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Katie Taylor vs Miriam Gutierrez – Preview, Live Stream & Start time

Katie Taylor returns to the ring on Saturday night as she fights Spaniard Miriam Gutierrez at Wembley Arena. Other fights on the card include Terri Harper vs Katharina Thanderz and Rachel Ball vs Jorgelina Guanini. A day for the history books, with three women’s world title belts on the line. It will be undisputed champion Taylor’s first fight since her victory over Delfine Persoon in their rematch back in August.

Taylor’s convincing win over Persoon silenced critics after a closely contested first bout between the pair. Now the Bray native heads into Saturday’s fight aiming to defend her lightweight championship title once again.

Who is Miriam Gutierrez?

The 37-year-old boasts an impressive professional boxing record, winning all thirteen of her fights to date, with five of them won by knockout. However just under a year has passed since Gutierrez last fought.

Earlier in 2019 the Spaniard went ten rounds against British boxer Sam Smith. Smith believes that Gutierrez will enter Saturday’s fight fully prepared, whilst also highlighting her ability to adapt quickly when in the ring. Nevertheless, Smith went onto add that “she (Gutierrez) didn’t have anything there that would worry you”.

Creating a Legacy

Speaking to BBC Sport, Katie Taylor outlined what legacy she wants to leave behind:  “I want those young girls to be multiple-time world champion and multiple-time Olympic champion. I want to inspire the next generation to dream big dreams”. But retirement is not on Taylor’s agenda. The 34-year-old still wants to headline in her home country before thinking about calling it a day.

Yet for now, focus is on retaining her title on Saturday against Gutierrez.

Where to watch, start time and live stream details

As part of Sky Sports’ initiative in supporting women’s sport, this weekend’s fight card will be free to air via Sky Sports Youtube and Facebook channels as well as skysports.com. The action commences at 7pm on Saturday night.

 

Cavan vs Down: Preview, TV Channel, Betting, Prediction

Cavan added to their usurping of Monaghan with a win over Antrim last weekend. Now, they face Down in the Ulster semi-final. The Mourne man were victorious against Fermanagh in their quarter-final on Sunday. Both of these sides have made it to Ulster finals in recent years. Last season, Cavan made it to the decider but lost to Donegal. Likewise, Down played the 2017 final against Tyrone but came out on the wrong side. Now, one of these teams is guaranteed to contest the Anglo-Celt Cup again.

After their famous win over Monaghan, Cavan returned to action against Antrim last weekend. Initially they made the game hard work for themselves. Antrim were well set-up defensively. But, even when Cavan got a look at goal they were slow to take their chances. 6 wides in the first half saw them enter the break a point down.

Antrim stuck to their system in the second half, showing great discipline. In the third quarter they threatened to steal a goal that would leave Cavan with a lot of work to do. But, Ray Galligan came to Cavan’s rescue again.

Then, in the final stages Antrim finally ran out of steam. Cavan showed the benefit of having already played a Championship game and they finished strongly. After leaving it late twice now, Mickey Graham will be keen to get his team off the mark quickly in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, Down came up against a similarly stubborn Fermanagh team. Both teams adopted big defensive blocks in this fixture and the scoreline was evidence of this. Goals were never really on offer in the first half and long-range shooting proved beneficial. There was never more than one between the teams as Down went into the break 0-7 vs 0-6.

There was always a sense that one goal could open the game up. Caolan Mooney was the one to offer up such a chance. After a bursting run he left the Fermanagh defence stretched. As a result, Daniel McGuinness found space at the back post and palmed it into the empty net.

Fermanagh had no reply from there and Down’s forwards continued to tack on the scores. Barry O’Hagan scored 0-4 from play in an impressive display that will leave him full of confidence.

The experience of winter Championship aided Cavan in their last game. However, they now enter their fifth game in five weeks. With heavy ground under foot, fatigue may play a part, especially after going for more than 90 minutes against Monaghan.

Otherwise, Down are fresh and ready to take on Graham’s men. Their strong finish against Fermanagh was an excellent display of their firepower. At the same time, they showed great patience and discipline to break down a stout Fermanagh defence.

The game is live on BBC Northern Ireland.

Down are 4/6 favourites with Paddy Power. Cavan are the opposite at 6/4 and a draw is 15/2.

