Katie Taylor remains Ireland’s most admired sports star

Katie Taylor’s remains the country’s most admired sports star according to the latest Teneo Sport and Sponsorship Index (TSSI) 2020 findings.

The popularity of Gaelic Games and the achievements of Dublin in winning six in-a-row are all reflected in the most recent TSSI survey.

The TSSI is a comprehensive 1,000 person nationally representative survey with quotas imposed across gender, region, age and social class. The research was carried out by Teneo’s Sports and Sponsorship team and iReach. It examines the Irish general public’s attitudes towards sport and their sporting heroes. This is the view of the general public and not a survey of sports fans. It is the eleventh year of the TSSI and the research was carried out between January 14-19.

Most Admired Sports Star

Katie Taylor makes it a four in-a-row of wins in Ireland’s most Admired Sport Star category. It’s the sixth time in eight years that she has topped this particular poll. The only other winners in that time are the now-retired former Ireland rugby captain Paul O’Connell in 2015 and MMA fighter Conor McGregor in 2016.

Taylor is a clear winner with a 30% the votes, well ahead of second placed Ireland rugby captain Jonathan Sexton (6%). Shane Lowry placed third on 5%, with Joe Canning, Pádraig Harrington, Conor Murray and Sam Bennett all sharing fourth spot with 4%

Team of the Year

This was a closely fought contest between two of the finest teams of the modern era in Gaelic Games. Dublin’s six in-a-row winning footballers just edged out Limerick’s All-Ireland winning hurlers.

The Dubs got 24% of the vote – only one percent ahead of Limerick on 23%. In 2020, Leinster Rugby weren’t far off the top two and finished in third place on 20% of the vote thanks to their unbeaten Pro14 season. Dublin’s ladies footballers came fourth with 12% after they made it an All-Ireland four in-a-row. Dundalk FC fill out the top five with 10% of the vote having made this season’s Europa League group stage.

Favourite Sport

The big three of Gaelic Games, rugby and soccer continue to dominate in the favourite sport category. Gaelic Games grew in popularity in 2020 and remain Favourite Sport for the third year on the bounce. Soccer had been the nation’s number one for eight years in succession from 2010, when the TSSI research was first carried out.

Gaelic Games (football, ladies, hurling and camogie) won 24% support, ahead of soccer (men and women’s) on 14%. Following a decade of great on-field success, rugby (men’s and women’s) remains popular on 13%.

Tennis and cycling both enjoy healthy followings in Ireland and were voted joint-third on 5%, just ahead of athletics and golf on 3%.

When it comes to sport that people “like”, but that isn’t necessarily their favourite sport, tennis (18%) golf (15%), athletics (13%), horse racing (13%) and boxing (12%) all poll strongly.

Most Memorable Sporting Moment

Katie Taylor fought a second war with title challenger Delfine Persoon last August. The Irish public voted the moment her hand was raised in victory as the most memorable sporting moment of 2020.

This moment picked up 32% of the public vote. Cyclist Sam Bennett’s sprint victory on the final stage of the Tour de France in Paris was second on 15%.

Tipperary’s historic Munster Senior Football Championship win over Cork picked up 11% of the vote for third place.

Looking ahead to 2021

The Irish sporting public is hoping for a packed sporting calendar in 2021. The delayed Tokyo Olympic Games is the event the nation is most looking forward to, with 20% of the votes. Second in the running is the forthcoming Six Nations, which polled 17%.

Next on the list are the All-Ireland Senior Hurling (14%) and All-Ireland Senior Football Championships (11%). Combined, all four Gaelic games’ All-Ireland championships (including camogie on 3% and ladies football on 2%) gather 30% of the vote.

Rounding out the top five is Euro 2020, another major competition carried over from last year, on 10%.

Acapella Bourgeois among 18 runners for Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase

Willie Mullins’ Acapella Bourgeois heads the 18 runners for the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park on Thursday.

Owned by the Slaneyville Syndicate, the 11-year-old was sixth in the race last year. He most recently finished runner-up to Al Boum Photo at Tramore on New Year’s Day.

Mullins has declared five runners and making up his team are the Munster National and Kerry National winner Cabaret Queen, last year’s runner-up Class Conti, Brahma Bull and Saturnas.

