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2021 GAA Division 1 League Results – Dublin share title with Kerry

Reigning All-Ireland champions Dublin will share the Division 1 Allianz League title with Munster rivals, Kerry, after a hard-fought win over Ulster contenders Donegal at Kingspan Breffni Park on Saturday evening.

With no actual final set to take place due to championship commitments, and with Kerry dismantling Tyrone in the first semi-final earlier on in the day, both teams were given the honour.

The juggernaut that is Dublin looked out of sorts for a short period of the opening half, falling behind by two points before warming into the game and taking control.

The first half saw the two teams look nervous, a few misplaced passes gave off a cagey and stuttering start, with Donegal ahead by two, with points from Michael Langan and Niall O’Donnell.

Dublin immediately responded with a point from Con O’Callaghan to get back into the game and calm any nerves they may have had. By the 15 minute-mark, Cormac Costello restored the game to level the game at 0-04 each.

The Dubs smelled blood shortly after, with Niall Scully attempting an audacious goal chance after Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton was caught lacking but the shot went wide.

A turnover for Dublin ultimately led to Paddy Small coolly rounding Patton and calmly placing the ball down the middle of the goal with ease.

The end of the first half saw Dublin lead 1-08 to 0-07.

The start of the second half saw the Dubs notch a further three points in three minutes from Ciaran Kilkenny, Sean McMahon, and midfield general Brian Fenton, before Paddy McBrearty got a hat-trick of points for Donegal to get them back in the game.

With Dublin’s lead at 1-16 to 0-11 points with the game soon to end, Brendan McCole squandered a goal chance just before Eoghan McGettigan scoring a goal.

The final scoreline was complementary to Donegal, starting off well before Dublin inevitably took control and made an example out of the Ulster giants.

 

Donegal

Shaun Patton; Eoin McHugh, Stephen McMenamin, Brendan McCole (0-01); Ryan McHugh, Odhrán McFadden Ferry, Ethan O’Donnell; Caolan McGonagle (0-02), Hugh McFadden; Ciaran Thompson, Odhrán Mac Niallais (0-01), Niall O’Donnell (0-01); Patrick McBrearty (0-06, 0-01m, 0-02fs), Michael Langan (0-02), Oisin Gallen.

Dublin

Evan Comerford; Michael Fitzsimons, David Byrne, Sean McMahon (0-01); Eoin Murchan, Brian Howard (0-01), James McCarthy; Brian Fenton (0-01), Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne; Colm Basquel, Ciaran Kilkenny (0-02), Niall Scully; Paddy Small (1-03, 0-01m), Con O’Callaghan (0-03), Cormac Costello (0-06,0-05fs, 0-01’45’).

Jonathan Caldwell wins first European Tour event

Northern Irish golfer wins European Tour Scandinavian Mixed after a stunning final round

Caldwell finished on 17 under par after carding an eagle and some impressive birdies. He beat Spain’s Adrian Otaegui by a single stroke to snatch the trophy in Sweden.

The battle went down to the wire when Otaegui had a final putt to win the competition but put the ball five feet past the hole and missed the next shot too.

That handed Caldwell his maiden Tour event win.

 

The 37-year-old from Bangor in Down has partnered Rory McIlroy in the 2007 Walker Cup.

After the win, Caldwell told Sky Sports: “It’s been a dream of mine for a long time. A lot of hard work goes into it. It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, but hopefully more to come.

“In 2009, I played my first year, lost my card, played mini tours and Challenge Tours over the years; worked as well in a local golf store. It’s been a long road but finally I’m here.

“The golf club at home will probably be going bonkers so just put a tab on and crack on boys and enjoy.”

 

He will take home €166,000 and a two-year extension on the tour for winning the competition.

England’s Alice Hewson narrowly finished third which is the first event on the European Tour history to feature men and women competing on the same course for one prize fund and one trophy.

 

 

Kelleher joins British and Irish Lions team

Leinster’s Ronan Kelleher has joined the Lions team as a backup player that is now training in Jersey.