Prediction: Down. Cavan proved capable of providing an upset already and have been underestimated in Ulster before. But, five games in five weeks is a lot in these circumstances and Down may just have the extra legs coming down the stretch.

Facts and Figures

This will be their first Ulster championship meeting since 2007 when Down won a prelimi nary round tie by four points. They met in the All-Ireland qualifiers two years ago when  Cavan won by two points. 

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES 

2018: Cavan 1-14 Down 0-15 (Qualifier Round 2) 

2007: Down 0-15 Cavan 0-11 – Replay (Ulster preliminary round) 

2007: Down 3-8 Cavan 2-11 – Draw (Ulster preliminary round) 

2006: Down 1-13 Cavan 0-11 (Ulster preliminary round) 

2004: Cavan 3-13 Down 2-12 – Replay (Ulster quarter-final) 

*Cavan beat Monaghan (2-15 to 1-17 after extra-time) and Antrim (0-13 to 0-9) to reach the semi-final. Down beat Fermanagh by 1-15 to 0-11. 

*Cavan, who lost to Donegal in last year’s Ulster final, are bidding to reach the final in suc cessive years for the first time since 1968-69. 

*Down were last in the Ulster final in 2017. They haven’t won the title since 1994 while Cavan’s last success was in 1997. 

Ulster Championship Semi-Final: Cavan vs Down, Sunday, 15th November, 13:30 (Athletic Grounds). 

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Limerick vs Waterford: Munster Hurling Final – Preview, Betting and Team News

Limerick have a chance to make it back-to-back Munster Championships on Sunday. The 2018 All-Ireland Champions got off to a flying start by defeating last year’s winners Tipperary a fortnight ago. On the other hand, Waterford overcame Cork to reach their first Munster final since 2016. The winner of this final goes on to the semi-final where they’ll patiently await the 29th of November.

CLick for live score commentary

Since Waterford won Munster in 2010, they have returned to the final four times. However, each of these ended in defeat. Now, there is a chance for Waterford to capitalise on the new Championship format and claim Munster after just two games.

Previously, they began their Championship against Cork. Entering the game as underdogs, they soon showed they were there to play. A frantic opening ten minutes had the score at 0-5 to 0-4 for Cork. But, then Waterford enjoyed a good spell. Soon after the first-half water break, they made it double scores at 0-10 to 0-5. Although Cork kept coming back, Waterford took a three-point lead into the break.

Waterford were against a stiff wind in the second period. Yet, they more than held their own. Another frantic restart saw them go point-for-point with the rebels. Then, the ever-impressive Calum Lyons made a characteristic burst up the wing, holding off Cork challenges before firing into the net. That gave the Déise men a six-point lead.

From there, Waterford kept the scoreboard ticking over at a safe pace. At the full-time whistle they celebrated a 1-28 to 1-24 win. Ten different scorers contributed to the Waterford tally. This is something Liam Cahill will be delighted about. However, they still accumulated a worrying amount of wides. Limerick are more efficient than Cork and will punish Waterford for such wastefulness.

Limerick earn the badge of favourites

Last year’s Munster winners came back with a point to prove after losing the All-Ireland semi-final last year. They did just that against Tipperary who they took apart ruthlessly in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Limerick applied the lessons they learned about winter Championship in their opener against Clare to their semi-final tie. As a result, there was a physical duel in the middle third that Limerick’s middle eight embraced. Their superior conditioning stopped the Tipperary charge at its source and in turn supplied the forwards with all the chances they needed.

When Aaron Gillane scored Limerick’s first goal shortly after the first-half water-break, Limerick were four points ahead. From then until half-time they put their opponents to the sword. As a result, it was 1-17 to 1-8 at the break.

Facing a strong wind in the second-half, Limerick’s work rate off the ball made sure they were never on the back foot. Furthermore, they were incredibly economical in possession, making sure to be patient with the sliotar in midfield and finding the right passes inside. It ended 3-23 to 2-17 and Limerick’s performance saw them jump the queue to be favourites for this year’s Championship.

But, they won Munster convincingly last year and still failed to reach the All-Ireland final. Based on the evidence thus far, John Kiely’s side are out to prove a point to themselves.

