the club management to tackle and stop these illegal activities.”

The club announced on Wednesday that anyone caught using third-party websites to sell tickets would be banned from their website and matches.

After more than 15 years of Leeds not being in the top flight, fans have been itching to get to see their team play again.

Elland Road is still yet to have a full stadium due to the pandemic causing most of last season to be played behind closed doors.

The first tickets for the trip to Burnley went on sale today with the first two games, as you can expect, sold out.

For more news on Leeds United’s tickets, readĀ Leeds United ticket news announced.

Leeds United’s first game of the new season is in Old Trafford against Manchester United at 12:30 on Saturday 14th August.

 

Leinster Rugby Announce Squad For Women’s Interprovincial Series

Leinster Rugby have announced their final squad ahead of the 2021 Womenā€™s Interprovincial Series.

The Womenā€™s Interprovincial Championship will take place on three successive weekends ā€“ August 28, September 4 and September 11.

First up, on August 28, reigning champions Leinster Rugby travel to the Sportsground to face Connacht in a repeat of the 2019 Championship decider.

Leinster return to Energia Park for round two against Ulster on September 4 before the final weekend sees them host Munster at the same venue.

Announcing the squad, head coach Phil de Barra said: ā€œIā€™m delighted to finally announce our final 30-player squad for the 2021 Interpros. It was a tough process but I believe this squad has an excellent mix of talent and experience.

ā€œThe senior players have, in particular, clearly established our values and the massive opportunity that lies ahead for this group. We canā€™t wait.ā€

2021 Leinster Rugby Womenā€™s Squad:

Ailbhe Dowling (Old Belvedere RFC)
Aine Donnelly (Old Belvedere RFC)
Ali Coleman (Blackrock College RFC)
Alice Oā€™Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC)
Chloe Blackmore (Railway Union RFC)
Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC)
Ciara Faulkner (MU Barnhall RFC)
Clodagh Dunne (Old Belvedere RFC)
Caoimhe Molloy (Blackrock College RFC)
Elaine Anthony (Old Belvedere RFC)
Elise Oā€™Byrne-White (Old Belvedere RFC)
Ella Roberts (Wicklow RFC)
Emily McKeown (Naas RFC)
Emma Murphy (Railway Union RFC)
Grace Miller (Old Belvedere RFC)
Grace Tutty (CYM RFC)
Holly Leach (MU Barnhall RFC)
Jennie Finlay (Old Belvedere RFC)
Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere RFC)
Katelynn Doran (MU Barnhall RFC)
Lauren Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
Lisa Callan (Railway Union RFC)
Mairead Holohan (Blackrock College RFC)
Meabh Oā€™Brien (Suttonians RFC)
Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College RFC)
Molly Scuffil McCabe (Railway Union RFC)
Niamh Byrne (Railway Union RFC)
Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC)
Rachel Horan (CYM RFC)
Vic Oā€™Mahony (Old Belvedere RFC)

Saturday, August 28, 2021
Connacht v Leinster, The Sportsground, 2.30pm

Saturday, September 4, 2021
Leinster v Ulster, Energia Park, 4pm

Saturday, September 11, 2021
Leinster v Munster, Energia Park, 7pm

Tips on How to Bet on Irish Boxing

There are many exciting things about boxing in general. This is one of the reasons why itā€™s such a fun sport to bet on. Usually, thereā€™s a heavy favourite and sometimes nothing goes as expected. Here are some tips on how to get started betting on boxing.

Sometimes nothing goes as expected in boxing, but mostly thereā€™s a heavy favourite for a reason. But this means that there are several betting markets to choose from when it comes to boxing. If you want to bet on Irish boxing, luckily thereā€™s plenty of local and foreign sites, where you can place your bets. If youā€™re new to the whole of betting and gambling online, then take extra precautions. Remember to pick a trustworthy and reliable site, when youā€™re choosing a betting site or onlineĀ casino.Ā 