The 23-year-old plays at hooker and has had a good season in the Pro14 and the Champion’s Cup with the provincial team.

A statement has been released that although he is training with the team, he is not formally part of the 37-man squad.

Kelleher was called in to cover English player, Jamie George, who is still in action with Scarlets.

 

Some pundits had given Kelleher an outside chance of making the Lions team, this is a great opportunity for him to show his talents.

He has already made 11 caps for Ireland in his young career.

Lions coach, Warren Gatland said: “I’m delighted to welcome Ronan to train with the squad this week while we wait for Jamie George to complete his domestic season with Saracens next weekend.”

A total of 26 players are beginning preparations for the game versus Japan on 26th June.

Backs (12):

  • Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales)
  • Bundee Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland)
  • Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales)
  • Gareth Davies (Scarlets, Wales)
  • Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland)
  • Robbie Henshaw (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
  • Conor Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland)
  • Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
  • Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales)
  • Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland)
  • Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, England)
  • Liam Williams (Scarlets, Wales)

Forwards (14):

  • Tadhg Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland)
  • Jack Conan (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
  • Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland)
  • Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales)
  • Tadhg Furlong (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
  • Iain Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland)
  • Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, Wales)
  • Wyn Jones (Scarlets, Wales)
  • Ronan Kelleher (Leinster Rugby, Ireland)
  • Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, England)
  • Ken Owens (Scarlets, Wales)
  • Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland)
  • Justin Tipuric (Ospreys, Wales)
  • Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby, Scotland)

 

Kerry storm past Tyrone to retain league title

Kerry scored six goals to steamroll a shocked Tyrone side on their way to retaining the Division 1 football title at Fitzgerald Stadium in the Allianz football on Saturday afternoon. Although, due to Munster championship commitments, they will share the honour with All-Ireland champions Dublin.

Tyrone, coming into this game were in need of a much-improved performance after drawing with Monaghan at Healy Park in Omagh. As soon as the ball was thrown in at 5:00 pm sharp, The O’Neill County were in for a rude awakening and must have hoped they had another week to prepare that came upon them.

After a few minutes, it was apparent that Kerry was in a superior outfit. With Tyrone leading by a point after five minutes, Kerry was awarded a penalty after David Clifford was deemed to be foul after his shot was saved by Joe O’Connor and the Fossa man made no mistake, driving the ball low and hard to the right-hand side.

From then on, the saying of when it rains, it pours would be sufficient to sum the rest of the first half.

A further four more goals in the first half laid down a marker for Kerry. With wing-back, Gavin White notching a picture-perfect lob from 40 metres out, after Niall Morgan’s restart gave White the ball.

Their second goal led to three quick-fire goals and the Kingdom dominantly led 3-1 to 0-3 prior to the much-needed water break.

Shortly after, Tyrone conceded another goal, after Clifford assisted Dara Moynihan who slotted the ball past Morgan.

As Kerry blossomed, Tyrone where hopeless going forward. Often kicking the infamous high ball in towards Conor McKenna and Paul Donaghy in the hope to shake up Kerry but to no avail.

The first half scoreline was an embarrassing one, with Kerry leading by a massive fourteen points at the interval.

A further two points from Killian Spillane and Michael Burns made Tyrone give up on any hope to salvage the game, and after Jack Barry scored the sixth goal into an empty net. It put an exclamation mark on proceedings.

Kerry will now have to share the League title with rivals Dublin, and with a Munster Championship quarter-final against Clare on the horizon, they will be a hard side to stop this summer.

For Tyrone, it’s back to the drawing board. Having to prepare for a recently relegated Cavan side, but are also the reigning Ulster champions. They should have enough but based on this performance, it is well and truly up in the air.

Kerry

Kieran Fitzgibbon, Brian O Beaglaoich, Jason Foley 0-01, Tom O’Sullivan, Mike Breen 0-01, Gavin Crowley, Gavin White 1-00, Diarmuid O’Connor, Adrian Spillane, Stephen O’Brien, Sean O’Shea 0-03, Paul Geaney 2-00, David Clifford 1-06 (1-00 pen, 0-04f), Dara Moynihan 1-00, Paudie Clifford.