Waterford have already proved capable of competing with the big teams. But, they need to be at their best and above to trump this Limerick team. Even if they fail to conquer Munster for the first time in a decade, Waterford could have a big part to play in the rest of the Championship.

Whereas, Limerick should have too much class for their opponents here. They know how to manage games and the competition within the team is only driving them on.

The Munster Hurling Final is on RTÉ on Sunday.

Limerick are 2/9 favourites with Paddy Power versus Waterford’s 4/1. A draw is 11/1.

Prediction: Limerick.

Teams

Waterford : Stephen O’Keeffe; Shane Fives, Conor Prunty, Shane McNulty; Calum Lyons, Tadhg De Burca, Kevin Moran; Jamie Barron, Jake Dillon; Jack Fagan, Kieran Bennett, Stephen Bennett; Dessie Hutchinson, Austin Gleeson, Jack Prendergast.

They meet in the Munster final for the first time in 13 years when Waterford won by nine  points (3-17 to 1-14) in 2007. Limerick later avenged that defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final,  winning by 5-11 to 2-15. 

HOW THEY GOT HERE 

Limerick 0-36 Clare 1-23 

Limerick 3-23 Tipperary 2-17 

*** 

Waterford 1-28 Cork 1-24 

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS 

2019: Limerick 2-24 Waterford 0-10 (Munster round robin) 

2018: Limerick 2-26 Waterford 1-16 (Munster round robin) 

2011: Waterford 3-15 Limerick 3-14 (Munster semi-final) 

2009: Waterford 0-25 Limerick 0-17 (Munster semi-final) Replay 

2009: Waterford 0-11 Limerick 1-8 (Munster semi-final) Draw 

MUNSTER FINAL MEETINGS 

2007: Waterford 3-17 Limerick 1-14 

1934: Limerick 4-8 Waterford 2-5 

1933: Limerick 3-7 Waterford 1-2 (unfinished – Limerick awarded game) 

Facts and Figures

*Limerick are seeking their 21st Munster title; Waterford are bidding for their 10th. 

*Limerick beat Waterford by 2-24 to 0-10 in last year’s Munster championship ‘round robin.’  The last competitive clash between them was in this year’s Allianz League when Limerick  won by four points in March. 

*Limerick are attempting to win the Munster title in successive years for the first time since  1980-81. Waterford last won the title in 2010 and were last in the final in 2016 when they  lost to Tipperary.

*Aaron Gillane 2-18 (0-14 frees, 1-0 pen, 0-1 ‘65’), Ger Hegarty 0-7, Tom Morrissey 0-6,  Diarmuid Byrnes 0-6 (0-2 frees) are Limerick’s top scorers in their two championship  games to date. 

*Stephen Bennett 0-12 (0-12 frees), Calum Lyons 1-2 were Waterford’s top scorers in the  semi-final win over Cork.

Munster Hurling FInal: Limerick vs Waterford, Sunday, 15th November, 16:00 (Semple Stadium, Thurles). 

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Cork vs Tipperary: Hurling Championship Preview

Championship holders Tipperary suffered a first-round loss to Limerick in the Munster hurling championship.

As a result, they are in the qualifiers where a win will see them advance to the quarter-finals. Cork are the ones standing in their way. The rebels have an extra game played so far. Firstly, they lost to Waterford before going on to beat Dublin. The last time a team won consecutive Championships was when Kilkenny won in 2015. Tipperary left themselves much to do to replicate that feat by going down to Limerick a fortnight ago.

Cork bounced back from their opening defeat to Waterford with a 6 point win over Dubin last weekend. Kieran Kingston’s side were very impressive as they dismantled the DUblin challenge with precision.

It was a game where the sweeper system was on full display. Mark Coleman was Cork’s designated extra defender and he excelled. His positional awareness allowed him to snuff out Dublin attacks and his passing accuracy, in turn, put Cork on the front foot. Kingston may well opt to deploy such a system again against Tipperary given its success.

The Cork wing-forwards, Seamus Harnedy and Robert O’Flynn, proved elusive all day. Their success in the middle third resulted in five direct points and a constant supply line to the inside forwards.

Can the Premier Strike Back?

