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Aubameyang breaks his duck as Arsenal defeat Manchester United

He dispatched his penalty in what would be the winning goal

Manchester United needed to find consistency following their erratic form earlier in the season. It appeared they were on the way to doing so given their recent results. Their unbeaten run was ended tonight, however. Arsenal came out victors in what was a lacklustre Manchester United performance. Many would have favoured Manchester United for the victory tonight, but that wasn’t to be.

After all, Arsenal were in less than impressive form prior to the match. Before this evening, Arsenal had lost 4 of their previous 5 Premier League games. Their win this evening means they now sit 8th in the Premier League table, moving up 5 places from 13th.

The form of their talisman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been called into question this year. The striker’s goal return has been nothing short of incredible over the years. However, this year he has struggled to find the net with regularity. He will be satisfied with his performance tonight, though. His goal to make it 1-0 would turn out to be the winner. Having struggled for consistency so far this season, his goal tonight should give the striker a massive confidence boost.

Oppositely, Marcus Rashford has been in incredible form of late. Rashford scored 6 goals in his last 4 games prior to today. His impressive return of 3 goals – as a substitute – midweek would have done his confidence no harm going into tonight. He failed to impress, though, as he was marshalled by the opposition and failed to find space throughout.

The match itself was anticipated to be an exciting affair but that wasn’t to be. While not being necessarily boring, the match was a tense affair. Arsenal kept the ball well in possession as Manchester United failed to disgruntle them by pressing high like they have done in the past.

In fact, it took 21 minutes before either team had a shot at goal. Academy graduates linked up as Marcus Rashford’s pinpoint ball was collected by Greenwood. He shot from a similar angle as his goal midweek, but Bernd Leno had no trouble as he comfortably dealt with his effort.

Arsenal struggled to create opportunities in the first half, but were quite clearly the better team. Lacazette had the best chance as the ball fell to him inside the box after a good passing move. He failed to make a connection with the ball though and the move broke down. Saka also had an opportunity from a header towards the end of the half, but his shot sailed over the bar.

Aubameyang had his first real chance of the game shortly after the first half commenced. Indecision from Fred allowed Lacazette to intercept and set up the Gabonese hitman. David De Gea had no problems, however, as his shot went wide of the post.

Manchester United had an opportunity of their own not long afterwards. Harry Maguire got his head to the ball from a good set piece delivery, but his attempt went just wide.

Paul Pogba was the villain in the 67th minute as his clumsy challenge inside the box brought down Hector Bellerin. Mike Dean made his decision almost immediately as he pointed to the spot. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ended his drought of 5 games without scoring by tucking away the resulting penalty.

United nearly got their equalizer on 84 minutes after a series of mishaps in the Arsenal box. Donny Van de Beek crossed the ball into the box before his cross bounced off Elneny and Leno on the way to hitting the post. In truth, it would have been very unfortunate for Arsenal as they had dominated much of the match.

Arsenal managed to hang on as the match finished 1-0. Aubameyang’s strike was the difference in an important match for both clubs.

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens – Preview & Prediction and Fantasy advice

NFL Week 8 Sunday 6:00pm Game Preview & Prediction and Fantasy advice, the game will go a long way to deciding the division. 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens Preview

Sunday opens with massive clash as 2 of the AFC North’s finest go head to head. Baltimore came into the season as the hot favourites but as we approach the midway stage of the season their 5-1 record is surprisingly only good enough for 2nd behind the 6-0 Steelers, the NFL’s only remaining unbeaten team. An impressive win against the Tennessee Titans last week would have silenced a lot of doubters and knocking off the Ravens this week will surely cement them as legitimate SuperBowl contenders. Can they keep their unbeaten run going or will the Ravens take that ‘0’ away?

Betpat Betting:

Money line: ​​Steelers​8/5​​Ravens​​1/2
Points Spread: ​Ravens –4​
Over/Under:​​45.5

I think 8/5 is excellent odds for the Steelers. The Ravenshaven’t looked all that impressive, despite the 5-1 record and I think the Steelers have more than enough about them to hand them their 2nd loss.



