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Ulster Football Preview: Tyrone v Cavan – Live Scores, Starting Team News, Betting

Here is all the information you need for Saturday’s Ulster Football quarterfinal clash between Tyrone and Cavan

TYRONE  V CAVAN LIVE SCORES – CLICK HERE

The game will be shown on Sky Sports from 16:30 at Healy Park on Saturday, 10th July.

Tyrone had a relatively good league campaign finishing ahead of Armagh and Monaghan in the Roinn 1 North.

After finishing second in their group, they were heavily defeated by Kerry, this should not deter them from trying to reclaim the Ulster title this year.

In wing forward, Kieren McGeary will be the player to look out for, he is fast and well able to slot over points for his team.

Similar to Tipperary in Munster, Cavan was the surprise package, winning the Ulster championship last year. The league did not treat them so well with a loss to Wicklow leaving them relegated from Roinn 3.

All-Star Thomas Galligan has still shown that he is a great footballer throughout the county’s rough patch, they will need another classy performance in midfield to get a victory.

Both sides have known and prepared for this fixture since the end of April. This will be both their first competitive matches in a few weeks so expect some nervous tension to surround this match.

Predicted Starting 15

Tyrone

Morgan (GK); C. Monroe, R. McNamee, P. Hampsey; M. McKernan, P. Harte, L. Rafferty; M. Donnelly, F. Burns; K. McGeary, D. Canavan, C. Meyler; D. McCurry, C. McKenna, P. Donaghy.

Cavan

R Galligan (GK); C Reilly, P Faulkner, K Clarke; C Timoney, O Kiernan, L Fortune; T Galligan, C Brady; C McGovern, G McKiernan, M Reilly; C Madden, P Lynch, C Smith.

 

Betting

Tyrone are heavy favorites with odds of 1/7 to win.

For this game to end in a draw, the odds are 14/1.

Cavan could give a big payout if they pull off an upset with odds of 5/1 to win.

Score Prediction

In predicting this match, it is hard to overlook how poor Cavan’s league campaign was. Their confidence is going to be really low.

Expect Tyrone to take this opportunity to beat the reigning champions by more than three points.

British & Irish Lions – Tour not in danger as one coach tests positive

Some of the media, as usual, have gone full overdrive on The British & Irish Lions tour being finished but in reality, it’s one member of its management team.

The individual and four close contacts – including two players and two members of staff – are being isolated and assessed at the team hotel. All members of the touring party have since been PCR tested.

This evening’s game against the Cell C Sharks at Emirates Airline Park will still take place provided the subsequent round of PCR testing returns negative results later this afternoon. Should this be the case, the kick-off time for tonight’s game will be adjusted to 8pm (SAST) / 7pm (BST).

“We have followed all necessary precautions since the start of the Tour, which included regular testing and rigorous COVID-19 counter measure planning and protocols,” said Ben Calveley, Managing Director for the British & Irish Lions.

“Our priority is to ensure the health and safety of the entire touring party, which is why we quickly isolated the players and staff upon receiving the news of the positive result.

“Everyone has subsequently been lateral flow and PCR tested. The Medical Advisory Group await the results of the PCR testing in order to make a decision on tonight’s game.

“The five individuals effected will be monitored closely during isolation and receive the bestlions possible medical attention as we await the results of their PCR tests.

“Further updates will follow in due course.”

Team Ireland Names Largest National Swim Team For Tokyo 2020

Team Ireland have announced the swim team that will compete for them at the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer, with the announcement confirming that it will be the largest Irish Olympic swim team ever.

Nine Irish swimmers are set to compete in Tokyo across 14 events and will be in action in the newly built Tokyo Aquatics Centre from Saturday 24 July – Sunday 1 August 2021.

The strength and depth of Irish swimming has been on display over the past number of years, culminating this year with the ultimate qualification of six swimmers who have achieved the FINA A time across their events.