Last year’s Champions Tipperary looked tame in their first outing against Limerick. Jason Forde’s frees proved to be the main source of scores for them. In addition, they never threatened to stretch the Limerick defence, apart from when Jake Morris found the net in the first half.

Tipperary trailed by nine at half-time. When they began to show signs of a comeback in the second half, Limerick made a duel out of the middle third and their superior conditioning made sure they came out on top.

When John McGrath scored Tipperary’s second goal in the 55th minute, there was still never a real sense of them catching Limerick.

In a similar way, Tipperary lost the Munster Final to Limerick before going on to win the Championship in 2019. So, the holders may be down but they’re certainly not out. If the Premier County can return to playing to their strengths they will be at the business end of the Championship again. But, Cork will provide a tough challenge.

The game is live on Sky Sports Mix on Saturday.

Tipperary are 8/15 favourites with Paddy Power versus Cork’s 15/8. A draw is 9/1.

Prediction: Tipperary. But, Cork will be a tough test of their title credentials.

They meet in the championship for the 88th time, with Tipperary leading 40-38 in wins.  There have also been eight draws and one abandoned game. 

HOW THEY GOT HERE 

Waterford 1-28 Cork 1-24 (Munster semi-final) 

Cork 1-25 Dublin 0-22 (All-Ireland qualifier) 

** 

Limerick 3-23 Tipperary 2-17 (Munster semi-final)  

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS 

2019: Tipperary 2-28 Cork 1-24 (Munster ‘round robin’) 

2018: Tipperary 2-20 Cork 1-23 (Munster ‘round robin’) 

2017: Cork 2-27 Tipperary 1-26 (Munster quarter-final) 

2014: Tipperary 2-18 Cork 1-11 (All-Ireland semi-final) 

2012: Tipperary 1-22 Cork 0-24 (Munster semi-final) 

Stats and Figures

Patrick Horgan scored a total of 1-16 (1-8 frees, 0-1 ‘65’) for Cork against Waterford and  Dublin. Seamus Harnedy and Shane Kingston scored 0-8 each. 

Jason Forde on 0-10 (all frees) was Tipperary’s top scorer against Limerick in the semi final. 

Cork beat Tipperary two points in this year’s Allianz League. 

The winners will play the losers of the Leinster or Munster finals in the All-Ireland quarter -finals.

HURLING ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2020 

LEINSTER 

Quarter-final 

October 24: Dublin 2-31 Laois 0-23, Croke Park. 

Semi-finals 

October 31: Kilkenny 3-20 Dublin 2-22, Croke Park; Galway 1-27 Wexford 0-17, Croke Park Final 

November 14: Galway v Kilkenny, Croke Park 

Hurling Championship Round 2 Qualifier: Cork vs Tipperary, Saturday, 14th November, 16:00 (LIT Gaelic Grounds).

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Andy Farrell names Ireland team to play Wales in Autumn Nations Cup

Ireland Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his squad for the first Guinness Series game of the Autumn Nations Cup against Wales to the Aviva Stadium on Friday night.

Captain Johnny Sexton links up with Jamison Gibson Park at half-back and Robbie Henshaw switches to inside centre to accommodate Chris Farrell at 13. Jacob Stockdale lines out at fullback and is joined in the backfield by Hugo Keenan and the uncapped James Lowe.

In the pack Cian Healy and Andrew Porter are joined by Ronan Kelleher at hooker. Iain Henderson returns to the second row to partner James Ryan. The backrow sees Caelan Doris switch to No.8 with Peter O’Mahony at 6 and Josh van der Flier at 7.

The replacements include Dave Heffernan, Ed Byrne, Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux, Will Connors, Conor Murray, Billy Burns and Keith Earls.

Kick-off at the Aviva Stadium is 7.00pm on Friday 13th November and the game is being televised by RTÉ and Channel 4.