Five from Elliott’s Yard

Gordon Elliott’s team also numbers five. Leading fancies Coko Beach and Run Wild Fred will be joined by 2019 Thyestes runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux, Roaring Bull and Dounikos.

Former Troytown Chase winner Tout Est Permis carries the hopes of Noel Meade. Henry de Bromhead runs Spyglass Hill and Ted Walsh has Any Second Now. The Jessica Harrington-trained Discordantly, Philip Dempsey’s Ten Ten and the Pat Fahy-trained Dunvegan are other notable entries.

Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle

Willie Mullins won the 2020 Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle with Benie Des Dieux and he fields a team of four this year. Great White Shark, Bacardys, Burrows Saint and Scarpeta face tough opposition in the 10-runner field. The Edward Harty-trained Kilfenora, Noel Meade’s Sixshooter and Diol Ker and the Mouse Morris-trained Sams Profil stand their ground.

Grade 1 entries for Dublin Racing Festival

There are strong entries for all eight Grade 1 races at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on February 6 and 7.

The first three horses home in the Grade 1 Savills Chase at last month’s Leopardstown Christmas Festival are entered for the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup. Honeysuckle and Sharjah head the way in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.

Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup

There are 12 horses in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup on the second day of the festival. Savills Chase winner A Plus Tard and Minella Indo are both entered by Henry de Bromhead. Kemboy and Melon were second and third in the Savills Chase and Castlebawn West have been entered by champion trainer Willie Mullins.

Last year’s winner Delta Work is entered by Gordon Elliott. The Cullentra trainer could also be represented by Battleoverdoyen, Presenting Percy, Samcro and The Storyteller. Ted Walsh has entered Any Second Now while Joseph O’Brien has Fakir D’oudairies.

Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Honeysuckle heads the nine entries for the Saturday highlight, the Grade 1 Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle. She won this race last year and remains unbeaten in nine starts. Her trainer has also entered Aspire Tower.

Willie Mullins’ team of three is headed by Sharjah which could be joined by Saint Roi and Saldier. Abacadabras and Petit Mouchoir have been entered by Gordon Elliott. Noel Meade has Beacon Edge in the race. Winston C, a dual Grade 1 winner in America, could be a first runner at that level in Ireland for Keri Brion. The Pennsylvania native took charge of a number of horses formerly in the care of US trainer Jonathan Sheppard.

The first of the weekend’s Grade 1 races is the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle. The Willie Mullins-trained Gaillard Du Mesnil and Stattler are among the 35 race entries. Mullins has ten in the race while Farouk D’alene and Fakiera feature among Gordon Elliott’s entry of eight. The Emmet Mullins-trained Cape Gentleman, Gavin Cromwell’s Vanillier and the Mouse Morris-trained Gentlemansgame are other notable entries.

Ladbrokes Dublin Chase

A Grade 1 for the third-time, the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase has attracted an entry of 11. Last year’s winner Chacun Pour Soi is among them. He could clash with his stable companion Min, who chased him home in 2020. Mullins has also entered Tornado Flyer, second to Min in the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in December.

Arkle Novice Chase

Henry de Bromhead’s Notebook, successful in the Arkle Novice Chase at last year’s Dublin Racing Festival, is another that could be meeting Chacun Pour Soi for a second time. De Bromhead has also entered Ordinary World, runner-up to Min in 2019, while Gordon Elliott has Battleoverdoyen and Samcro in the race. Jessica Harrington has Impact Factor and Sizing Pottsie, while Castlegrace Paddy and Fakir D’oudairies have been entered by Pat Fahy and Joseph O’Brien respectively.

Willie Mullins is responsible for six of the 15 entries for the Grade 1 Arkle Novice Chase. The champion trainer has his top-flight Christmas winner Franco De Port, Naas scorer Energumene and Asterion Forlonge on his early team. Envoi Allen, Andy Dufresne and Felix Desjy make up Gordon Elliott’s entry. Darver Star is there for Gavin Cromwell while Paul Nolan has Latest Exhibition. Henry de Bromhead has Epson Du Houx and the Naas runner-up Captain Guinness in the race.

Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle

The Grade 1 action on the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival on Sunday, February 7 begins with the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle. Gordon Elliott looks to boast a strong hand with leading four-year-old hurdlers Zanahiyr, Quilixios and Duffle Coat among his team of five. Riviere D’etel made a winning debut for the stable at Punchestown and Teahupoo has recently joined Elliott on the back of a debut success at Auteuil in October.

French Aseel s one of four entries for Willie Mullins who also has Gowran Park winner Youmdor. Josh D’id is another French import and he could represent Gavin Cromwell. Sam Curling has entered his Limerick winner Awkwafina, while the Killarney winner Varna Gold is there for Paul Gilligan. Busselton, runner-up to Zanahiyr in the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas has been entered by Joseph O’Brien.

The Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle

The Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle has attracted 25 entries. Among them are Appreciate It, Bob Olinger and Ballyadam for trainers Mullins, Bromhead and Elliott respectively. Mullins also has the mare Gauloise among his team of 10. Elliott has the Navan winner Magic Tricks in his quartet. Paddy Corkery’s Master McShee is entered. Noel Meade has both Cask Mate and Hes A Hardy Bloke among the entries.

Flogas Novice Chase

Monkfish is one of six entries from Closutton in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase. Fellow Grade 1 winners Colreevy and Franco De Port are also entered by Mullins. Envoi Allen is one of five entered by Gordon Elliott as are Pencilfulloflead and Andy Dufresne. The Navan winner Fils D’oudairies and Drinmore Chase runner-up Assemble could yet represent Joseph O’Brien.

Thomas Tuchel hired as Chelsea manager

The announcement comes just one day after Frank Lampard was sacked.

Thomas Tuchel has officially taken the reins of Chelsea manager after mounting speculation over the past few weeks – which was heightened in the last day due to the dismissal of previous Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard.

The German has signed an initial 18 month contract with the opportunity to extend.

Tuchel previously managed PSG, a post he held for two-and-a-half years before he was dismissed just last month.

Prior to managing PSG, Tuchel spent his entire managerial career in Germany, working his way up from FC Augsburg II to Mainz 05 before landing a high profile job as Borussia Dortmund manager.

“We all have the greatest respect for Frank Lampard’s work and the legacy he created at Chelsea”

Tuchel commented on his arrival at Chelsea, saying “I cannot wait to meet my new team and compete in the most exciting league in football. I am grateful to now be part of the Chelsea family – it feels amazing”.

He also expressed his admiration for Frank Lampard, the man he replaced as Chelsea manager.

Tuchel will have little time to settle in with his new squad before taking the field.

He’s set to take charge of his team against Wolves tomorrow, a team who’ve already defeated Chelsea in the Premier League this season.

Welcome to Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel! ✍️🔵 #WelcomeTuchel

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) JANUARY 26, 2021

Martin Ødegaard set for Arsenal loan move

The Real Madrid playmaker has arrived in London ahead of the move.

22-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Martin Ødegaard is set to complete a loan deal to Arsenal until the end of the season, according to reports.

Ødegaard arrived in London last night and it is understood that the necessary paperwork has been completed. The deal will be officially confirmed shortly.

Ødegaard arrives at Arsenal having struggled for game-time at Real Madrid this season, despite impressing whenever he has played.

He had a stellar campaign on loan at Real Sociedad in 2019/20 but that wasn’t enough to secure a starting place in a highly competitive Madrid side.

The Norwegian joined Real Madrid in 2015 after impressing in the Norwegian domestic league. Since then, he’s found it difficult to break into the first-team. In fact, he’s played just 8 league games in 6 years.

He has relied on loan moves up to this point for his development, spending the previous 3 seasons on loan in the Netherlands and Spain.

A loan to Arsenal would be beneficial to both parties.

Arsenal are in desperate need of a creative playmaker and Ødegaard fits that bill. On the other hand, Ødegaard would be gaining experience while playing regular football in a quality team.

Ajax and Real Sociedad were also reportedly interested, but it appears that Arsenal have won the race.

Ireland Six Nations Squad Announced

Andy Farrell has included two uncapped players in a 36 man Ireland squad for the 2021 Guinness Six Nations Championship.