Boxing Markets

Since there are several betting markets itā€™s important to know them from each other.Ā  Especially if you want to earn money betting on boxing. The way to make money is to know them from each other and which market to place your wager in at the right time. The most common is surely betting on the fight winner. This is pretty straightforward. You can also bet on the fight winner and method. This could be by knockout, technical knockout, or disqualification.Ā 

Another thing to do is round betting. This is also a very popular type of betting. Youā€™re just betting on in which round that a certain boxer will win the match. Another option is over/under rounds. In this market, you assess whether the fight will go over or under a certain number of rounds. Fight to go the distance is also a possible bet. This means that no winner will be declared until the end of the full 12 rounds.Ā 

Boxing Betting Tips

Always do your research properly before betting. The best way to increase your chances of winning is to know exactly what youā€™re betting on. This means knowing the fighters. What shape are they in, and have they met before? How are their fighting styles? Considerations like this are worth taking into account. Try to know all there is to know about boxing.Ā 

Another very important thing when betting is to compare the lines. You need to look at the different sites and compare their odds. It wonā€™t be the same site that provides the best odds every time. So, if you want to make money betting, you need to be sure to shop for the best odds and place your wager there.

Irish boxing in the Olympics

If youā€™re watching the Olympics, know that you can bet on Irish boxing. There are many exciting matches to choose from. Soon the Irish boxer Kellie Harrington is fighting for gold. She will be fighting the 41-year-old Brazilian boxer Beatriz Fereira. If you want to bet on this game remember to check out the different tips on betting and make sure to do your research properly before placing your wager.

Ā 

Ulster Rugby Announce Squad For 2021 Interpros

Ulster Rugby has announced its squad ahead of the upcoming Interprovincial series, which is set to kick-off for the province on Saturday, August 28 at Kingspan Stadium.

With Interprovincial action set to take place across three consecutive weekends, the Ulster Senior Womenā€™s squad, which will first face Munster in front of a home crowd, has been named.

The squad, which is currently training together at Newforge Country Club, includes experienced provincial players, as well as some new faces hoping to make their debut for Ulster.

On the squad, Ulster Senior Womenā€™s Head Coach, Neill Alcorn said: ā€œThis is an exciting time for this group of players. We have a great mix of youth and experience within the squad. The players have driven up standards this year and are fighting for places each week with serious determination.

ā€œThe players and coaches are focused and excited to see the start of the Interpros. Weā€™re all looking forward to our opening game against Munster – especially as itā€™s being played at Kingspan Stadium ā€“ the home of Ulster Rugby.ā€

Further details on the kick-off time and available tickets for Ulster v Munster at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday 28 August will be released later this week.

2021 Deloitte Ulster Senior Womenā€™s Squad

Aishling O’Connell (Cooke RFC)

Aoife Cahill (Queen’s University Belfast RFC)

Ashleigh Orchard (Cooke RFC)

Ava Fannin (Barnhall RFC)

Beth Cregan (Cooke RFC)

Bethany McDowell (Malone RFC)

Diane Ramsey (Queen’s University Belfast RFC)

Dolores Hughes (Cooke RFC)

Elizabeth McKeever (Cavan RFC)

Ella Durkan (Malone RFC)

Emma Jordan (Malone RFC)

Fern Wilson (Malone RFC)

Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC)

Gemma McCamley (Cooke RFC)

Hannah Beattie (Cooke RFC)

Hanna Harris (Cooke RFC)

Helen McGhee (Cooke RFC)

Holly Brannigan (Malone RFC)

Ilse van Staden (Cooke RFC)

India Daley (Cooke RFC)

Jemma Farrell (Old Belvedere RFC)

Jill Stephens (Malone RFC)

Katie Hetherington (Cooke RFC)

Keelin Brady (Railway Union RFC)

Kelly McCormill (Cooke RFC)

Lauren Magennis (Malone RFC)

Pieta McAllister (Malone RFC)

Rachael McIlroy (Queen’s University Belfast RFC)

Shannon Buller (Queen’s University Belfast RFC)

Sorcha MacLaimhim (Cooke RFC)

Stacey Sloan (City of Derry RFC)

Taryn Schutzler (Malone RFC)

Toni Macartney (Cooke RFC)

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