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Weekend GAA Fixtures, Live scores & Results

We have the weekend club Gaelic Football and Hurling fixtures featuring Dublin, Galway, Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Limerick, Wexford & Tipperary.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE GAA SCORES AND COMMENTARY

Saturday 5 June 

Allianz Hurling Division 1 Group A round 4
Limerick v Cork, LIT Gaelic Grounds, 7.15pm – RTE/eir Sports

Allianz Hurling Division 1 Group B round 4
Antrim v Wexford, Corrigan Park, 3pm – TG4
Dublin v Clare, Parnell Park, 5.15pm – eir Sports

Allianz v Division 2A round 4
Kerryv Wicklow, Austin Stack Park, 4pm

Sunday 6 June 

Allianz Hurling Division 1 Group A round 4
Westmeath v Tipperary, TEG Cusack Park, 2pm – TG4 player
Galway v Waterford, Pearse Stadium, 3.45pm – TG4

Allianz Hurling Division 1 Group B round 4
Kilkenny v Laois, UPMC Nowlan Park, 1.45pm – TG4

Allianz Hurling Division 2A round 4
Meath v Carlow, Páirc Tailteann, 2pm
Offaly v Down, Birr 2pm

Allianz HL Division 2B round 4
Derry v Donegal, Celtic Park, 2pm
Roscommon v Kildare, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm

Allianz HL Division 3B round 4
Louth v Fermanagh, Darver, 2pm
Leitrim v Cavan, Avantcard, Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, 2pm

Saturday 12 June 

Allianz FL Division 1 semi-finals
Donegal v Dublin, Kingspan Breffni, 7.15pm – TG4
Kerry v Tyrone, Fitzgerald Stadium, 5pm – TG4

Allianz FL Division 2 relegation play-off
Down v Laois, Pairc Esler, 6.15pm – GAAGO
Cork v Westmeath, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, 2pm – GAAGO

Allianz FL Division 3 semi-finals
Derry v Limerick, Carrick-on-Shannon, 4pm – GAAGO
Offaly v Fermanagh, Bord na Monda O’Connor Park, 6pm – GAAGO

Allianz FL Division 3 relegation play-off
Cavan v Wicklow, Pairc Tailteann, 2pm – GAAGO

Allianz FL Division 4 semi-final
Carlow v Louth, Netwatch Dr Cullen Park, 4pm – GAAGO

Allianz HL Division 1 Group B round 5
Clare v Kilkenny, Cusack Park, 3pm
Antrim v Laois, Corrigan Park, 3pm
Wexford v Dublin, Chadwicks Wexford Park 3pm

Allianz HL Division 2B round 5
Derry v Roscommon, Celtic Park, 2pm
Mayo v Kildare, Elverys MacHale Park, 2pm

Allianz HL Division 2B round 4
Longford v Monaghan, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park 2pm
Tyrone v Sligo, Healy Park, Omagh 2pm

Sunday 13 June 

Allianz FL Division 1 relegation play-off
Armagh v Roscommon, Athletic Grounds, 3pm – GAAGO
Monaghan v Galway, Clones, 3.45pm – TG4

Allianz FL Division 2 semi-finals
Clare v Mayo, Cusack Park, 1.45pm – TG4
Kildare v Meath, Newbridge, 2pm – GAAGO

Allianz FL Division 3 relegation play-off
Longford v Tipperary, Glennon Bros Pearse Park, 3.45pm – GAAGO

Allianz FL Division 4 semi-final
Waterford v Antrim, Fraher Field, 12.15pm – GAAGO

Allianz FL Division 4 shield final
Sligo v Wexford, Portlaoise, 3pm – GAAGO

Allianz HL Division 1 Group A round 5
Westmeath v Limerick, TEG Cusack Park, 1.45pm
Cork v Galway, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 1.45pm
Waterford v Tipperary, Walsh Park, 1.45pm

Allianz HL Division 2A round 5
Down v Meath, Ballycran 1pm
Carlow v Kerry, Netwatch Cullen Park, 1pm
Wicklow v Offaly, Aughrim 1pm

Tongan International Leva Fifita set to sign for Connacht Rugby

Reports in French media suggest that Leva Fifita has decided to leave the Grenoble and will join up with Connacht Rugby next season.

Fifita had been offered a two-year contract extension by Grenoble but it’s suggested he activated the departure clause on Thursday. The second row will join Connacht, where he will meet up with his Grenoble coach Dewald Senekal who was announced as the new forwards coach at Connacht next season.

The 31-year-old Tongan international (19 caps) arrived in France from New Zealand club Waikato in 2017, and has since played 65 matches, and scored 40 points scored for Grenoble.