 

Tyrone

Niall Morgan, Cormac Monroe, Ronan McNamee, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan, Peter Harte 0-01, Liam Rafferty, Matthew Donnelly 0-01, Frank Burns, Kieran McGeary 0-03, Darragh Canavan, Conor Meyler, Darren McCurry 0-03 (0-01f) , Conor McKenna, Paul Donaghy 0-01 (0-01f).

 

Ireland 7s Legend Harry McNulty Returns For Olympic Qualification Bid

Ireland Sevens’ most capped player Harry McNulty has returned to the side ahead of the Monaco Repechage.

Mr McNulty signed for the LA Giltinis ahead of the 2021 Major League Rugby season.

The 48-time Ireland Sevens star rejoined the squad after the Irish Rugby Football Union and his club reached an agreement.

To clarify, the agreement allows McNulty to re-join the national sevens side for its Olympic qualification bid.

Ireland Sevens Head Coach Anthony Eddy noted that the IRFU approached the LA Giltinis to see if this was possible.

Mr Eddy said: “We approached him, we also approached the club there in LA and they were happy to release Harry for the Olympics which is fantastic and very nice of them to do.”

As a result, McNulty will be part of the squad for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo if the side is victorious in Monaco.

This will cap off a fantastic career in the Ireland Sevens programme for the former Munster academy man.

The Bahrain-born star’s club in America saw this as a valuable opportunity for him.

However, Anthony Eddy noted that the arrangement is not permanent and that his contract with the Los Angeles club is still intact.

“Hopefully, he gets what he deserves,” concluded Eddy.

McNulty’s move to America joined part of a long list of Ireland Sevens stars that were able to make the switch to rugby union.

For context, Leinster’s Will Connors and Hugo Keenan as well as Ulster’s Robert Baloucoune are among those who made the switch previously.

Eddy sees this as one of the successful aspects of the Irish Sevens programme.

The rugby coach thinks sevens is a great platform to develop players for their rugby union careers.

Furthermore, he thinks it is great that the country’s rugby union side is seeing the benefits of the sevens programme.

“There will be plenty more to come in the future.”

The full Irish squad and fixture list for the Monaco Repechage is available here.

All Blacks to play 14 Tests this year

The All Blacks are set to play five Test matches at home in this year’s Rugby Championship, as well as an extra Bledisloe Cup Test.

The schedule for the 2021 Rugby Championship was recently unveiled with a full roster of teams, including South Africa. The bulk of the Rugby Championship matches will be played in Australia and New Zealand, with both countries hosting five matches each and South Africa two.

The All Blacks play the opening Bledisloe Cup Test before the start of the Rugby Championship, at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday 7 August.

The second Bledisloe Test is at Optus Stadium, Perth on Saturday 21 August. The third will be at Sky Stadium, Wellington on Saturday 28 August.

Busy September for the All Blacks

September will see four Tests in a row for the All Blacks, with back-to-back Tests against Argentina, at Eden Park on Saturday 11 September and Sky Stadium, Wellington on Saturday 18 September. The latter is a “home” game for the Pumas.

The first of the back-to-back Tests against South Africa at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin on Saturday 25 September will be the 100th Test match between the two famous foes. The 100th year anniversary game between the sides will be played in the same city as that first ever Test. It was Played at Carisbrook on 13 August 1921 with the All Blacks winning 13-5.

The All Blacks’ final Rugby Championship Test against South Africa will be at Eden Park on Saturday 2 October. This is a “home game” for the Springboks.

The All Blacks will play three Tests in the earlier Steinlager Series, one against Tonga and two against Fiji. They will also play four Tests on their Northern Hemisphere Tour against Wales, Italy, Ireland and France later in the year. The All Blacks will play 14 Tests in total this year, their busiest year since 2017 when they played 14 Tests and two non-Test matches.

Cazoo to sponsor two European Tour UK Swing events

Cazoo has been announced as the title sponsor of two key events on the European Tour’s UK Swing, the Cazoo Open and Cazoo Classic.