Ireland Team to Play Wales – 2020 Guinness Series / Autumn Nations Cup

15. Jacob Stockdale (Ulster/Lurgan)
14. Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD)
13. Chris Farrell (Munster/Young Munster)
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)
10. Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) (captain)
9. Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster)

1. Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf)
2. Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne)
3. Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD)
4. Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy)
5. James Ryan (Leinster/UCD)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution)
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD)
8. Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College)

Ireland Replacements
16. Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers)
17. Ed Byrne (Leinster/UCD)
18. Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers)
19. Quinn Roux (Connacht/Galwegians)
20. Will Connors (Leinster/UCD)
21. Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen)
22. Billy Burns (UIster)
23. Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster)

Republic of Ireland vs. England preview – Team news, where to watch and predictions

All the information you need to know about the upcoming international friendly

Ireland face England on Thursday in what will be the first meeting between the two sides since 2015. That match ended in a scoreless draw between the two historical rivals. Hopefully there’ll be more entertainment on display this time around.

England will probably fancy their chances against a lowly Ireland. Stephen Kenny is yet to gather a win as Ireland manager, despite showing signs of promise on occasion. Although “just” a friendly, an impressive result for the Ireland manager would ease the concern amongst some Ireland supporters.

England, as much as some may not want to admit, have a far better side on paper than Ireland. The forward areas in particular are an area of concern for the Boys in Green. The retirement of David McGoldrick only weakens the squad further, also. Ireland have Adam Idah, James Collins and Sean Maguire as the only striking options currently available in the Ireland squad. Although Idah is a great prospect, he haven’t established themselves as prolific goalscorers to date. James Collins, on the other hand, is a proven goalscorer. That being said, the Luton striker is yet to be tested at the highest level. He may also lack the mobility up front that Stephen Kenny seems to favour. Sean Maguire and Adam Idah will porbably start up front with that being said.

Compare this to England, who have an abundance of riches in terms of forwards. Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Tammy Abraham and Marcus Rashford – although normally deployed as a left winger nowadays – are the striking options available to Gareth Southgate. Kane and Calvert-Lewin in particular have started the season in fine form. The pair have scored 15 Premier League goals between each other already.

Along with their striking options, England have a profusion of in-form players in other positions. Jack Grealish is one name that springs to mind – especially as a former Ireland international. The Aston Villa man has been in incredible form since the start of the season. His performances against Liverpool and more recently Arsenal, were nothing short of breath-taking.

Gareth Southgate doesn’t appear to rate Grealish all that highly, though. The England manager has suggested that he’s moving up the pecking order as his goal contributions are nearing the level of Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling. This is despite Grealish amassing more goal contributions this season than the two aforementioned players. Whether Grealish starts or not come Thursday will be a huge topic of discussion within the British media and public.

The friendly is being played ahead of each country’s final fixtures in the current Nations League campaign. Both teams sit 3rd in their respective groups, but under very different circumstances.

Ireland will be playing for pride as they sit on a dismal 2 points after 4 games. All they can do now is try to avoid relegation from League B to League C. Bulgaria currently sit 4th on just 1 point, meaning they’re the relegation candidates as it stands. Both teams will play each other on the 18th of November in the final game of the campaign. A match which will determine which teams suffers the fate of relegation to League C.

England, on the other hand, are in a more enviable position. They have amassed 7 points from 4 games, sitting just 2 points behind table leaders, Belgium. England will play Belgium in the penultimate game of the group before facing Iceland. The outcome of the Belgium match is particularly important for England as they look to make the Nations League finals. Only the League A group leaders make the finals, meaning anything but a win for England in that game put their qualification hopes in serious doubt.

England may be forced to forfeit their game against Iceland, though. Iceland are set to face Denmark – although it may be called off – where a new strain of the coronavirus has appeared recently. The UK government will not allow the Iceland team to enter the country if they step foot in Denmark, meaning the fixture is in doubt.

Team News

Ireland

Ireland had their struggles with coronavirus related absences during their last string of fixtures. That trend has continued into this international break as Ireland are without Callum Robinson due to the virus. Thankfully though, no close contacts have been identified. All other players tested negative for the virus.

A knee injury has also ruled out Enda Stevens. Ireland have many options at left back, but only one of those options is natural in the position. Recently called up Ryan Manning – although initially a midfielder – has been re-trained as a left back over the last year. However, he won’t be available for the England game. That being said, Kenny could also choose Matt Doherty or Dara O’Shea who have played left back in the past. Additionally, Robbie Brady may also start in that position as he has done for Ireland in the past. Brady being left footed would also be ideal for the position, however his defensive capabilities may be called into question.