Jon Rudd, National Performance Director and Team Leader for the Games is excited to see the swimmers in action.

He said: “The standard of swimming in Ireland is growing, and without all these athletes striving for improvement, we would not be where we are today, fielding the largest ever swim team for Ireland.”

25-year-old Darragh Greene from Longford is one of the nine swimmers travelling to Tokyo.

Coached by Ben Higson, who has two other swimmers making the trip to Japan, Greene will compete in 100m and 200m breaststroke events.

It will be the first Olympic Games for the first Irishman to swim the 100m breaststroke in under one minute.

The Irish senior record holder for both events said that “the Olympics have been something that [he has] dreamt about for a long time, and it is a real honour to be officially selected to compete for Team Ireland in Tokyo.”

Other swimmers on the team include record-holders such as Mona McSharry and Tipperary native Finn McGeever.

Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020, Tricia Heberle, is excited by the large number of qualified swimmers.

She believes it’s especially encouraging seeing the number of FINA A standard swimmers qualifying.

Heberle concluded: “The past year has been tough for everyone, but seeing how our swimmers handled that first lockdown, coming out of it producing personal bests and national records, in challenging circumstances has been a true test of resilience.”

Team Ireland Swim Team For Tokyo 2020

Darragh Greene

Danielle Hill

Brendan Hyland

Finn McGeever

Jack McMillan

Mona McSharry

Shane Ryan

Ellen Walshe

Daniel Wiffen

Ireland U20s Star Harry Sheridan Thankful For Year Online

Ireland under-20s lock forward Harry Sheridan spent his year at Trinity College from the comfort of his own home and had more time for rugby as a result.

The lock, who is listed as a player for Dublin University FC, was awarded the opportunity to enter the Kingspan bubble in Ulster during the year and has not looked back since.

The 19-year-old has been able to train with the seniors and play for Ulster ‘A’ throughout the season.

“I don’t think I actually would have been able to complete my degree and pass, thank god, for this year if it had not have been for coronavirus,” said Sheridan.

From November onwards, Sheridan took training sessions with the senior squad at Ulster and enjoyed every minute of them.

The lock singled out Ian Madigan as a welcoming figure in the squad.

He said that Madigan offered advice during the sessions and on a one-on-one basis when he was with the seniors.

“I think he’s one of those guys who’s always going to look to bring on the young guys first and go to that extra step just to make us feel welcome.”

Sheridan earned his opportunity with Richie Murphy’s Irish U20 side after an impressive season and has been a consistent name on the teamsheet.

He has built up a good rapport with the players in the squad, including his second-row partner against Italy, Mark Morrissey.

He praised all three Ireland U20 coaches – Murphy, ‘Collie’ Tucker and Denis Leamy – after experiencing their expertise first-hand in the camp.

The side has looked solid defensively, excluding some discipline issues against England, and their set-pieces and attack have been very impressive for the majority of the U20 Six Nations Championship thus far.

Sheridan believes they can learn from the errors that they made against the unbeaten English side and that they will improve against Italy on Wednesday.

“We’ve got a game plan for Italy and we are looking to execute it to the best of our ability.”

The game will kick off at 2 pm and will be shown live on RTÉ 2.

Galway Races Will Have Prize Fund of €1.8m On Offer

The 2021 Galway Races will have a prize fund of over €1.8m on offer to the competitors throughout the week of Monday, July 26th to Sunday, August 1st.

The fund – a total of €1,817,500 – will be spread across fifty-two events over the course of a week.

Each day will have a feature race with a minimum prize fund of €100,000 per race.

The hotly contested Tote Galway Plate, a race synonymous with Galway, will take place on Wednesday, July 28th.

The Tote Galway Plate is a race awash with quality, with experienced chasers taking on emerging youngsters, and has produced some high-class recent winners including, Balko Des Flos and Road To Riches.

This year’s edition of the race will have a prize fund of €250,000 after receiving an increase of €50,000.