Fantasy Football:


Steelers:
If there was any doubt about this Steelers defense before last week, there shouldn’t be now. They held Derrick Henry to under 4 yards a carry, (even if they gave up a TD to him in the process) and did it without selling out too much to keep Ryan Tannehill and the passing offense in check. The face a different kind of test this week in the read option-based Ravens defense. They won’t win this battle on aggression alone and will need to stay disciplined, especially on the edge. But I trust Mike Tomlin to have a good plan in place and his player’s ability to execute it. If they get ahead and the Raven have to air it out more than they would like, there are turnovers there to be had too.

The offense also faces a very different prospect this week. While the Titans secondary were there to be got at, the Ravens have one of the best, if not the best, cornerback tandems in the league. Big plays will have to be earned by the Pitt receiver group, but they have enough talent there to get it done. I expect to see a lot of short to intermediate passes to Juju in the slot and he is a good option today especially in PPR leagues in my opinion.

James Conner has another tough task ahead of him at running back this week but that seems to be when he shows up the most. He may not ever be a fantasy giant, but he has shown he can keep putting respectable numbers up even against the better defences. I said last week I struggle to have any faith in him, and I’m not abandoning that, but it would be unfair to ignore his steady contribution.

Ravens:
As I already mentioned, the Steelers offense will have to earn every yard they get in this game. The face the no.1 defense in fantasy in the Baltimore Ravens, though they have played against their fair share of anaemic offenses to date. The Earl Thomas drama is in the rear-view mirror at this stage and they’ll be eager to impose their will on the Steelers attack.

Lamar Jackson was widely drafted early in fantasy drafts but so far hasn’t lived up to the billing. He and the Ravens have tried to convince everyone that he is good enough to beat teams with his arm if he has to, but the proof provided hasn’t been overwhelming. I expect the Steelers defense to try to make him do that again in this game, and I would be very apprehensive about starting Jackson unless you don’t have another viable option.

The knock-on effect is that his receivers may see more action than usual, but the question is the quality of those opportunities. Mark Andrews has been a favoured target of Jackson for a while now and should continue to contribute well for fantasy owners. And while Hollywood Brown hasn’t been doing too well as of late, he is always a big play threat.

At RB, whether Mark Ingram plays or not will be a latedecision. He hasn’t practiced all week which usually says he won’t play, although his advanced age and familiarity with the system would make it a lot easier for them to have held him out for precaution. But I think it’s unlikely he plays which puts the tandem of rookie JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards front and centre. That would likely result in a fairly even splitbetween the 2, and Justice Hill may even get a chance to make his way back from the wilderness. I don’t see a reliable option in this group.


My Prediction:


The AFC North games are usually very physical affairs and don’t expect anything different here. These 2 will go to war. If the Ravens can establish a rhythm on offense, they’ll be tough to stop but my gut favours the Steelers to keep them at bay.

Steelers by 10

Leitrim vs Mayo: Connacht Football – Preview & Starting Team News

There is no time for Mayo to dwell over their failure to remain in Division 1. They return to action just a week after the defeat to Tyrone and this time there is even more on the line. The 2020 Football Championship has been a long time coming but it’s here now and the knock-out format means no time for settling in. Leitrim vs Mayo takes place in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday.

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Leitrim suffered relegation themselves in the League. They had a chance of survival if they beat Tipperary in the final round. However, a two-point loss sealed their fate. Previously, they had to concede the game against Down. This was a result of players waiting on Covid-19 test results and not being able to field a team.

It has been twenty years since Leitrim last made it to a Connacht final. This year, they again drew the short straw as even an upset against Mayo would pit them against Roscommon in the semi-final with Galway on the other side of the draw. The return to action hasn’t exactly given Leitrim fans reason to be hopeful about this game. However, with no qualifiers to fall back on, they may relish the chance to take on some of the best in the game and see how they fare.

Can Mayo master Connacht again?

Mayo have not won a Connacht Championship since 2015 (their fifth in a row). This is surprising considering they made it to the 2016 and ’17 finals and 2019 semi-final. Indeed, it has been Connacht that has proven the hardest for Mayo to conquer in recent years.

When Mayo trounced Galway in the first game back recently, the familiar echoes of ‘Mayo are back’ echoed around the west. But, in typical Mayo fashion, they undid their hard work at home a week later to end their 23-year spell in Division 1.