Fifita was part of the Tongan squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and he is also an older brother of Vaea Fifita who plays lock for the Hurricanes and New Zealand.

TRY against Perpignan last season.

Here is an interview after he came back from the 2019 World Cup

LEVA FIFITA
Tonga
Full name Salesi Halaleva Lapota Fifita
Born July 29, 1989, Neiafu, Vava’u
Current age 31 years 303 days
Major teams Grenoble, Waikato, Tonga
Position Lock
Height 6 ft 4 in
Weight 264 lb

 

Test Career
Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
All Tests 2017-2019 19 19 0 15 3 0 0 0 6 13 0 31.57
IRB Rugby World Cup 2019-2019 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 25.00

Anselmo García McNulty and Bosun Lawal called into Ireland under-21 squad

Ciaran Brennan and John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa dropped out during the week.

Wolfsburg centre-back Anselmo García McNulty and Watford midfielder Bosun Lawal have been called up to the Ireland under-21 squad for the fixtures starting this Sunday. They replace Sheffield Wednesday centre-back Ciaran Brennan and Getafe midfielder John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa who dropped out of the squad during the week.

“I had a very positive conversation with John Joe and from that discussion it was clear the appropriate thing to do was to allow him to put his full focus into his upcoming exams,” under-21 boss Jim Crawford was quoted via the FAI website. 

“He was very excited by the call-up and is looking forward to being involved in the Irish set-up in the near future. 

“Unfortunately, Ciaran Brennan hasn’t been able to make the trip as he’s sick and we wish him a speedy recovery.   

“We decided to bring in Bosun, who has done very well at Watford’s academy this season, and Anselmo García McNulty who likewise has performed well for Wolfsburg this campaign. It’s an opportunity for both players to impress in training.”  

As stated by Crawford, both players had highly impressive seasons for their clubs this season.

Lawal was recently awarded Watford Academy Player of the Season after a stellar campaign for the under-18s and under-23s. Given Watford’s promotion to the Premier League for next season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the soon-to-be 18-year-old involved during the course of the campaign.

García McNulty’s performances and development have seen him linked with Eintracht Frankfurt in recent weeks. However, Jorg Schmadtke – sporting director of Wolfsburg – has denied those rumours, instead suggesting that the 18-year-old could train with the first team/go out on loan next season.

The under-21s are set to play 3 friendly games. The first game comes against Switzerland this Sunday, after that they take on Australia the following the Wednesday and the final fixture is being played against Denmark on Saturday.

All fixtures will be televised on Premier Sports/Free Sports with the games against Switzerland and Australia being shown live while the Denmark fixture will be shown in full later in the day.

The squad in full is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Sam Blair (Norwich City), Brian Maher (Bray Wanderers), Dan Rose (Schalke 04).
Defenders: Anselmo García McNulty (VFL Wolfsburg), Festy Ebosele (Derby County), Shane Flynn (Leicester City), Andy Lyons (Bohemians), Oisin McEntee (Newcastle United), Mark McGuinness (Arsenal), Lewis Richards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City).
Midfielders: Bosun Lawal (Watford), Luca Connell (Celtic), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Alex Gilbert (Brentford), Conor Grant (Rochdale), Ryan Johansson (Sevilla), Conor Noß (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Louie Watson (Derby County).
Forwards: Jonathan Afolabi (Celtic), Will Ferry (Southampton), Joshua Kayode (Rotherham United), Colm Whelan (University College Dublin), Tyreik Wright (Aston Villa).

Could There be a Measure Of Magic from Johnny Murtagh at Royal Ascot?

Johnny Murtagh had more than 40 Royal Ascot winners during his illustrious career in the saddle, but one race he never got the opportunity to ride in before retiring as a jockey in 2014 was the Commonwealth Cup. 

He has a live contender in training at his Coolaghknock yard for this year’s running of the six-furlong Group 1 sprint for three-year-olds, however, in Measure Of Magic. A daughter of the up-and-coming sire Kodi Bear, this filly has back-to-back wins at Listed level on her side of the Irish Sea this season.

Measure Of Magic, a fine third in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes during the St Leger Festival at Doncaster last autumn on her only previous British start, delighted her trainer when following-up on her successful return to action at Navan. Success in the Polonia Stakes punched her ticket to Royal Ascot.

“I think we’ll give [it] a go in the Commonwealth Cup,” said Murtagh after her second win of the campaign at Cork. “Ben [Coen, her jockey] said she has really learned how to sprint now, and she deserves a shot at a big one.”

With 2000 Guineas third Lucky Vega set to stay over a mile in his next assignment, Measure Of Magic is actually the leading Irish contender for Commonwealth Cup glory from the early closing entries, according to the ante-post betting. The jump from Listed level to a Group 1, even in an age-restricted race, is big but that doesn’t seem to faze Murtagh.