The race cards on Thursday, July 29th and Friday, July 30th are sponsored in full by the Galway Races long-standing partner, Guinness, with Thursday’s Guinness Galway Hurdle now worth €250,000, having also received a boost of €50,000.

Each year for the Summer Festival, the Galway Racecourse hosts the Leading Jockey and Leading Trainer Championships sponsored by the Rooney Family and Chanelle Medical respectively.

This year, the Galway Race Committee are proud to announce that in association with the Rooney Family, they will be unveiling a new Pat Smullen Perpetual Trophy for the winner of the Flat Jockey Championship in memory of the jockey.

Smullen was linked with the Galway Festival through his partnership with Dermot Weld and a regular recipient of this prize.

Commenting on this award, Anthony Ryan, Chairman of Galway Race Committee said, “Pat was a true gentleman, a champion, a warrior and a regular to the winner’s enclosure here in Ballybrit. Pat has a huge number of fans and support here in Galway so it’s only fitting that we honour him in this way”.

Galway Racecourse have submitted plans for 5,000 spectators per day at the outdoor event, and are waiting for an imminent decision in relation to this.

Should they get approval, an announcement of their ticketing policy will be released shortly.

The first four action-packed days of the Galway Races will be broadcast on RTÉ from Ballybrit at 5 pm for two hours.

That includes the feature race on each day plus three supporting races each day.

TG4 will also broadcast the event for the first time in sixteen years, Galway Racecourse have announced.

The live coverage on TG4 will include fifteen action-packed races on Friday, July 30th and Saturday, July 31st.

It will feature races such as The Guinness Galway Blazers Steeplechase, The Guinness Galway Tribes Hurdle and The Galway Shopping Centre Handicap.

To complement the above television broadcast, Racing TV will cover and broadcast every one of the fifty-two races live from the track.

You can see the schedule for the 2021 Galway Races here.

To read the information on this year’s Ladies Day, click here.

A look at the Ireland Golf Team for Tokyo 2020

Men’s Events

Shane Lowry

Date of Birth: 2 April 1987

Coming from Ciara, Co. Offaly, Shane Lowry has become one of Ireland’s most famous golfers in the past few years. With comparisons with fellow Irish teammate Rory McIlroy. This will be Lowry’s first appearance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

After playing in numerous European and PGA Tours, winning the 2009 Irish Open as an amateur, the 2015 World Golf Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in August 2015. The highlight of his career so far was becoming a Major Champion, amazingly winning the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club in County Antrim.

After his victory, Lowry discussed his shocking victory with Sky Sports.

“It’s like an out-of-body experience! I was so calm coming down the last, I cannot believe it. The weather was awful, but I had a look around, and everyone was struggling. It became a two-horse race with Tommy, and I just tried to focus on staying ahead.”

“I suppose I talked to my caddie Bo a lot today, I said ‘I cannot stop thinking about winning, holding the claret jug’. He just said, ‘stay focused’, and what a job he did today. I cannot wait to wake up tomorrow and feel what it feels like it is phenomenal.”

Since then he has finished T4 at the second Major Championship of 2021, the PGA Championship, and has carded a consistent top 10 results this golfing calendar at least three times.

 

Rory McIlroy

Date of Birth: 4 May 1989

Hailing from Holywood, County Down, Rory McIlroy has become one of the most famous golfers of the past decade. McIlroy began his career with a successful amateur career, topping the World Amateur Golf Ranking for one week in 2007 at the age of 17.

As both an amateur and a professional, he has represented Europe, Great Britain, and Ireland. He will now make his debut at the Olympic Games, representing Ireland along with Shane Lowry in the men’s event.

He is a four-time Major Champion, winning the PGA Championship (2012, 2014), US Open (2011) and The Open Championship (2014) and spent an incredible 106 weeks at the top of the Official World Gold Rankings in March of 2012.

His 2021 season thus far has been successful. Winning the Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA Tour with T5 and T6 results at the Masters and World Golf Championship.