This could prove to be the best thing to happen to James Horan’s side. In recent seasons, after losing in Connacht, Mayo progressively got stronger during the qualifiers. But, a loss this year does not yield a second chance. Therefore, with defeat already on their backs, Mayo could fall into the familiar pattern of finding form when they are on their last life.

The final two League games made for interesting reading for Mayo fans. The team selections yielded some very exciting prospects (e.g Tommy Conroy, Mark Moran, Eoghan McLoughlin, Oisin Mullin) but it was perhaps Aidan O’Shea’s deployment at full-forward that most caught the eye.

O’Shea was the biggest anarchist against Galway and even if he did not repeat the trick against Tyrone, the tactic is a good option to have. In fact, Leitrim could be the best place to experiment with such a move again.

The likes of O’Shea and Cillian O’Connor have been around for longer than it seems now. Likewise, the Keegans, Vaughans, and Parsons are aging faster than Mayo fans would want. As a result, this could be the greatest chance for Mayo to launch an All-Ireland quest again. It will only require five wins in a row to go all the way (Mayo played 10 games in the 2017 campaign). The new injection of youth could complement the experienced heads nicely.

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2012: Mayo 4-20 Leitrim 0-10 (Connacht semi-final)
2006: Mayo 1-10 Leitrim 1-9 Connacht semi-final)
1997: Mayo 0-18 Leitrim 0-11 (Connacht semi-final)
1994: Leitrim 0-12 Mayo 2-4 (Connacht final)
1988: Mayo 1-13 Leitrim 0-4 (Connacht quarter-final)

Things to note

(1) Other than against London and New York, Leitrim haven’t won a Connacht championship games since beating Sligo in the 2011 quarter-final in 2011.
(2) Mayo have lost to Leitrim only three times in the Connacht championship (1994-1976-1959).
(3) Mayo were relegated from Division 1 last weekend after winning two, drawing one and losing four of their seven games.
(4) Leitrim were relegated from Division 3 after winning one, drawing and losing four games. They also conceded a walkover against Down.
(5) Leitrim have scored only one goal against Mayo in their last six championship meetings and haven’t scored two goals against the green-and-red since 1976.
(6) The winners will play Roscommon in the semi-final on Sunday week.

 

Betting

Leitrim are as long 14/1 to cause an upset. Mayo are 1/66 and a draw is 33/1.

The game is being shown on RTÉ News Now.

Prediction: Mayo.

Team News

Leitrim

1.Brendan Flynn

2.Donal Casey

3. Donal Wrynn

4. Conor Reynolds

5. David Bruen

6.Aidan Flynn

7.Cillian Mc Gloin

8. Mark Plunkett

9. Domnnaill Flynn

10. Conor Dolan

11. Paddy Maguire (Captain)

12. Jack Gilheaney

13. Shane Quinn

14.Evan Sweeney

15. Keith Beirne

Mayo

1. David Clarke – Ballina Stephenites
2. Oisín Mullin – Kilmaine
3. Stephen Coen – Hollymount/Carramore
4. Lee Keegan – Westport
5. Patrick Durcan – Castlebar Mitchels
6. Rory Brickenden – Westport
7. Eoghan McLaughlin – Westport
8. Matthew Ruane – Breaffy
9. Conor Loftus – Crossmolina Deel Rovers
10. Bryan Walsh – Ballintubber
11. Ryan O’Donoghue – Belmullet
12. Jordan Flynn – Crossmolina Deel Rovers
13. Tommy Conroy – The Neale
14. Aidan O’Shea – Breaffy (C)
15. Cillian O’Connor – Ballintubber

Connacht Football Championship Quarter-Final: Leitrim vs Mayo, Sunday, November 1st, 13:15 (Carrick-on-Shannon).

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https://3.249.64.60/gaa/could-mayos-relegation-be-a-blessing-in-disguise/

https://twitter.com/MayoGAA/status/1321106158480953345

Tipperary vs Clare: Preview, TV Channel, Prediction, Betting

A Munster semi-final awaits the winner of Tipperary vs Clare this Sunday. These two teams went through their respective League campaigns without making any headlines and remaining in their respective divisions. But, Championship football can throw up surprises. This year, the knock-out format means there is no room for error so games will be nervy and anything can happen.