Measure Of Magic could run again before Royal Ascot too. She holds an entry in the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes, a six-furlong sprint also open to older fillies and mares at the Curragh on 2 June. That is just over a fortnight before the royal meeting, but Murtagh wasn’t afraid of turning her out quickly with a mere dozen days between her first and second runs this term.

Wesley Ward’s American raider Campanelle, a half-sister to Measure Of Magic and winner of the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at the meeting last year, is already among Royal Ascot day 4 tips and predictions given by experts for the Commonwealth Cup. She is also the favourite with her trainer always targeting transatlantic runners at Britain’s major Flat festival.

Irish runners haven’t fared that well in the Commonwealth Cup since its introduction in 2015, however. Just one winner of the race to date has been trained in the Emerald Isle, and that was Caravaggio for Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien back in 2017 after a couple placed third in the first two runnings.

Forever In Dreams took second spot behind Advertise in the Commonwealth Cup of 2019 for the much smaller stable of Kilfeacle handler Aidan Fogarty. As a filly, Measure Of Magic will receive a 3lb sex allowance and that makes a difference. Three fillies have placed in this race before.

For the JP Murtagh Racing Club syndicate who own Measure Of Magic, this is about more than just a day at the races. They will be looking for a bold show from a filly trained in the same stables that produced Champers Elysees to Group 1 glory last season.

Patrick Bamford should have been included in Euro squad

Irish-eligible striker Patrick Bamford missed out on selection for England’s 33-man provisional squad ahead of the European Championships next month.

Gareth Southgate selected 10 attackers in the draft squad – nine of whom had less goal involvements than Bamford in the Premier League this season. The Leeds United star can feel aggrieved after a 17-goal season in the Premier League as he spearheaded Marcelo Bielsa’s blistering Leeds attack.

The 27-year-old bagged more this season than he had in any other as his goals helped lead the newly promoted Leeds to a ninth-place finish. The striker is yet to receive an English cap in his career – an achievement many felt he was going to earn this summer.

Now may be a good time for Stephen Kenny to rethink his stance on the ‘granny rule’ and maybe Bamford may reconsider his dream of playing for England. Three strikers were chosen ahead of Bamford –Tottenham’s Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Bamford outscored the latter duo across the league campaign while also racking up seven assists. Ollie Watkins managed five assists with his 14 goals while Calvert-Lewin failed to register one to go with his 16 goals.

The Leeds number nine made his way up the scoring charts at the same rate as Everton’s number nine with a goal every two games. Harry Kane is the only one of the three Bamford could not compete against – England’s frontman finished top scorer and top playmaker for the 20/21 season on 23 goals and 14 assists. Paddy Power sign up offers would have been nice backing him to score over 15 goals his season at 3/1

However, Bamford also took more shots than Calvert-Lewin and Watkins during the campaign with his shots being less accurate when compared to those chosen ahead of him.

He converted 19% of his opportunities on goal – the worst conversion rate of the four strikers in question. The Southgate snub missed 21 big chances in the league this season, two more than any other player and four more than Calvert-Lewin, the highest of the three England stars.

Yet, these statistics do not paint the full picture of a player. Lyon attacker Karl Toko-Ekambi averaged a conversion rate of 20% from 70 shots in Ligue 1 this season with a rate of five shots per goal. Toko-Ekambi’s role in the Lyon set-up involves more than just goals though.The Cameroonian is tasked with defensive responsibilities such as breaking up opposition play high up the pitch and starting counterattacks and does his job well.

His 1.4 key passes per game reflect his importance in the final third for his club.Marcelo Bielsa’s first-choice striker doubles as a playmaker for Leeds and made 1.2 key passes per game this season. Calvert-Lewin and Watkins made more passes on average but not enough key passes to outdo Bamford. Bamford provides similar numbers to Toko-Ekambi at a more efficient rate, attempting 12 less passes per game.

Over in Italy, Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a whopping 29 goals to collect the Capocannoniere this season but missed 27 big chances along the way. The Portuguese forward is not weighed down by this statistic, but Bamford’s number is held against him online. The fact that a player can get into such a position for a big chance to be possible should be praised.

If Patrick Bamford were able to get into a position where he could score 38 times in a season – once a game – then that is something that should be applauded, especially if he scores on 17 of those occasions.

These 17 goals have come from an expected goals figure of 19.34, proving that Bamford is under-performing. But he is not ‘under-performing to the extent many believe – his chances throughout the season meant he should have scored around 20 goals and he did.