Other Achievements and Awards

PGA Tour leading money winner – (2012, 2014)

Vardon Trophy – (2012, 2014, 2019)

PGA Tour Player of the Year – (2012, 2014, 2019)

Byron Nelson Award – (2012,2014, 2019)

PGA Player of the Year – (2012, 2014)

Race to Dubai champion – (2012, 2014, 2015)

European Tour Golfer of the Year – (2012, 2014, 2015)

Mark H. McCormack Award – (2012, 2014, 2015)

FedEx Cup Champion – (2016, 2019)

Women’s Event’s

Leona Maguire

Date of Birth: 30 November 1994

Born in County Cavan, prior to turning professional, she spent a record 135 weeks the world number 1 in the World Amateur Ranking from May 2015-May 2016 and then again from August 2016-February 2018, making it the longest in Amateur Golfing History.

Winning major championships such as the Women’s Amateur Championship, and winning a bronze medal representing her country Ireland at the World Amateur Championships in 2016.

Leona Maguire will make her second Olympic Games appearance after competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where she finished 21st on the overall leader board. As a leading amateur in the Irish Golf scene, she turned Professional on the 5th of June 2018.

After turning Professional, Maguire has two wins while on the LPGA Symetra Tour in 2019 at the Symetra Classic. After her victory, she joined up with the LPGA Tour for her first full season as a Rookie in 2020

She has climbed the Rolex World Rankings since then, reaching 63rd after two 2nd place finishes at the Lotte Championship and Meijer LPGA Classic in 2021.

 

Stephanie Meadow

Date of Birth: 20 January 1992

Born in Jordanstown Northern Ireland, Stephanie Meadow will make her second appearance at the Olympic Games in Tokyo this year. She made her Olympic debut in 2016 in Rio, becoming a two-time Olympian in the process.

Moving to Alabama USA at the age of 14, she started golf and became and famous amateur golfer in the state. Becoming the Crimson Tide’s first-ever four-time All-American.

She has numerous team appearances as an amateur, representing Great Britain and Ireland on different occasions and in 2011 and 2013 at the Vagliano Trophy. Partaking in the Curtis Cup twice (2012,2014) winning it in 2012. She represented Ireland in 2012 at the Espirito Santo Trophy.

She left Alabama as an amateur as the career record holder in every category she entered.

Meadow decided to turn Professional in 2014. Where she won her first LGPA Symetra Tour tournament at the 2018 IOA Championship in a playoff.

She won her first LPGA Tour Card in 2019 after finishing in the top six of the Symetra Tour Money List. In August 2019. She was victorious in winning the ISPS Handa World Invitational.

She recently entered her first Major Championship in 2021, where she finished T19 at the ANA Inspiration.

Ladies Day at The Galway Races 2021

Widely renowned as ‘Ladies Day’ at the Galway Races, Thursday traditionally combines the very best in horse racing and fashion.

Following on from its popularity last Summer, the team in Her.ie are once again sponsoring the hugely popular Best Dressed Competition this year. This year’s event, held on Thursday 29th July will be judged by online influencer and model Louise O’Reilly.

This year’s Fridays Most Stylist Competition, sponsored by Athlone Town Centre returns with a chance for all ladies, no matter where you live in the world, to take part from your living room, kitchen or garden. Judging the fashion competition are stylist and presenter Marietta Doran who will be joined by previous winner, stylist and Weekend AM presenter Rebecca Rose Quigley.  Check out www.galwayraces.com for more information on both ladies’ fashion competitions.