Clare’s win over Fermanagh in the first game back proved to be enough to save them in Division 2. Last weekend, they lost to Armagh but remained above the dropzone. There were some good spells against Armagh that Colm Collins will be very encouraged by. However, it will take a good performance for the full 70 minutes to advance in the Championship.

In Division 3, Tipperary secured their survival by beating Leitrim in round 7. A goal in each half went a long way to their success. Liam Casey’s strike five minutes from time put the game beyond Leitrim. But, the Connacht side fought for the full game. As a result, Tipperary are well prepared heading into the Championship.

Last season, Tipperary lost two in a row in the Championship. Now, it will only take one game to end their season. Hence, there is no room for error. In contrast, Clare bounced back from their defeat to Kerry in the Munster semi-final by going all the way to the fourth round of the qualifiers. There, just a point stopped them from going to the Super 8s.

Paddy Power have gone with Tipperary as the 8/11 favourites. Clare are 11/8 and a draw is 15/2.

GAA GO are live streaming the game.

Prediction: Clare.

Munster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final: Tipperary vs Clare, Sunday, November 1st, 13:00 (Semple Stadium). 

https://3.249.64.60/gaa/list-of-51-gaa-live-matches-scheduled-to-be-shown-on-tv-by-rte-sky-sports/

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https://twitter.com/TipperaryGAA/status/1320389266510368771

Monaghan vs Cavan: Ulster Football Preview & Starting Team News

Monaghan vs Cavan is the opener for what is easily the most competitive of the Provincial Championships. Last year, the same fixture threw up an upset as Cavan prevailed. Now, following the relegation to Division 3, Cavan are underdogs again. But, Monaghan are not exactly carrying form into this game. Hence, it could be an exciting tie to kick off an exciting Championship.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORES

In round 7 of the National League, a draw with Meath was enough to see Monaghan survive in the top Division. In what was an up-and-down League for the Farney men, they will be content as they head into knock-out football. The Meath draw was preceded by a loss to Kerry. But, Seamus McEnaney will have told his side that if they were to lose, that was the time to do so.

2019’s defeat to Cavan in the Ulster Championship will be at the front of McEnaney’s mind. The loss shook the team who went on to lose to Armagh in the qualifiers. Now, he will be relying on his talisman Conor McManus to lead from the front. Thankfully for McEnaney, McManus is finding form at the right time. He scored 1-08 against Meath and 0-05 the week before against Kerry in just 35 minutes.

Cavan need to show mental toughness

On the other hand, Cavan will be wishing they had another week to prepare for this fixture. Last year’s trip to the Ulster final seems like a long time ago now in light of their new Division 3 status. Two losses since the restart will need to be quickly forgotten about by Mickey Graham’s men.

Graham admitted his side “got what we deserved” after failing to get a result against Roscommon. In fact, a win on the day could have seen Cavan finish in the promotion spots. But, Division 2 was the tightest of the four and, true to form, the loss saw Cavan fall to 7th. Graham continued to confess nerves among his team before the game.

If Cavan are to replicate their victory from last season, they need to quickly make peace with their League result. In the Championship there will be no time to wallow in self-pity. In particular, the Ulster Championship will be a gruelling one on its own. Beginning in the preliminary round only adds to the challenge.

Paddy Power rightfully have Monaghan at 3/10 favourites. Cavan are 10/3 and a draw is 8/1. The game is live on Sky Sports.

Prediction: Monaghan.

Starting Teams

Monaghan: Rory Beegan, Kieran Duffy, Conor Boyle, Ryan Whylie, Dessie Ward, Fintan Kelly, Karl O’Connor, Darren Hughes, Kieran Hughes, Ryan McAnespie, Micheál Bannigan, Dermot Malone, Stephen O’Hanlon, Conor McCarthy, Conor McManus

Cavan: Raymond Galligan, Jason McLoughlin, Killian Clarke, Killian Brady, Gerard Smith, Ciaran Brady, Luke Fortune, James Smith, Padraig Faulkner, Martin Reilly, Gearoid McKernan, Oisin Kieran, Oisin Pierson, Chris Conway, Cormac O’Reilly

 

Ulster Football Championship Preliminary Round: Monaghan vs Cavan, Saturday, October 31st, 1.15pm (Clones).