Bamford’s 17 goals translate to 10 points that were necessary for Leeds’ top-half finish. Adding the seven assists and his ever-presence at the tip of the Leeds frontline only serves as further compliments to his playstyle. It is not just the numbers that flatters Patrick Bamford – his movement and distribution has been of a high quality this season.

The striker drifts away from defenders often in games and tends to stay close-by when one of Leeds’ other attackers are in on goal so he can pounce on the opportunity for a tap-in. His runs are smart in both timing and positioning, frequently choosing to break away from the opposition back line at the last moment after previously moving away from his marker.

The uncapped Englishman has racked up only 18 offsides, 15 less than Ollie Watkins managed and as many as Calvert-Lewin in five more games. This facet of his game has been crucial when it comes to his goalscoring. However, his ability in the air does not compare to his counterparts with only 1.2 aerial duels won per game.

Ollie Watkins wins more duels than Bamford contests per game while Calvert-Lewin’s role at Everton revolves around his aerial prowess. Regardless, his quality in the attacking third, especially in a front line alongside wingers, is nothing to scoff at. 

His importance in the Leeds United line up extends beyond the execution of his chances into a role that improves the attacking ability of the side. Most national sides would be drooling over a striker who has just enjoyed a 17-goal season but for Bamford, this is not the case. Bamford’s dream of earning a cap for the English national team has escaped him once again, but it should be over by now.

Gareth Southgate made his move – Stephen Kenny is up next.

What to know about the Royal Ascot

The Royal Ascot is one of the most prestigious events on the British social calendar. High society comes to roam, ladies and gentlemen put on their finest threads and the royal family attends these Berkshire races, which are as famous for their fashion as they are for their horses.

A short history

Anyone visiting Ascot today  will discover a very modern complex. The grandstand was rebuilt in 2006 – and in the 1960s – but the racecourse has been around since 1711 when Queen Anne declared the area “ideal for horses to gallop at full length” during a ride from nearby Windsor Castle one day. It was 57 years before the first royal meeting took place in 1768, but it was not until 1911 that Royal Ascot developed into its modern form.

Strongly connected to fashion

Nowadays, Royal Ascot is known for its fashion. Women have stylish dresses and elaborate hats, which are as good as the races. Royal Ascot is known for its strict dress code, which as of 2018 requires men to wear socks and has only included jumpsuits as acceptable female attire since 2017. Flamboyant fashion has been an integral part of the Royal Ascot formula since Beau Brummell, an English dandy and friend of George IV, set the tone with his bold attire around the beginning of the 19th century.

Popular for sports betting

Would you like to place a bet on the Royal Ascot race? Of all the horse races in the world, the Royal Ascot horse race is probably the most famous. Apart from the exciting race which is held during the event, the event is especially known for the tight dress codes and exuberantly dressed people. Be sure to check out our Best Royal Ascot Tips Today so that you’re prepared in the best way possible. Place a bet on one of the horse races at The Royal Ascot with an online bookmaker of which you can find reviews elsewhere on this website. These are good & reliable online betting agencies. Some of them even give you the opportunity to follow the races live via an online stream. A great opportunity to watch the horse race and also catch the bug.

Daily program

Gates open – before the crowds, that is – at 10.30am, but the royal procession does not arrive until 2pm, half an hour before the starting gates open for the first race of the day. Royal Ascot always takes place in June and runs from Tuesday to Saturday. The first day includes three of the eight Group 1 races, the most prestigious class of flat racing in the world of horse racing. Wednesday is a more relaxed day that generally attracts smaller groups, despite hosting the Group One Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Thursday, informally known as Ladies Day, sees women improving their wardrobe as jockeys compete in the Gold Cup race, the highlight of the racing week. Friday treats spectators to another Group One race before Saturday brings the week to a close with the final Group One race, the thrilling Wokingham Stakes and the longest race of the week. Bringing the Royal to Royal Ascot are the Windsors. While Queen Elizabeth II’s Ascot fashion is fairly conventional, her granddaughters certainly don’t follow suit: Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been making headlines for more than a decade with their extraordinarily bizarre headwear.

An Athlete’s Diet: What You Should Be Eating and Doing for Peak Performance

Being an athlete requires a lot of physical strength and even self-discipline. It’s not just about being able to perform on the field. It’s also mainly about the things that you are doing before you get on the field. Proper training, exercise, and diet are key factors to keep in mind if you want to achieve peak performance. 

Many probably don’t realize how important a diet is when doing any sport. However, this plays a big role in how an athlete could perform during a match or a game. In fact, the biggest sports fans and serious sports punters do their research on what kind of diet an athlete is on to get to know them better. They don’t just research the different types of sports betting but they also get as many details as they could on the athletes they will be rooting for.