Get Social – What’s App Messages of Support
This July, stay in touch with all that’s happening at the Galway Races by tuning in daily to their social media channels via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. The team in Galway have lots of interviews, fun and entertainment planned to keep their fans engaged in the build up to and during the races, including:

  • The Weights Release on Monday 19th July via Facebook and Instagram LIVE;
  • A dedicated What’s App phone line during the festival for fans to send in their text messages and videos of support direct to all taking part in Ballybrit;
  • Daily onsite show direct from the team at the track, bringing you up close and personal and behind the scenes of Irelands largest horse racing festival.
Follow us for all the latest updates LIVE as they happen on our social media channels using the hashtags #GalwayRaces #GiddyforGalway

Ireland U20s’ Jamie Humphreys Excited To Play In Green Again

Ireland under-20s fly-half Jamie Humphreys is excited to make his return to the starting lineup on Wednesday against Italy U20s.

The Ulsterman suffered an injury thirty minutes into his debut in the opening round of the U20 Six Nations Championship against Scotland.

The Ulsterman loved every second of his short-lived introduction to the U20s and is raring to go on Wednesday.

“Any opportunity to play in this team [is worth it],” said the fly-half.

Humphreys is a man who wants to carve his own path rather than attempt to replicate his father David Humphreys’ playing style.

The 20-year-old remembers going to Ravenhill to watch his father play at a young age but wants people to remember him for the player he is, not the one his father was.

His father is respectful of this and allows him to make his own mould.

“He lets me try and play my own game and do my own things.”

Humphreys comes into the side in place of Leinster’s Tim Corkery who he said performed well in his absence.

The Ulster prospect added that the squad all just love playing with each other and playing for Ireland.

He will be part of an Ulster dominant backline that includes fullback Jamie Osborne and scrum-half Nathan Doak.

On Doak, the first five-eighth commended his performances throughout the campaign so far.

“He’s a great player to play with – he makes everyone around him feel very comfortable.”

Doak and his fellow Ulster prospect are fans of big moments and will look to create them when they can but Humphrey says that their focus is solely on how they can implement their game plan against a strong Italian side.

Massimo Brunelli’s side has impressed Humphreys with their slick attacking rugby and their physicality.

However, he feels that Ireland can get past them as long as they play to the best of their abilities.

You can watch the game live on RTÉ 2 with kick-off at 2 pm.

Ireland U20s Boss Richie Murphy Ready To Go Again

Ireland under-20s boss Richie Murphy is ready to get back to winning ways after his first loss as head coach.

His Ireland side will face an Italian side that trounced Scotland with dazzling and expansive attacking rugby.

Murphy has been impressed by what he has seen from Massimo Brunello’s side so far in the 2021 U20 Six Nations Championship.

“They’ve got two very good wingers, they’ve got a real offloading threat all the way through their team,” said Murphy.

“They’re playing a very expansive offloading game.”

The head coach also noted that the side boasts the perennial Italian strength in their scrum.

The likes of Sergio Parisse and Martin Castrogiovanni are among the Italian rugby legends that were in the senior pack in recent years.

The trend of great Italian forwards could continue with this batch of U20s but Murphy is focused on his side’s performance.

“We’re very much trying to get back to what we believe our standards are.”

Nine changes have been made to the side that began the loss to England last Thursday.

Daniel Okeke makes his first start after impressing Murphy and the other coaches with his growth in recent weeks.

His boss stated that he can run 100m in just 12 seconds and weighs around 130 kg.

“He’s a lot to learn in and around the game…but when he gets his hand on the ball, that’s when you see what a dynamic athlete he is.”

Alex Soroka and captain Alex Kendellen will join the number eight in the back row.

Their ever-presence in the side underlines their importance to this crop of U20 internationals.

The likes of lock Harry Sheridan, scrum-half Nathan Doak and fullback Jamie Osborne also feature again for the side.

“Those guys [who are ever-present in the side] have been the guys who have stood up within the group and filled leadership roles.”

Kendellen’s work rate on the pitch and Soroka’s experience in the lineout is something the squad can be motivated by.

The trio of Soroka, Kendellen and Okeke will provide the team with a “dynamic back row”, according to Murphy.

Behind them at fly-half is James Humphreys, who makes his return to the side in an Ulster-dominant backline.