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https://3.249.64.60/gaa/could-mayos-relegation-be-a-blessing-in-disguise/

https://twitter.com/monaghangaa/status/1320857294880518144

Arsenal dominate as Dundalk slump to defeat

The match finished 3-0 after goals from Nketiah, Willock and Pepe

There was a palpable sense of excitement as Dundalk took on Arsenal in the Europa League group stage tonight. Dundalk were considered massive underdogs going into the match. There really wasn’t a great deal of expectation on their shoulders. Most were just happy to see a League of Ireland side compete at a high European level. Anything other than a loss would have been nice for Dundalk but realistically that was never likely, particularly given the club’s domestic form this season and the loss in their last Europa League outing.

The difference in quality showed in the end as Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners, but Dundalk can be largely happy with their performance. Dundalk can’t have too many complaints about the scoreline given some of the results we’ve seen in Europe over the past few months.

Dundalk went with a back five for this game as opposed to their usual four at the back. This would be a sign of things to come as Dundalk remained on the backfoot for the majority of the game. They held a very low line as Arsenal dominated possession and tried to fashion opportunities, but to Dundalk’s credit, they defended very well for much of the game.

They were very good in the first half, particularly. Arsenal tried and tried to break down the opposition defence and struggled at nearly every occasion as Dundalk held their line well and kept the Gunners at bay. In fact, it took Arsenal 30 odd minutes to get their first shot on target. In contrast, Dundalk managed to test the Arsenal keeper after just 4 minutes as McEleney let fly from distance. His shot was low and powerful as the keeper tipped the ball behind for a corner which came to nothing.

Although Dundalk did have the first opportunity of the game, they weren’t exactly positive in their game plan for most of the match. They mainly relied on counter attacks to provide attacking output and rarely kept possession in the final third.

Michael “Thierry” Duffy was much talked about prior to the match as being one to watch but he failed to make an impact like he normally does. Nevertheless, it would have been a special occasion for the Derry man who’s a big Arsenal fan himself.

Dundalk nearly went into half time with a clean sheet, but Arsenal finally managed to break through with a goal in the 42nd minute. Unfortunately for Dundalk, it was a goalkeeper mistake that led to the goal as Gary Rogers failed to deal with a corner and it was an easy tap in for Eddie Nketiah in the end. The goal was very unfortunate and cruel for Gary Rogers who has been a reliable keeper for a dominant Dundalk side over the years.

It didn’t take long before it was 2-0 as an unfortunate deflection off a Dundalk player fell to the feet of Joe Willock. He made no mistake as he finished into the roof of the net in the 44th minute.

The final goal came just after the second half begun. Gary Rogers could do nothing about the strike this time as Nicolas Pepe launched a missile of a strike into the net. Pepe failed to get going before his goal, but his strike demonstrated the quality he possess. He took the strike on with his weak foot as he was being closed down by onrushing Dundalk defenders, but he didn’t panic under pressure as his effort whistled into the top right corner. Brilliant goal. In truth, Arsenal could do with more consistency from the Ivorian winger as he’s failed to live up to his price tag thus far. Clearly he has a lot to offer but he must start doing so on a consistent basis.

After a frantic few minutes for Dundalk both sides of the half, they defended well again afterwards and ended Arsenal’s goalscoring exploits. The back three of Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle and Daniel Cleary performed admirably as they held their line well and helped to avoid disgrace at the hands of Arsenal. Chris Shields also performed well in a deeper midfield role as he broke up play a handful of times to relieve pressure.

Dundalk’s next fixture is an important match away to St. Pat’s on Sunday. Dundalk currently sit 3rd in the league table on 25 points. There are just 3 European spots up for grabs and Dundalk have missed out on the top 2 as Shamrock Rovers have claimed the League title and Bohemians sit comfortably in second. That means that Dundalk must hold their position in 3rd place. That won’t be an easy task, however, as Waterford and Sligo sit 1 and 3 points behind respectively.  Dundalk have qualified for Europe every season since 2013 so it would be a shame to see that run end, especially for Dundalk fans and players.