In boxing, before the weigh-in, people would talk about what type of training a boxer is in and what he or she has been eating to prepare for an upcoming match. This is how crucial a diet could be for an athlete. Just know that an athlete’s diet will always depend on what kind of sport he or she is into. 

Why Diet and Nutrition are Important

Well, even if you’re not an athlete, a healthy diet is always strongly encouraged. It can be beneficial for everybody, but athletes need more than just a basic diet to reach their peak performance. When it comes to playing any sport, the body and mind will have to perform harder to be able to do well. 

Ideally, an athlete’s diet should consist of over 55 percent carbohydrates, 12 to 15 percent of protein, and less than 30 percent of fat. However, this number could drastically change depending on the type of sports that the athlete is playing as well as how strenuous the training he or she needs to do on a daily basis. This is why when considering the type of diet, these factors should be kept in mind:

  • Energy or Fuel

There are sports that require fast running or being able to jump high. To do all that, enough energy is required. Think of foods that could help you gain more strength, endurance, agility, and mobility. For energy, carbohydrates are necessary.

The lack of carbs in a diet could limit a person’s ability to train or exercise because not enough glycogen that you need to have enough energy stored in your body is not being produced. Lack of carbs when doing heavy training and exercises could increase the risk of infections and sickness.

  • Brain Power

Brain function is also important to athletes. This concerns skills like decision-making which is something that could be critical in being able to perform well on the field. Typically, athletes are advised to eat food like tuna, salmon, and other fatty fish with Omega-3 fatty acids which could help boost brain cell growth and mood.

  • Hormones

Having balanced hormones is related to an athlete’s endurance and the energy to go on training and do exercises. Some of the hormone-balancing foods are grass-fed butter, virgin coconut oil, avocados, free-range eggs, nuts and seeds, organic dark meat chicken, and many more.

  • Recovery and Repair

Recovery and repair aren’t just about suffering an injury from training or participating in a match. It could also be about post-training and exercise. Training hard could result in inflammation and tearing of tissues. This is why what you consume after a training session is also important.

Some of the popular recovery and repair foods for athletes are turkey, pasta dishes. Rice, whole-grain crackers and peanut butter, smoothies, yogurt, and frozen fruits. Taking these foods can help you quickly recover and be ready for another training session.

Conclusion

Overall, it is best to check for macronutrients if you really want to be sure that you’re eating the right foods. Thankfully, this can be easily done nowadays with a quick search on the internet. There are even apps that you can download to keep track of your diet.

Generally, carbs could be your good friend because training and playing on the field require a lot of energy. Many are quick to say that carbs can be unhealthy but this is only if the carbs aren’t going to be put to use. 

Aside from what you eat, hydration is also important. Proper hydration could regulate your body temperature, support muscle contraction and relaxation, and help transport nutrients and oxygen through your body. Athlete or not, it is essential that you are properly hydrated to help your body systems function properly.

Ireland’s newest recruit: Who exactly is Ryan Johansson?

The Sevilla midfielder was included in Jim Crawford’s Ireland u21 squad which was announced this morning.

After years of eligibility issues which prevented Ryan Johansson from representing Ireland, the Luxembourg born midfielder/right-back has finally been deemed fit to don the green jersey. The Sevilla man was included in Jim Crawford’s under-21 squad scheduled to play three friendlies in the coming weeks. His inclusion marks his first time in an Ireland squad at any level since 2018 which is great news, it will be like winning on best aussie online casino for Irish soccer fans.

“There were multiple reasons and it was never easy to turn down countries I love – and I’m very patriotic for all three countries I am eligible for – but I do feel more attached to Ireland,” said Johansson to FAI TV on his decision to represent Ireland.

“But once it came down to it and once my parents asked me the questions ‘who do you really want to play for?’ and ‘what is your final decision?’, it was a no-brainer in a sense of choosing Ireland. That’s where my heart wanted to go.”

It now looks like Johansson will be a permanent fixture in Ireland squads for years to come, but what led up to this moment?

BACKGROUND

As Johansson mentioned in his interview with FAI TV, he’s eligible for three countries.

He was born and grew up in Luxembourg which explains his eligibility for them. But how is he eligible for Ireland? Well, the 20-year-old has an mother who was born in England to Irish parents, but moved back to Ireland aged 10. His father is Swedish meaning he could also represent them.

HIS CAREER TO DATE

EARLY BEGINNINGS

Johansson started his youth career in Luxembourg and played for Racing FC Union Luxembourg up until 2015 when he signed for current French Ligue 1 side FC Metz. The French club have helped develop the likes of Sadio Mané, Maxwel Cornet and Miralem Pjanić in recent years.