The multi-year partnership will see the Wales Open in Newport from July 22-25 renamed the Cazoo Open.

The English Open will be replaced on the 2021 Race to Dubai by the Cazoo Classic. The tournament will take place at the London Golf Club from August 12-15.

Cazoo will have exclusive naming rights across both tournaments and the deal includes significant on-course and off-course branding. This will include tee boxes and markers, greenside boards, par and yardage boards as well as caddy bibs and branding at other European Tour event

Ireland U20 Boss Speaks on Squad Selection Ahead of Six Nations

Ireland Under-20’s boss Richie Murphy selected his 34-man squad on Thursday for the upcoming U20 Six Nations Championship in Wales.

Murphy believes that the squad chosen is a strong one and that there were a few more players who were unlucky to miss out.

The 34-strong squad is as large as it is to combat any Covid cases or injuries that may arise in the camp but the U20s coach “hope[s] that with the 34 players that [are] going, [they] will have enough to cover those games.”

Among the 34 is captain Alex Kendellen who the new boss chose to lead his side out for Murphy’s maiden U20 Six Nations.

The former Ireland senior team skills coach put his selection of Kendellen down to the back-rower’s attitude.

Murphy described his captain as a quiet individual who lets his work on the pitch do the talking.

He hailed Kendellen as a “standout leader” within the group who helps to spread the coaches’ messages through the team.

“When he is in the group, guys tend to look and listen to him. When he speaks, he’s not a screamer or a shouter, he is very calculated in how he thinks.”

Also present in the squad is Richie’s son and Leinster scrum-half Ben Murphy.

The former Leinster backroom member said it was weird for the first few days but applauded his son’s professionalism.

He noted that the scrum-half was part of last year’s Ireland U20 Six Nations squad which made the scenario easier for his father.

“He stays away from me, he doesn’t talk to me too much when we are in camp.

“If we have stuff that we need him to do, we go and do that. In fairness to him, he has been really professional about the whole thing. He just gets on with it.”

Dan Kelly was a notable exclusion as Eddie Jones had picked him for England’s summer tests.

The Leicester fly-half has represented the U20s three times before but will kit out for England at senior level.

Murphy reflected on Kelly’s decision to choose England over Ireland and described it as a loss but ultimately understandable.

“Obviously, Dan is a loss. He was in our system last year. He obviously went back to Leicester and is in college over there. His life is around that area.

“Within the conversations that the IRFU have had with him, Dan has been very good. He really enjoyed his time with us, but he feels that he needs to go in a different direction at the moment.

“We respect his decision, and we move on from it.”

Six Connacht players were named in the squad, an increase from the four chosen in 2020.

However, Murphy did not see this as an important aspect when it came to his selection.

In fact, he did not realise it.

“Yeah, it’s funny, I didn’t know there were six Connacht players in the squad. We just pick the players that we see in front of us.

“They all come in from their different provinces and they’re treated very much as Irish players and within the national set-up, what we’ve tried to do is kind of create that club feel so the guys mix in really well like that.”

The U20s boss thinks that any team will want to bring in a club-like setting, regardless of the level the team plays at.

He added that his own experience, as well as the experience of forwards coach Denis Leamy and defence coach Colm Tucker, helps the U20 setup to have that kind of setting.

The senior players in the squad and Alex Kendellen’s role in the squad add to this, according to Murphy.

“So the combination of those three guys and then some of those senior players coming back and Alex coming in, it’s very much a combined effort in order to make people feel comfortable within the environment but an environment that’s very challenging so that we can drive these players forward to really get the best out of them individually.

“If we can concentrate on that hopefully the performances or the results side of it will take care of itself.”

The full Ireland U20 squad for the U20 Six Nations is available here.

14 Irish-trained horses among 31 left in Coral-Eclipse

There are 14 Irish-trained horses among the 31 that remain in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park on Saturday 3rd July.

The 10-furlong contest forms part of the British Champions Series and is the first significant contest where those from the Classic generation take on their elders.