In terms of their next European date, they travel to Poland next Thursday to take on Rapid Wein. Like Dundalk, Wein have lost their previous Europa League group games after losing to Molde tonight. Needless to say, it should be a more competitive game than what we seen tonight.

Cork vs Waterford: Munster Hurling – Preview & Starting Team News

The Munster Hurling Championship commenced last weekend with Limerick vs Clare. Now, Cork vs Waterford will mark the first Munster semi-final on Saturday. Waterford enter this game with more to prove. On the other hand, Cork went steady in last year’s Championship without ever really threatening to be All-Ireland contenders.

Unfortunately, Cork will be without Eoin Cadogan and Darragh Fitzgibbon for the game due to injury. In addition to this, Robbie O’Flynn will serve his suspension for a red card received in March. On the other hand, Colm Spillane is available for selection. Furthermore, the suspension of the U20 Championship could mean Kieran Kingston adds some youth to his panel.

Previously, Cork’s League campaign was underwhelming as the team transitioned into Kingston’s return. This came off the back of last year’s quarter-final defeat to Kilkenny. After failing to make the Munster final last year, this is a chance to prove their ambition.

Waterford failed to win a single game in the 2019 Championship. However, Tadhg de Búrca’s return to top-form after injury means Austin Gleeson may once again feature in the forward line. A boost up front is exactly what Waterford need and Gleeson is more than worthy of providing it. The winter setting might see Waterford compete once again.

Cork are 8/15 favourites to advance to the final with Paddy Power. Meanwhile, Waterford are 15/8 and a draw is 8/1.

Sky Sports are sending their cameras to Thurles for this game.

Waterford – S O’Keeffe, S Fives, C Prunty, S McNulty, C Lyons, T De Búrca, A Gleeson
J Barron, J Dillon, K Moran, J Fagan, K Bennett ,D Hutchinson, S Bennett, J Prendergast

Prediction: Cork.

Munster Hurling Championship Semi-Final: Cork vs Waterford, Saturday, October 31st, 15:30 (Semple Stadium). 

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https://twitter.com/hoganstandgaa/status/1320843654496350209

Arsenal vs Dundalk Match Preview

Team News

Arsenal head into Thursday night’s Europa League tie against Dundalk without defender David Luiz. The Brazilian will miss the match through injury leaving Mikel Arteta with only two senior centre-backs available for selection. One of those is Shkodran Mustafi who has recently returned from a spell on the sidelines. Young winger Reiss Nelson may also potentially start as Arteta stated that he “will get the opportunities” after the club backtracked on sending him out on loan. The Gunners travel to Old Trafford on Sunday, therefore the starting eleven will likely feature some fringe players.

It is not anticipated that Dundalk manager Filippo Giovagnoli will drift too far away from the starting line-up he picked for the Molde defeat. Veteran goalkeeper Gary Rodgers is set to return after being rested during Sunday’s defeat to Waterford. Like their opponents, Dundalk also have a decisive game on the horizon. They currently sit in third place, just one point ahead of Waterford. Their next league game is against St. Patrick’s Athletic on Sunday as the season draws to a close.

Mikel Arteta on Dundalk and Filippo Giovagnoli

In his pre-match press conference, Arsenal boss Arteta highlighted Dundalk’s strengths: “They’re really well organised, they make it really hard and they will be coming here with incredible passion”. Whilst acknowledging the difference in quality between both sides, Arteta vowed that his team won’t take the game for granted.

Dundalk manager Filippo Giovagnoli’s story has also triggered a degree of fascination from the Arsenal boss. He admitted to watching a long interview with Giovagnoli, because he wanted to learn more about the Italian and his methods. Both managers will soon go head to head, but unfortunately not on the Emirates Stadium touchline. Giovagnoli is yet to attain his UEFA Pro Licence and as a result will have to coach his side from the stands.

Dundalk will want to prove a point on Thursday evening. There is more to their play than ‘passion’. They’re not arriving in London to marvel at Arsenal’s current crop of Premier League players. They need points on the board. As young Dundalk fan Sophie Neary simply put it, “If Jamie Vardy can score against Arsenal then why can’t Pat Hoban score against Arsenal?”. 