Johansson would spend just one year with Metz, playing for various underage sides including their under-17s.

Johansson trained with former club Racing FC Union Luxembourg as well as the first-team of Jeunesse Esch after leaving FC Metz. Many of their supporters play the best online casino which can make them some extra cash.

FC BAYERN MUNICH

Johansson attracted the attention of Bayern Munich during his time at Metz and would sign for the German club in 2017.

It was during this time that Johansson would first come to the attention of the FAI who began trying to secure the international future of the then 16-year-old.

Johansson appeared for the side’s under-17 side during the 17/18 season, appearing 24 times across all competitions and registering 6 goal contributions during that time. Bayern Munich won the German under-17 Bundesliga that season.

After the 17/18 season ended, Johansson impressed to such an extent that he was included in Bayern Munich’s pre-season squad. He made three appearances in that Summer’s Champions Cup against the elite competition of PSG, Juventus and Manchester City.

It was shortly after this that reports begun emerging of Johansson’s decision to play for Ireland in upcoming under-18 friendly fixtures.

Those reports came true as he was selected in the Ireland under-18 squad to take on Wales on two separate occasions in September 2018. Johansson had previously represented Luxembourg and Sweden at youth level.

Johansson made his Ireland debut at the (then named) City Calling Stadium in Longford and was introduced as a substitute in the 62nd minute. He looked highly composed in the centre of the park during his cameo, despite Wales winning the match 1-0.

He started just a couple of days and lasted over 60 minutes in a 2-0 win at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Current senior internationals Troy Parrott, Adam Idah, Conor Coventry, Lee O’Connor, Jason Knight and Aaron Connolly all started for Ireland over the few days.

After that, Johansson explained that he was not ready to commit to Ireland and appeared for Luxembourg’s under-21 and under-19 sides in the coming months. His commitment to Luxembourg didn’t last long and he declared for the Boys in Green the following January.

He appeared for Bayern Munich’s under-19s during the 18/19 season and made 25 appearances across all competitions, registering 5 goal contributions.

Johansson was included in Bayern Munich’s squad for pre-season competition called the Audi Cup in the Summer along with a handful of other youth footballers. He started – and impressed – against a Spurs side including an unused Troy Parrott on the bench in July.

However, concerning news about his international future broke just days later.

His eligibility for Ireland was called into question thus preventing him from representing the country at any level. The reason being because his family failed to apply for his Irish citizenship through the Foreign Births Register before making his first appearance for Luxembourg at the age of 15.

Johansson maintained his desire to represent Ireland at first but after months of nothing changing, he declared his interest in representing Sweden in January 2020.

He continued to turn out for Bayern’s under-19s in the 19/20 season, making 19 appearances and putting up 11 goal contributions across all competitions.

SEVILLA

After impressing for Bayern, La Liga side Sevilla swooped in for Johansson and signed the youngster for an undisclosed fee in January 2020. He signed a 6-year contract with the Spanish club, showing how highly he is rated.

He made 6 appearances for Sevilla’s underage sides that season after signing, contributing 1 assist in the process.

He only appeared 8 times in all competitions during the 20/21 season, owing to an injury suffered in December.

It was reported earlier this month that Johansson’s eligibility for Ireland had changed status owing to new FIFA rules, meaning he is now able to represent the country again after almost 2 years of uncertainty surrounding his international future.

The new rules state that a player can change switch allegiance even if they didn’t have nationality of the country they wish to represent at the time of their first appearance for their previous national team, provided they last played for their previous national team before the age of 21.

Jim Crawford’s under-21 squad was announced this morning and among the new additions to the age group was Ryan Johansson, his first appearance in an Ireland side since 2018.

The under-21s are set to play 3 friendly games. The first game comes against Switzerland this Sunday, after that they take on Australia the following the Wednesday and the final fixture is being played against Denmark on Saturday.

All fixtures will be televised on Premier Sports/Free Sports with the games against Switzerland and Australia being shown live while the Denmark fixture will be shown in full later in the day.

Seven new faces in Republic of Ireland U21 squad

Republic of Ireland Under-21 Manager Jim Crawford has named a 26-man squad for friendlies against Switzerland, Australia and Denmark in Marbella, Spain.

Seven new players included

Crawford has called-up are seven new faces to the U21 squad. Among them are Sevilla’s Ryan Johansson after he was declared eligible to play for Ireland following FIFA clearance.

Johansson is joined by Getafe’s John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa who is selected in his first international squad. Sheffield Wendesday’s Ciaran Brennan, Derby County’s Festy Ebosele and Lincoln City’s Seán Roughan get the U21 call. UCD striker and League of Ireland First Division top scorer Colm Whelan is also included in the squad.