Heading the entries is Mishriff. The John and Thady Gosden-trained four year old landed last season’s French Derby. He has won both his starts so far in 2021, the Saudi Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic.

St Mark’s Basilica is one of 13 remaining entries for Aidan O’Brien. The three year old Siyouni colt is a dual Classic winner in France this season. Last weekend, he won the Group One Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly.

The only other Irish trainer with a runner engaged is Jim Bolger. MacSwiney, the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner is among the 31 remaining horses.

The five-day confirmation stage for the Coral-Eclipse is on Monday 28th June, when there is also a supplementary entry stage.

THE CORAL-ECLIPSE (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

SANDOWN PARK – Saturday 3rd July

Addeybb (IRE) 7 9 7 Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum William Haggas

Armory (IRE) 4 9 7 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

Japan (GB) 5 9 7 M Matsushima/D Smith/Mrs Magnier/M Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Lord North (IRE) 5 9 7 HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing John & Thady Gosden

Mishriff (IRE) 4 9 7 Prince A. A. Faisal John & Thady Gosden

Mogul (GB) 4 9 7 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

My Oberon (IRE) 4 9 7 Sunderland Holding Inc. William Haggas

Palace Pier (GB) 4 9 7 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum John & Thady Gosden

Regal Reality (GB) 6 9 7 Mr Peter Done Sir Michael Stoute

Sangarius (GB) 5 9 7 Juddmonte Sir Michael Stoute

Love (IRE) 4 9 4 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

Wonderful Tonight (FR) 4 9 4 Mr Christopher Wright David Menuisier

Battleground (USA) 3 8 11 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) 3 8 11 Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien IRE

El Drama (IRE) 3 8 11 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

High Definition (IRE) 3 8 11 D Smith/M Tabor/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien IRE

Highland Avenue (IRE) 3 8 11 Godolphin Charlie Appleby

John Leeper (IRE)3 8 11 Anamoine Ltd Ed Dunlop

Mac Swiney (IRE) 3 8 11 Mrs J. S. Bolger Jim Bolger IRE

Mohaafeth (IRE) 3 8 11 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd William Haggas

Mostahdaf (IRE) 3 8 11 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd John & Thady Gosden

Naamoos (FR) 3 8 11 H.H. Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa & F. Nass Mark Johnston

New Mandate (IRE) 3 8 11 Mr Marc Chan Ralph Beckett

One Ruler (IRE) 3 8 11 Godolphin Charlie Appleby

Royal Champion (IRE) 3 8 11 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

St Mark’s Basilica (FR) 3 8 11 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Wembley (IRE) 3 8 11 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

Joan of Arc (IRE) 3 8 8 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Mother Earth (IRE) 3 8 8 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Santa Barbara (IRE) 3 8 8 Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien IRE

Snowfall (JPN) 3 8 8 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

GAA Live Scores, Team News & Betting – Division 1 semi-final Donegal v Dublin

Donegal v Dublin — Kingspan, Breffni Park – 7:15 pm — Live on TG4

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORE UPDATES ON DONEGAL v DUBLIN

The reigning All-Ireland champions and last years Ulster finalists will meet in the second Allianz league football semi-final this Saturday live on TG4.

Donegal’s league form coming into this game has been hot and cold, getting over the line against Tyrone and drawing against Monaghan and Armagh.

Dublin has not looked like its usual scintillating self. Beating both Galway and Roscommon and drawing to Kerry, who they were leading for large periods of the game.

League form is usually not taken seriously when it comes to the championship and from past experiences, Dublin won’t necessarily care about the outcome.

Donegal has a lot to prove after failing to beat Cavan in last year’s Ulster final and beating the Dubs will lay a marker for the coming summer months.

Form — last three results

Donegal — (Win, Draw, Draw)

Dublin — (Win, Draw, Win)

Players to watch

Donegal: Paddy McBrearty (Cill Chartha)

Dublin: Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)

Starting/Predicted Teams
Donegal

Dublin

Betting

Donegal: 7/2

Dublin: 1/4

Draw: 10/1

Prediction

Dublin by 5pts

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