Arsenal vs Dundalk kicks off at 8pm this evening and will be available to watch on Virgin Media Two.

 

“It’s a special season no matter what happens” says Kieran Kingston.

Cork hurling manager Kieran Kingston begins his second Championship spell in charge of the Rebels on Saturday when taking on Waterford in the Munster Senior Hurling Championship.

Kingston, who departed the Cork side following a defeat by the Déise in 2017, believes there will be a very different feeling for players this season when running out in crowd-less stadiums.

“There is no doubt the players feed off the crowd” says Kingston. “When playing for your county, part of it is running on to the pitch in either Thurles, Croke Park, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, or wherever it is. We have to look and see where we are at the moment.”

Despite the lack of crowds at games, the bank official is fully aware of the special position senior inter-county players are in with their championship going ahead.

“We are part of a special group here because we are now playing. That’s something I said to the lads. We are honoured to be able to represent our county in the time that we have. We see the minors and U20s have been cancelled – we are all sorry to see that happening. I think for the group, not just in Cork, but throughout the country, we have to not only embrace that change, but adapt to it.”

As Cork have not played a competitive game in almost eight months, the Rebels begin this campaign not knowing where they really stand.

“Up to recently we didn’t know if we would be playing. It (the Championship) will be different. We really don’t know how different it will be until next Saturday but at the same time, we have to embrace that change and be the best that we can be.”

The disrupted training schedule of the past few months has meant that training and preparation is different this year.

“During that time there were intermittent preps because guys were on their own for a bit,” admits Kingston. “They got back into the clubs and then they came back to us. Preparation is different. The logistics around playing are different.”

When asking about this weekend’s opponents, Waterford, the Corkman states his focus is on his team.

“My focus when preparing for a game like this is always on ourselves. Obviously, you have an eye on the opposition in terms of what they have done in the past, or in the last game. The focus has to be on ourselves. There is no other way of doing it. The Championship goes on, evolves and we are part of that. Then, we’ll be able to look at teams as to how they partake in their games. Starting out, the first game, it’s really focussing on ourselves.”

Despite the uncertainty surrounding sports this year, Kingston wasn’t always certain the All Ireland Championship would go ahead in 2020.

“Did I always think we’d get this far? Some days I did, some days I didn’t. There was apprehension, but thankfully there was more hope than anything else. You always have it at the back of your mind. The lads and ourselves were preparing on the basis that it would go ahead at some stage.

“It was a challenge yes. It was a challenge for us, a challenge for the players, a challenge for every county. There were times of course when anybody wasn’t sure. It was something you are not in control of. We’re all on the bus and we want to stay on the bus. No one of us was driving it, so therefore we weren’t really in control of our destiny.”

With a reduced season ahead, the Fountainstown man says:

“We’re absolutely thrilled that it (the Championship) is happening. No one wants to lose a year of their playing career. No one want to lose of forfeit a year of the Championship. It’s a special season, no matter what happens – it’s a special season.”

Republic of Ireland release new Umbro Kit

The Republic of Ireland have announced the release of their new home and away kits. The new kits mark the return of the partnership between the Ireland national team and Umbro. The Irish team have been sponsored by American company New Balance since 2017. In July 2019, the FAI extended their contract with Irish company JACC/Toplion in a deal which will run until 2026. JACC/Toplion distribute for both New Balance and Umbro.

Speaking of the six-year extension back in July of last year, JACC Sports Managing Director Jonathan Courtenay said we “will see our original and subsequent agreements surpass a total of 32 years since we first partnered with the FAI in September 1994 and will hopefully take us to Qatar in 2022, Germany in 2024 and the ‘United’ North American tournament in 2026”.

The Senior Men’s team will sport the new kit in their friendly against England at Wembley Stadium on November 12th. Furthermore, Umbro Ireland revealed that the kit will come out without shirt sponsor when purchased which will please many fans. This marks the end of an era for Ireland and mobile provider Three, who opted not to renew their sponsorship deal with the national team back in December 2019.

The new kits can be preordered here from midday today.

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