Dan Rose of Schalke 04, who was included ahead of the Wales friendly in March but was unable to travel due to Covid-19 restrictions, will join his first U21 camp.

Games on TV

The games will form part of the U21s preparation for their 2023 European Championship qualifiers against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Luxembourg in September.

The games Switzerland and Australia to be shown live on Premier Sports 1 and FreeSports.

Ireland’s game with Denmark on Saturday, June 5 (which kicks-off at 17:00pm) will be shown in full at a later time of 21:30pm on Premier Sports 1.

Republic of Ireland squad – Switzerland, Australia, Denmark

Goalkeepers: Sam Blair (Norwich City), Brian Maher (Bray Wanderers),
Dan Rose (Schalke 04)

Defenders: Ciaran Brennan (Sheffield Wednesday), Festy Ebosele (Derby County), Shane Flynn (Leicester City), Andy Lyons (Bohemians), Oisín McEntee (Newcastle United), Mark McGuinness (Arsenal), Lewis Richards (Wolves), Seán Roughan (Lincoln City).

Midfielders: John Joe Patrick Finn Benoa (Getafe), Luca Connell (Celtic), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Alex Gilbert (Brentford), Conor Grant (Rochdale), Ryan Johansson (Sevilla), Conor Noss (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Louie Watson (Derby County).

Forwards: Jonathan Afolabi (Celtic), Will Ferry (Southampton), Joshua ‘JJ’ Kayode (Rotherham United), Gavin Kilkenny (Bournemouth), Colm Whelan (UCD), Tyreik Wright (Aston Villa).

Fixtures – International Friendlies (all times are Irish times)
  • Switzerland v Republic of Ireland, May 30, KO 11:00, Dama de Noche Football Centre, Marbella, Spain (Live on Premier Sports 1/ FreeSports)
  • Australia v Republic of Ireland, June 2, KO 12:00, Marbella Football Centre, Marbella, Spain. (Live on Premier Sports 1/ FreeSports)
  • Republic of Ireland v Denmark, June 5, KO 17:00, Dama de Noche Football Centre, Marbella, Spain. (To be shown at 21.30pm on Premier Sports 1)

GAA Starting team News – 22nd & 23rd May 2021

We have the latest starting team news from hurling and Gaelic football league matches on 22nd and 23rd May. 

Tipperary : Brian Hogan; Cathal Barrett, Padraic Maher, Barry Heffernan; Robert Byrne, Seamus Kennedy, Ronan Maher; Alan Flynn, Paddy Cadell; Dan McCormack, Noel McGrath, Dillon Quirke; John O’Dwyer, Jason Forde, John McGrath

Subs: Barry Hogan, Michael Breen, Eoghan Connolly, Willie Connors, Paul Flynn, Brendan Maher, Patrick Maher, Brian McGrath, Jake Morris, Niall O’Meara, James Quigley

Galway: Eanna Murphy, Darren Morrissey, Daithi Burke, TJ Brennan, Adrian Tuohey, Padraic Mannion, Aidan Harte, Joe Canning, Johnny Coen, Joseph Cooney, Jason Flynn, Conor Cooney, Brian Concannon, Kevin Cooney, Conor Whelan

Westmeath: Jason Daly; Jack Smith, Kevin Maguire, Boidu Sayeh; James Dolan, Ronan Wallace, Jamie Gonoud; Sam Duncan, Ray Connellan; David Lynch, Denis Corroon, Ger Egan; Ronan O’Toole, John Heslin, Luke Loughlin

Subs: Trevor Martin, Lorcan Dolan, Kieran Martin, Darren Giles, Sam McCartan, Conor Coughlan, Conor Slevin, Tommy McDaniel, Brandon Kelly, Fola Ayorinde, Nigel Harte

Mayo : Rob Hennelly; Enda Hession, Oisin Mullin, Lee Keegan; Michael Plunkett, Paddy Durcan, Rory Brickenden; Matthew Ruane, Diarmuid O’Connor; Fionn McDonagh, Kevin McLoughlin, Jordan Flynn; Tommy Conroy, Cillian O’Connor, Ryan O’Donoghue

Wexford: Pa Doyle, Sam Audsley, Martin O’Connor, Conor Carthy, Paraic Hughes, Gavin Sheehan, Micheál Furlong, Liam Coleman, Brian Malone, Alan Tobin, Sean Nolan, Kevin O’Grady, Ben Brosnan, Robbie Brooks, Mark Rossiter.