Munster’s Craig Casey and Ulster’s Tom O’Toole have been named in the squad which will be captained by Jonathan Sexton.

Ireland have two fixtures at the Aviva Stadium in the 2021 Guinness Six Nations. They will host France in Round 2 and England on the final weekend of the Championship.

In Round 1 Ireland will take on Wayne Pivac’s Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Ireland’s first two fixtures of the 2021 Championships against Wales and France will both take place on Sunday afternoons.

Ireland’s third round fixture is at the Stadio Olimpico against Italy and in the penultimate round Ireland face Scotland at Murrayfield.

Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell, commented on his squad selection said

“Since the Autumn international window the club season has had a good few disruptions and the cancellation of the European fixtures means there have been less opportunities for players to show form or to return from injury and get some minutes under their belts.

Tadhg (Furlong) hasn’t played in quite a while but he is ready to join the group. Unfortunately Jacob (Stockdale) will not be available to us.”

Ireland Squad 2021 Guinness 6 Nations Championships

Backs (17)

Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 30 caps
Billy Burns (Ulster) 3 caps
Ross Byrne (Leinster/UCD) 11 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) uncapped
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 24 caps
Shane Daly (Munster/Cork Con) 1 cap
Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 88 caps
Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster) 14 caps
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 5 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 47 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 6 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 24 caps
James Lowe (Leinster) 2 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 4 caps
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 87 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 30 caps
Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 95 caps CAPTAIN

Forwards (19)

Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 17 caps
Will Connors (Leinster/UCD) 5 caps
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 7 caps
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 17 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 25 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 104 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 5 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 58 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 16 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 6 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 39 caps
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 73 caps
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Banbridge) uncapped
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps
Quinn Roux (Connacht/Galwegians) 16 caps
Rhys Ruddock (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 26 caps
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 32 caps
CJ Stander (Munster/Shannon) 46 caps
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 28 caps

Ireland 2021 Guinness Six Nations Fixtures

Wales v IRELAND
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Sunday 7th February, KO 15.00
VIRGIN / BBC

IRELAND v France
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Sunday 14th February, KO 15.00
VIRGIN / ITV

Italy v IRELAND
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Saturday 27th February, KO 14.15
VIRGIN / ITV

Scotland v IRELAND
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Sunday 14th March, KO 15.00
VIRGIN / BBC

IRELAND v England
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Saturday 20th March, KO 16.45
VIRGIN / ITV

All Ireland games will be televised on Virgin in the Republic of Ireland and on ITV (v France, Italy & England) and BBC (v Wales & Scotland) in Northern Ireland.

Irish Showjumping results from Belgium and Florida

Ireland’s Jonathan Gordon and the 10-year-old mare Dorotheental’s Classica stormed to victory in Sunday’s two-star Grand Prix at Lier, Belgium.

One of nine combinations in the jump-off, Mayo-born Gordon crossed the line clear in 36.63 seconds to win.

He has almost a second to spare over Dutch runner-up Sanne Thijssen with Con Quidam DB. Third place went to Italy’s Antonio Alfonso and Charmie.

Winter Equestrian Festival

In the USA, Co Down’s Conor Swail and GK Coco Chanel finished third in the three-star $137,000 Restylane Grand Prix in Flordia.

British Olympic team gold medallist Ben Maher and the 18-year-old stallion Tic Tac won the competition. The English rider had just one one-hundredth of a second to spare from Canadian Eric Lamaze with Fine Lady 5.

Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and Emmerton were eight in the same class, going clear in the jump-off in a time of 46.65 seconds.

On Saturday, at the WEF, Irish riders took 4 places in the top-five in the $37,000 FEI CaptiveOne Advisors 1.50m Classic.

Shane Sweetnam and Ideal were second to McLain Ward and Contaigous. Cork’s Sweetnam also took third place with Indra Van De Oude Heihof. Bertram Allen and Giolita were fourth, with Darragh Kenny and Vinci De Beaufort came fifth.

Rory McIlroy reacts to 3rd place in Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy’s final round 72 saw him finish third in the HSBC Championship in Abu Dhabi.

The Irishman took a one-stroke lead into the final round on Sunday but ultimately fell to Tyrell Hatton’s 66.