Aaron Connolly will also miss out on the 3 upcoming fixtures due to an injury sustained in training on Tuesday. The replacement chosen was Sean Maguire, meaning he’ll link up with the squad ahead of the England game.

In terms of good news, Séamus Coleman returns to the squad after missing out on the previous international break. The Everton right back will bring much needed experience and leadership to the Ireland squad, particularly ahead of the Nations League fixtures.

Suspensions: None

Injuries: Enda Stevens, Callum Robinson, Aaron Connolly

Predicted line-up:

Predicted Ireland line-up

England

The majority of the England squad have been passed fit for the match against Ireland. There are concerns over Marcus Rashford, however. The Manchester United winger has picked up a shoulder injury, but has joined up with the squad regardless.

James Ward-Prowse, Joe Gomez and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury. Joe Gomez came off the worst of the three. Reports have surfaced that the Liverpool defender may have suffered a cruciate ligament injury. If so, he’ll likely be out for the remainder of the season. This would only further Liverpool’s unfortunate luck with defensive injuries this season.

Gareth Southgate has called up 17-year-old Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham in place of James Ward-Prowse. This is a first time inclusion of Bellingham in the England squad.

The young midfielder impressed for Birmingham City in the Championship last season which earned him a move to the German giants. He has featured on 6 occasions for Dortmund so far this season, including a cameo against Bayern Munich at the weekend in which he impressed. Bellingham will be hoping to make an appearance in the coming games, given he is the only uncapped player in the squad.

In terms of suspensions, Harry Maguire and Reece James will not be available for the Iceland fixture. They will, however, be available for selection against Ireland.

Burnley keeper Nick Pope will also start in goals tomorrow, England have confirmed.

Suspensions: None

Injuries: James Ward-Prowse, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marcus Rashford (minor)

Predicted line-up:

Predicted England line-up

 

Ireland vs. England Prediction

Although there is a considerable gulf in quality between the two squads, Ireland are unlikely to be pushovers. Stephen Kenny will be urging his players to gather a respectable result after a rough few months.

The return of Séamus Coleman will also provide a much-needed boost to the Ireland squad. The Everton and Ireland captain has been in fine form this season and his leadership should invigorate the Irish team.

England will be hard to break down, however. They also have a wealth of attacking talent which may cause Ireland problems, although the defensive area is one of the strong points of the Irish team.

Our prediction for the game is:

England 1 – 0 Ireland

Where?

Wembley Stadium will be the venue for the fixture. The last time Ireland played at Wembley in 2013 the match ended as a 1-1 draw.

When?

The fixture will be played on the 12th of November. The match will kick off at 8 p.m. Irish standard time.

TV channel?

RTÉ 2 will be providing coverage of the fixture from 7:30 p.m. meaning Irish viewers can watch the match free to air. ITV will also be providing coverage of the fixture from the same time. STV will also be covering the match from Scotland.

Streaming options?

Irish viewers will be able to stream the match through the RTÉ Player. Additionally, viewers with an ITV subscription will be able to stream the match through the ITV Hub.

The best League of Ireland Premier Division XI of the season

Our picks for the best players of the 2020 season

The League of Ireland Premier Division season came to a conclusion yesterday after each team played just 18 games. Despite it’s brevity, the 2020 season was not without it’s drama, incidents and of course, standout performers.

With that said, here are our picks for the best XI of the 2020 League of Ireland Premier Division season:

GOALKEEPER

Edward McGinty – Sligo Rovers

At just 20 years of age, Ed McGinty made quite an impression this season as his side finished 4th in the league table.

McGinty was voted Sligo’s Young Player of the Year in 2019 and has only improved since. He was one of the few players to play every league game of the season as he firmly established himself as the Bit O’ Red’s number one. He made several stunning saves during a stellar season. McGinty also played a key part in Sligo’s win over Dundalk yesterday as he managed to keep a clean sheet.

He recently earned a call up to Jim Crawford’s Ireland u21 squad ahead of the upcoming games against Iceland and Luxembourg. A credit to his domestic form.

RIGHT BACK

Andy Lyons – Bohemians

Normally this position is reserved for Sean Gannon of Dundalk but his lack of playing time in recent weeks and Dundalk’s less than impressive season means he misses out. Instead, Andy Lyons comes in at right back.