Murphy praised the player and son of David Humphreys’ on-field intelligence and noted that he is trusted by the squad.

“James is a great player, intelligent rugby player, thinks about the game, understands how we’re trying to play. He makes the team feel comfortable with his decision-making.”

Murphy added that the team are a tight bunch and love playing for Ireland and each other.

They will want to improve on their performance against England and their head coach has the confidence that they will do so.

“We have a squad of players here that are all very capable of playing at this level.”

The game will kick off at 2 pm and will be available to watch on RTÉ 2.

Team Ireland Announce Olympic Sevens Squad

Team Ireland have announced their first-ever men’s Olympic rugby sevens squad for the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer.

13 players will travel to Tokyo after the side qualified for the Olympics when they won the Olympic repechage on June 20th.

Captain Billy Dardis will lead his side out under the tutelage of IRFU Director of Sevens Rugby Anthony Eddy.

Billy Dardis Tokyo 2020 Team Ireland Sevens
6 July 2021; Team Ireland has officially selected the Men’s Rugby Sevens Team who will compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Following their exciting dominance in the final Olympic Repechage in Monaco, the Irish team have made history in becoming the first Rugby team that will compete for Ireland at the Olympic Games. Pictured is Billy Dardis during a Tokyo 2020 Official Team Ireland Announcement for Rugby 7s at Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

“Having the honour of being selected to captain Ireland at the Olympics is special and I don’t think I’ll come to realise the enormity of it for some time to come,” Dardis said.

“Going to Tokyo, we as a squad are representing so much more than ourselves and our families, but Irish Sport and Irish Rugby on the biggest sporting stage.

“To lead this group out at the Olympics will be an extremely proud moment.”

The team will compete in Pool C, facing South Africa, USA and Kenya with a top-two finish in the pool guaranteeing the side a spot in the quarter-finals.

If they finish as one of the two best third-placed teams, they will also qualify.

Once-capped Ireland U20s back and 2019 Love Island winner Greg O’Shea is also one of the 13 headed to Tokyo as part of Team Ireland.

Greg previously competed in Youth Olympics as a sprinter and relishes the opportunity to represent his country at an Olympic level once more.

“The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport, so to represent Ireland at the Games is a huge honour and it means even more to be there playing alongside my mates,” said O’Shea.

“All the hard work and sacrifice has been worth it and now I just cannot wait to get out there and play.”

Team Ireland Sevens Greg O'Shea
6 July 2021; Team Ireland has officially selected the Men’s Rugby Sevens Team who will compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Following their exciting dominance in the final Olympic Repechage in Monaco, the Irish team have made history in becoming the first Rugby team that will compete for Ireland at the Olympic Games. Pictured is Greg O’Shea during a Tokyo 2020 Official Team Ireland Announcement for Rugby 7s at Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Anthony Eddy has been head of the IRFU Sevens programme since its inception in 2015.

The New Zealander will be in charge of the programme and the side for its very first Olympic venture.

“We are delighted to be representing Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics,” Eddy noted.

“The squad has worked extremely hard for this opportunity, and they will be determined to perform well and represent their country with distinction.

“Very few rugby players get the opportunity to play rugby for their country at the biggest sporting event in the world and this squad of players should be very proud of their achievement and they will be the first of many more to come.”

Team Ireland Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020 Tricia Heberle is excited to see the Sevens side in action in Tokyo.

She said that their path to qualification in Monaco was exhilarating, a path that took them past 2016 Olympians France.

Heberle added: “We are really looking forward to seeing what they can do now in Tokyo.”

Click here to see the athletes Team Ireland are taking to Tokyo.

TEAM IRELAND RUGBY SEVENS TEAM:

Jordan Conroy

Billy Dardis

Ian Fitzpatrick

Foster Horan

Jack Kelly

Terry Kennedy

Adam Leavy

Hugo Lennox

Harry McNulty

Gavin Mullin

Greg O’Shea

Mark Roche

Bryan Mollen

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