Waterford: Paudie Hunt, Sean Boyce, Brian Looby, Darach O’Cathasaigh, Donal Fitzgerald, Michael Curry, Dermot Ryan, Tommy Prendergast, Mark Cummins, Jason Curry, Conor Murray, David Hallinan, Stephen Curry, Dylan Guiry, Darragh Corcoran.

Offaly: Paddy Dunican, Declan Hogan, Eoin Rigney, Niall Darby, Cian Donohue, Johnny Moloney, David Dempsey, Bill Carroll, Eoin Carroll, Shane Horan, Jordan Hayes, Anton Sullivan, Bernard Allen, Peter Cunningham, Ruairi McNamee

Limerick: Donal Ó Sullivan,Sean O’Dea,Brian Fanning , Michael Donovan, Tony McCarthy, Robert Childs, Gordon Brown, Darragh Treacy, Tommie Childs, Cian Sheehan, Cillian Fahy, Tommy Griffin, Adrian Enright, Danny Neville Ballysteen, Hugh Bourke.

Tipperary: Michael O’Reilly, Alan Campbell, Jimmy Feehan, Colm O’Shaughesey, Emmet Moloney, Paudie Feehan, Jack Harney, Steven O’Brien, Conal Kennedy, Jason Lonergan, Colman Kennedy, Brian Fox, Liam Boland, Conor Sweeney, Sean O’Connor

Wicklow: Mark Johnson, Nicky Deveraux, Jamie Small, Oisin Manning, Andy Maher, Paul Donnelly, Aaran Murphy, Podge O’Toole, Dean Healy, Darragh Fitzgerald, Mark Kenny, Conor Byrne, Eoin Darcy, Seanie Furlong, James Sheeran.

Donegal: As Usual no team announced.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan; Kieran Duffy, Conor Boyle, Ryan Wylie; Karl O’Connell, Karl McMenamin, Ryan McAnespie; Darren Hughes, Killian Lavelle; Stephen O’Hanlon, Aaron Mulligan, Micheal Bannigan; Conor McCarthy, Andrew Woods, Sean Jones.

Derry: Odhran Lynch; Chrissy McKaigue, Brendan Rogers, Paudi McGrogan; Padraig Cassidy, Gareth McKinless, Conor Doherty; Conor Glass, Emmett Bradley; Ethan Doherty, Niall Loughlin, Ciaran McFaul; Benny Heron, Shane McGuigan, Paul Cassidy.

Fermanagh: Chris Snow, Ryan Breen, Johnny Cassidy, Luke Flanagan, Kane Connor, James McMahon, Kevin Mcdonnell, Eoin Donnelly, Stephen McGuillion, Ciaran Corrigan, Tiarnan Bogue, Josh Largo Ellis, Conor Lowe, Daragh McGun, Sean Quigley

Dublin: Sean Brennan; Andrew Dunphy, Eoghan O’Donnell, Cian O’Callaghan; Daire Gray, Liam Rushe, Sean Moran; Jake Malone, Conor Burke; Danny Sutcliffe, Chris Crummey, Ronan Hayes; Donal Burke, Eamonn Dillon, Cian Boland

Subs: Alan Nolan, Paul O’Dea, Paddy Smyth, Rian McBride, James Madden, Fergal Whitely, Davy Keogh, Cian O’Sullivan, John Hetherton, Oisin O’Rorke, Paul Crummey

Antrim: Ryan Elliott; Stephen Rooney, Gerard Walsh, Damon McMullan; Eoghan Campbell, Paddy Burke, Joe Maskey; Neil McManus, Keelan Molloy; Michael Bradley, James McNaughton, Niall McKenna; Conal Cunning, Ciaran Clarke, Conor McCann.

Armagh: Blaine Hughes, Ryan Kennedy, Aidan Forker, James Morgan, Connaire Mackin, Aaron McKay, Ciaron O’Hanlon, Niall Grimley, Jarly Og Burns, Jemer Hill, Rian O’Neill, Greg McCabe, Rory Grugan

Tyrone: No team announced

Laois: Niall Corbet, Robert Pigot, Mark Timmons, Gareth Dillion, Trevor Collins, Colm Begley, Patrick O’Sullivan, Kieran Lillis, John O’Loughlin, Eoin Lowry, Paul Kingston, Daniel O’Reily, Mark Barry, Donal Kingston, Evan O’Carroll

Cork: Mícheál  Martin, Sean Powter, Daniel O’ Mahony, Kevin Flahive, Kevin O’ Donovan, Sean Meehan, Mattie Taylor, Ian Maguire, Paul Walsh, Sean White, Ruairi Deane, Kevin O’ Driscoll, Tadhg MacCarthaigh, John O’ Rourke, Cíaran Sheehan, Luke Connolly.

Sundays Team to be confirmed

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