The 20-year-old made the right back position his own this season after featuring on a rotation/sporadic basis in season’s past. Impressive going forward but also accomplished defensively, Lyons helped his club to a 2nd place finish this season. Lyons will only improve in years to come, meaning overseas interest may not be far off for the young right back.

CENTRE BACKS

Joey O’Brien – Shamrock Rovers

The veteran full back turned central defender had a very impressive season as Shamrock Rovers went unbeaten on their way to winning the league title.

Despite having Premier League and international experience, O’Brien is arguably one of the most underrated players in the league. His ball retention as a defender and football IQ is second to none when compared to other defenders in the league.

His experience is vital to this Shamrock Rover’s team. His inclusion in this XI is warranted given his commanding performances this season.

Roberto Lopes – Shamrock Rovers

Joey O’Brien’s defensive partner for Rovers makes up the 2nd central defensive spot in this XI. The Cape Verdean international produced some immense displays this season on the way to the title. His performance against AC Milan in the Europa League qualifiers showed how capable he is of performing as a high level.

In truth, Shamrock Rover’s other starting central defender, Lee Grace, was unlucky to miss out on the XI. His performances were equally as impressive as the aforementioned centre backs.

LEFT BACK

Tyreke Wilson – Waterford

Wilson had an impressive first season in the League of Ireland. The young left back arrived from Manchester City in January and has made quite the impression since.

Like Andy Lyons, Wilson is a modern day full back in that he can attack and defend with equal efficiency. He scored an incredible free kick earlier in the season as Waterford defeated Bohemians. Waterford will do well to keep hold of him after a fine debut season.

CENTRE MIDFIELDERS

Aaron McEneff – Shamrock Rovers

The former Spurs trainee has impressed since joining Dundalk from Derry in 2019. He was pivotal in Shamrock Rover’s title challenge as he started the majority of their games.

McEneff is a technical midfielder with a ferocious shot. He displayed his finishing ability on occasion as he ended the campaign with 3 goals to his name.

Keith Buckley – Bohemians

Keith Buckley featured in all but one of Bohemian’s games all season as they achieved their highest top flight finish in a decade.

The Bohs’ captain produced several impressive performers this season with his combative displays in the centre of the park. Bohemians needed a leader with the retirement of Derek Pender and Buckley more than stepped up to the plate as he lead his young side to an excellent finish.

Gary O’Neill – Shamrock Rovers

It’s an all Rovers/Bohs midfield three as Gary O’Neill takes the final spot.

Like McEneff, O’Neill joined Rovers in 2019 and hasn’t looked back since. The former UCD man scored the winning penalty in last season’s FAI cup final and has only improved since. His performances in the Rovers midfield this season have firmly established him as an important member of the first team squad for years to come.

RIGHT WINGER

Jack Byrne – Shamrock Rovers

Byrne is the first name that springs to mind when you think of a League of Ireland footballer and it’s easy to see why. He joined Shamrock Rovers for the 2019 season and has earned several plaudits since.

The winger/midfielder won Player of the Year for the 2019 season and it looks likely he’ll reclaim his title for 2020. He put in some spectacular performances this season which seen him rack up 9 goals and 4 assists.

Although it would be nice to witness Byrne in the league for another season it doesn’t look likely. Reported interest from Bournemouth, Stoke City and Colorado Rapids could provide a challenge for Rovers to keep him at the club.

LEFT WINGER

Danny Grant – Bohemians

Grant is one of the most improved players in the league this season. He had a good 2019 season but stepped up a level this term.

The inverted winger was key to Bohemian’s finishing as high as they did. His 7 goals from the wing were vital in securing a top 2 finish.

Grant is undoubtedly one of the most exciting players in the League of Ireland currently. His breath-taking performances this season have earned him an inclusion in Jim Crawford’s u21 squad. Bohemians could mount a serious title challenge next season if they can hold onto Grant and secure some first team additions.

STRIKER

Pat Hoban – Dundalk

Despite Dundalk’s unimpressive league form, Pat Hoban can hold his head up high with his return this season.

The striker has scored goals with regularity since re-joining the Lilywhites. This season, he kept up his goalscoring form as he chipped in with 10 league goals, making him the league’s top goalscorer.