“I started great with two birdies in the first three,” McIlroy said. “Then I felt like there was a few putts I hit today, the wind affected the putts more than maybe the last couple days. So there was the one on four, the three-putt, and there were a couple others, the couple of bogeys around the turn didn’t help.

“I thought I was in good position on ten and Tyrrell was outside of me, makes that putt for birdie, and then I can’t make mine for eagle and that was a huge sort of momentum-keeper for him. Then I bogeyed the next and after that, it was sort of hard to get back into it.

“I don’t feel like I played great this week, felt like I was managing my game a bit. Nice to get a competitive week under my belt and see where my game is at and what I need to do to keep on improving. Hopefully I’ll get on the plane and head over to Torrey Pines and tee it up there next week.”

McIlroy generally positive

“I thought for the most part of the week, my short game and my putting was good. I scrambled well. Had some pretty good approach shots, especially last night coming down the last few holes. I thought there was parts of rounds where I got the driver going, even the last few holes this evening there I got the driver going a little bit.

“But still, sometimes I’ll have a few holes where it’s like that and there’s a few holes where it sort of gets away from me. So a little more consistency and being able to replicate the good ones hole after hole and then day after day until you sort of put four rounds together.”

Anna Merveldt and Esporim 9th in Salzburg

Dressage rider Anna Merveldt’s hopes of qualifying for this season’s FEI World Cup Dressage Finals received another boost on Sunday.

The Irishwoman recorded an impressive ninth place finish in the FEI World Cup Freestyle Grand Prix at Salzburg, Austria.

Merveldt and the 12-year-old gelding Esporim produced an excellent score of 73.705% when drawn second to go of 13 combinations. The score kept the Irish competitor in second place until the midway point of the competition.

German Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB took victory on a score of 87.960%. Her compatriot Isabel Werth was second with Weihegold Old on a score of 84.720%.

Western European League Table

Anna Merveldt’s result yesterday now moves her up to equal fifth place on the Western European League table on 26 points. The top nine combinations will qualify for the World Cup Final.

One final qualifying round remains, at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands, in March.

The 2021 FEI World Cup Dressage Final will take place in Gothenburg from March 31st to April 5th.

Manchester United progress to FA Cup 5th Round at expense of Liverpool

The match finished 3-2 with Bruno Fernandes scoring the winner.

Manchester United and Liverpool faced off for the second time in just a week this evening. Last weekend, the teams played out a bore scoreless draw in the Premier League.

The FA Cup 4^th round was the occasion this time around. There was more entertainment on display in this fixture than the last as a total of five goals were scored.

Manchester United managed to outscore their opponents in the end, winning the contest by a scoreline of 3-2. Mohamed Salah struck twice for Liverpool but goals from Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes helped secure victory for United.

Manchester United progress to the FA Cup 5^th round with tonight’s win.

KEY MOMENTS

Mohamed Salah, as he so often does, opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 18^th minute. He was played in on goal by a pinpoint Roberto Firmino through ball before delicately chipping over goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Mason Greenwood snatched an equalizer in the 26^th minute to end a barren run of nine games without scoring. Marcus Rashford provided the assist with a brilliant lobbed ball over the Liverpool backline before Greenwood took a touch and hammered into the back of the net.

Greenwood and Rashford combined again just after half-time. This time, Greenwood turned provider as his pass was misjudged by Rhys Williams to which Rashford took advantage by closing in on goal and executing a cool finish into the bottom corner.

Liverpool drew level in the 58^th minute through Mohamed Salah again. The Egyptian was played in unselfishly by James Milner who could have taken a shot on himself. Salah took the shot under pressure but got a good enough connection on the shot to evade the defender and go through Dean Henderson’s legs.

Bruno Fernandes was brought on in the 66^th minute and it didn’t take long for him to make a mark on the game. United were awarded a free-kick in the 78^th minute from just outside the box and after a period of consultation, Bruno Fernandes decided to take on the opportunity. He struck his effort with real venom and his shot was accurate enough to end up in the back of the net despite being on goalkeeper Alisson’s side of the goal.

That goal would prove to be the winner as Manchester United help on to win 3-2.