Clare vs Wexford: Hurling Preview & Starting Teams

Unlike the football Championship, there is a second chance for teams in the Hurling Championship through qualifiers. Having both lost their opening games, Clare and Wexford find themselves in round 2 of these qualifiers but a win here will see them in a quarter-final.

Firstly, Clare lost in Munster to a strong Limerick side. Then, they saw of a competitive Laois in their first qualifier.

On the other hand, Wexford had their first outing against Galway on Halloween night. That was a horror show for Davy Fitzgerald’s side who were well beaten by a rejuvenated Galway team. Now, last year’s Leinster Champions are in a fight to stay in the competition.

Tony Kelly was on fire for Clare last weekend. He hit 0-13 as the Banner county progressed past Laois. Clare were very much on top in the first half. Despite losing David McInerney to a red card before half-time, they had a 7 point lead at the interval.

Being a man short didn’t hinder Clare in the third quarter. By the 55th minute, they still had their 7 point lead. However, that’s when Laois got on top. The Leinster team outscored Clare 1-6 to 0-3 in the final minutes. But, Clare held on to advance. If they are to reach the quarter-final, Brian Lohan’s side need to perform for the full 70 minutes on Saturday.

On the other hand, Wexford were disappointing in their only Championship outing so far. Galway were the opposition for last year’s All-Ireland semi-finalists. But, Davy Fitzgerald’s side looked out of practice on a wide-open Croke Park. Their usual slick hand-passing game and direct running was strictly managed by the Connacht side.

As a result, Wexford fell to a 13 point loss. Fitzgerald will be glad for having last weekend off to work on his game plan. A rude awakening could prove to be exactly what his team needed. It is no secret that Wexford can match anyone on their day. But, there is no more room for error. So, if Wexford are to challenge for an All-Ireland they need to quickly find their rhythm.

Wexford are favourites for this despite their previous loss. Paddy Power price them at 8/13. Meanwhile, Clare are 13/8 and a draw is 8/1.

The game is live on GAAGo.

Team news

Prediction: Wexford. Davy Fitzgerald knows how to get the best out of his team and with their backs against the wall now is the time to do so. On the other hand, Clare just got over the line against Laois despite playing well.

Hurling Championship Round 2 Qualifier: Clare vs Wexford, Saturday, 14th November, 14:00 (Portlaoise).

https://3.249.64.60/gaa/5-biggest-gaa-shocks-this-century/

https://twitter.com/OfficialWexGAA/status/1325806202471788544

https://3.249.64.60/gaa/5-biggest-gaa-shocks-this-century/

Connolly & Robinson ruled out of Ireland team to play England

Republic of Ireland striker Aaron Connolly has been ruled out of the possible starting team against England.

The Brighton and Hove Albion forward will miss the three matches through an injury sustained in training yesterday and Preston North End striker Sean Maguire has been called up as a replacement.

Striker Callum Robinson has now been confirmed as the COVID-19 positive case in the Ireland camp and will also miss the three matches.

Swansea City’s Ryan Manning has been called up and will link up with the squad ahead of the Wales match on Sunday.

Connacht Rugby announce renewal of Partnership with Red Bull

Connacht Rugby announced Red Bull will continue as the club’s Official Energy Drink Partner for the 2020/21 season.

This partnership will support Connacht Rugby in reaching their peak performance, providing players and coaching staff with Red Bull products and equipment during training and major tournaments, as well as access to world class tools and facilities including sharing of knowledge and expertise from Red Bull’s global network of experts and it’s state of the art Athlete Performance centre in Austria.

Commenting on the announcement Gavin Duffy Partnership Manager at Connacht Rugby said:

‘’We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with such a strong global brand like Red Bull. Members of our senior professional squad have become more familiar with their products and the benefits of incorporating them into their preparation for training and games. Red Bull also has extensive expertise and experience in creating and delivering great experiences for fans so even in these challenging times we can look forward to an exciting season ahead for all both on and off the pitch’’

Established in 1987 as a functional Energy Drink, Red Bull gives wings to people and ideas. Red Bull athletes in Ireland are 400M Olympic Hurdler Thomas Barr, Enduro Mountain Bike Rider Greg Callaghan, DMEC Drift Racer Conor Shanahan and Big Wave Surfer Conor Maguire.

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